I was listening to an interview today that Terry Gross conducted on NPR with a lady theologian -- a very bright and sincere lady. What I heard in that interview, merged with past experiences like my admiration for the Lutheran theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr It made me realize that what is at the core of most religions is not belief in a god -- or any , but the concept of living a "good" life. The good life in that sense is treating other humans creatures and environments with full dignity, respect, love, and actual caring actions. That is what makes life worh living and which also sustains life.
That aha moment enabled me to realize that, in that sense, I am, and have always been religious. But I do not need a god, a "holy book" or a demagogic and authoritarian religious figure telling me what his dogmatic "truth" is the only way and must be followed. I realize that have always been seeking a meaningful interpretation of the good life (not always successfully) and striving to live that good life. And, I am comfortable with my attempts and with the overall consequences of my actions.
I simply cannot conceive of a deity which creates creatures, professes love for them, them condemns them to hell for not worshiping him. And, I will always act against any religious sect or denomination which actively seeks to impose its false dogma on me and others, which is harshly judgmental of others from other religions, ethnicities, sexual persuasions or political stripes -- or which seeks to deny people of their right and obligation to define and pursue a truly good life.