I  spent  the  first  24 years of  my  life  surrounded  by  YOUR
religion.  I  moved beyond that belief set 20 years ago. I  am  a 
fully  grown  adult  who  has made  certain  decisions  about  my 
personal religious beliefs. Give me the freedom to make up my OWN 
mind  about that which I believe. Respect my decisions!   Do  not 
force YOUR views upon me! Do not leave little hints that I should 
follow YOUR one true path to YOUR concept of what lies beyond  MY 
life!  Beware the Zealot! On that path lies the Inquisition!  Let 
all of us find our own true way. Keep the rule of silence  unless 
one  of  us ASKS you for advice.  The most  effective  method  of 
helping  others is by your living example, not by the words  that 
flow  from  your pen or mouth.  Truly it has  been  written  that 
religiousity  is the sin of the Pharisee.  Just because a  person 
does  not  go to church every Sunday is no reason to  think  them 
unconcerned with religion. Is it any less valid to search for God 
in the realm of Nature than in a 2000 year old book?

It is offensive to proselytize when you are not wanted or needed.  
Your  brand  of religion is NO more valid than that  of  another.  
How dare you judge others when it is written in YOUR Bible "Judge 
NOT, lest ye be judged".  When did GOD come down and whisper  the 
divine  revelation that YOU were always right and  others  wrong, 
that  you must force others to see as you see, hear as you  hear, 
feel as you feel?

From   personal  observation  I  can  say  that  YOUR   religious 
environment  is less concerned with the spiritual growth  of  the 
individual  than with raising lots of money  for  exhibitionistic 
purposes  or  for  forcing your views  on  others.   Your  church 
members  seem more intent on social activities than  on  becoming 
better  individuals.   Perhaps  you do not  understand  that  the 
QUALITY  of  help you give to others is more important  than  the 
quantity  of  money  you  spend  on  them;  certainly  the   U.S. 
Government  doesn't,  and it is after all the reflection  of  the 
ideas held by it's citizens.  That government governs best  which 
governs least.

If  you  truly feel a moral responsibility to others, it  is  far 
better  to leave them alone whenever possible  (difficult  though 
that may be) and only give assistance to others when it is really 
needed.  Give people room to grow, to learn from their  mistakes, 
to mature. Do not create mindless zombies dependent on others for 
decisions which they should make for themselves!
