Can I live???

I am a good person. I am far from perfect, but I feel like I use good judgement, have good morals, and display a strong character. Up until this point in my life, there is no doubt in my mind that I have made a positive contribution to the world.

Despite any of that, there are some people who look at my life as being a failure. No matter how much good I do or how many people I touch, there are people who will look at my life as being unfulfilled. The reason being is that I don't have faith in any religion, and I don't believe in a GOD or Gods.

In all honesty, I would love to believe in a GOD or Gods. Why wouldn't I want to believe that when I die I am going to enjoy an afterlife of paradise in heaven?

It's just not that easy for me. I am what would be considered agnostic. An agnostic person is someone who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of a God or Gods. So I don't totally dismiss the idea of there being a higher power, I just don't think that it can be proven. I have been told by many religious people that the concept of GOD cannot be fully explained, and I completely understand that. My disconnect is with the religious ideologies created by man being spread to the masses as the absolute truth and the word of god.

Now I am not going to use this time to attempt to debunk any religion, or to attempt to change anyones beliefs. All I will say is that I am very open minded, and have taken into consideration every piece of information that I have ever come across. I have made myself familiar with religious doctrine, but I have also made myself familiar with history, nature, astrology, numerology, symbolism, among many other things. And with all things considered, I cannot whole heartedly adopt a religion, or fully believe in the existence of a GOD or gods.

Now why is that so unacceptable to so many? Choosing a deity or a religion to worship is a choice. I just wish people would respect me as a man for the choice that I have made. It's not like I go around attacking anyone else's beliefs, or even speak on mine. I actually prefer to keep my beliefs to myself. I have found that in most instances that the non-belief in a religious persons choice of worship is a form of disrespect in itself. It doesn't even matter if I follow most of the moral principles that the religion preaches. The fact that I don't believe in the deity that represents the religion or the stories that are associated with it is enough justification for religious people to look down on me. So for those reasons I try not to discuss my faith.

Then there are the people who don't look down on me for my beliefs, but who feel sorry for me because of them. I appreciate the concern of those people, but I don't need anyone to feel bad for me. I am good. I have come to terms with what I believe will happen to me when I die. It is actually what I believe will happen to me when I die that actually helps me live. That belief helps me put things in my life in perspective. That belief helps me let out my emotions. That belief helps me value every moment, and appreciate every day. It is interesting that the non-belief in a religion or deity helps me through life in a lot of the same ways that the belief in a religion does to a person with strong faith.

I know I may never understand the purpose of my life, or the purpose of humanity. To me that is part of the beauty of living. We are all given the opportunity to create our own unique path through the journey of life during our brief existence. I value my opportunity, and I have created what I feel is a fulfilling path on my terms, all without having any burden of guilt hanging over me for not living within the constraints of any man made religion. I am going to continue to think, live, love, and be what I consider successful my way, all while using good judgement, having good morals, and displaying a strong character.

Now with all of those things considered...

Can I live????