Religion is no longer needed IMHO. And no, I will never be involved with it again. I don't mean to be mean or arrogant, but religion is an un-evolved state. As humans we are capable of evolving past the need to "need' religion to make us better, make us feel better or give us meaning in life. Or make us behave and do the right things. As I see it the more we need religion or a higher power to make us behave or be decent, the weaker and less evolved we are. Believing, especially as it is associated with religion, is one very small step up from reaction, feeling and emotions (a lack of impulse control), which makes us more akin to our lower primate friends than it does to the potential held out in our DNA.
But as long as we think that we need a Jesus to carry us on the beach when we are tired or give us the strength to quit smoking, drinking, lying, cheating, gambling, blah blah blah, etc., etc., etc., we will never evolve as a species.
A sense of community and belongingness? Perhaps that may make it relevant to some, but there are other options available. For those who have come out of a high control group, such as the JWs, it pains me to see them continue to 'search' for something that they rationally and intelligently should know isn't there. Turning to another 'spin' in order to make an imaginary creature llike me and maybe reward me in the future is, well, bizarre.
I just ended a long term relationship with someone I still love, but she has some self control issues that I can no longer live with. She has turned back to church to make her behave, because she can't seem to do it on her own. I find that extremely weak. Sorry, don't mean to be mean or offend.
