Together

I am not a religious man, I am afraid the concept of God completely escapes me and has done since I was very young. It follows therefore that religion leaves me cold and in my opinion has caused over the centuries more harm than good. Religious doctrines are all very well and perfectly understandable but really! I know humans have this insatiable desire to want to believe there is some existence after life. I just believe we cease to exist and that's as it should be. How arrogant is the human race to believe we are so special? I have formed many views in my life, some have been changed by experience and softened by age and a broader view of the world. However as I have got older I think my view of religion has hardened. I dislike more now than I did when I was a young man. Perhaps my admiration for those who have true belief might have altered but I avoid any discussion on the subject as I can hear myself become quite militant in my views. Most of us are free to believe and think whatever we choose, to many of us follow blindly what we are told to believe and far too many follow those beliefs without ever questioning them. I have always espoused we should consider all the evidence and then formulate our own beliefs. I have encouraged this in my sons. As I write religion is yet again at the centre of the major differences between countries and the trouble within them. The cloak of religious interpretation has once more lead a small minority to adopt a murderous and barbaric way of imposing their agenda on others. The chaos and disruption this has caused among millions, who only want a peaceful life and safety for their families has become untenable, displacing thousands and if the war is not killing them the flight to freedom often does. Sadly I am not sure there is a solution to any of it. If one element is defeated I fear another will spring up to take it's place. It may not happen straight away but it will happen. As usual we seem incapable or unwilling to learn the lessons from history.

And so to Christmas, which is where I was leading to. Not because of it's religious significance, I think you've got that by now, I like it because our family is all together and I like giving presents. 

Merry Xmas