by James Kellard

Created on: May 17, 2009

With the continuing exposure of corruption and hypocrisy within organized religion (Jim Baker, Ted Haggard, church sex scandals, etc.), more and more people have been turning either to atheism or spirituality over organized religion itself. Still atheism is considered by some to be extremely taboo, even over some of the most heinous crimes. David Berkowitz (the Son of Sam), is one of the most prolific serial killers in history. Despite this he has been embraced by a San Diego church because he has converted to Christianity.

The bible has helped many people find peace and happiness but it has also been used as a weapon to demonize others who either do not believe in the bible or do not believe it should be taken literally. Many who take the bible literally, word for word, do not seem to understand that people can still be moral without being religious. Religion is not a prerequisite to morality.

While some people use the bible as a guide for every aspect of their life from morals to parenting to finances, others just use (for lack of a better phrase) common sense. Treating people with respect, not judging others, trying every day to be the best person you can be, being kind and helping the less fortunate, these are just a few examples of basic morals that one can follow without needing religion. There are many examples of great individuals who were not religious (whether atheist or while believing in God without organized religion). It is difficult to believe that many of these people would be considered immoral by anyone. A short list of only a few great, moral, and intelligent individuals who lived their lives without, (or with minimal) participation in organized religion, is as follows:

Abraham Lincoln

Albert Einstein

Benjamin Franklin

James Madison

John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

William Howard Taft

Thomas Paine

Thomas Edison

Sigmund Freud

Voltaire

Vincent Van Gogh

Helen Keller

Galileo

The preceding as well as the following paragraphs may seem like an attack on religion and the bible but it is not at all intended to be. I fully support people practicing whatever religion (or lack thereof) they choose. What I do not support is those who attempt to push their beliefs on others or consider themselves the moral police, believing they need to fix everyone, and that anybody who does not conform to their beliefs is an immoral person. These practices, as well as corruption and hypocrisy, are present in all religions. The reasoning for the focus on

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