Having been raised a catholic and gone through some stints at priestly boarding schools, I lost whatever faith I had — I was never much of a devout — about the same age as you, Carly. A hideous plane crash near where I lived at the time killed everyone on board. To this day I remember vividly how I looked at the wreck and silently cried. I knew no one on board. But I just couldn’t wrap my young head around such senseless carnage. How it could be in a world overseen by a benign omnipotent god was something totally beyond my powers to accept. I still very much abide by the rules of conduct instilled by my religious upbringing, but I have never felt any inkling of transcendent belief after that event.
A popular quote found in the Internet, usually misattributed to roman philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius, sums up my subsequent outlook pretty well:
Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.
