This is what it all comes down to.  Do you believe that 
there is a God?  Millions of people over thousands of 
years have worshipped a version of a deity.  All we have 
to show for this are the writings of some ancient peoples.  
Scholars have spent entire lifetimes trying to validate 
and verify a scroll.  Wars have been fought and kingdoms 
lost all through history over just such a question.  

Sometimes the answers that we find are very simple.  I was 
watching a television show once where a male child was born 
of a Jewish father and a Gentile mother.  The question of 
circumcision came up.  The child's mother thought that the 
act itself was barbaric.  The father was very unsure of how 
to deal with the situation.  His father put the question in 
this perspective.  "Our people have been doing this for 
three thousand years.  Who are we to say that they were wrong?  
Who are we to ignore the accumulated intelligence of all of 
our ancestors?"  

And yet, it is very fair to say that the current generation 
is much better informed than any generation ever before.  It's 
not that the people are any smarter, it is just that information 
is more readily available and communications are so much more 
a part of our lives.  And in spite of all this, it is impossible 
to offer scientific proof that there is a "Creator".
  
Was Jesus the Son of God?  Has the Messiah come to earth?  Will 
there ever be a Messiah?  Who was right?  Moses?  Mohammed?  
Buddah?  Peter?  Paul?  Why do you believe whatever it is that 
you believe?  If there is a God, why would he or she allow the 
pain and suffering that has existed throughout the history of 
mankind?  Why would he allow the false prophets that have led 
millions to their death.  And why has he kept hidden for the 
last two thousand years?  

Well, you have come this far with me so let me give you my 
answer, for whatever it may be worth.  In my heart I believe 
that there is a Creator.  It is a matter of faith.  I could 
be wrong.  I can admit that and live with myself.  What is 
important to me is that I believe that the world was created 
with a purpose.  Or maybe I should say "on purpose".  While 
each and every one of us may be individual accidents of birth, 
the world, as a complete entity, is a part of a much greater 
plan.  What is even more important is that it doesn't matter 
one bit if I am right or wrong.  Each of us should do the 
"right thing" in each and every circumstance without regard 
to the existence of a supreme being. If I wish to belong to 
an organized religion, that is fine.  It is a matter of 
personal choice.  Those among us who have dedicated their 
lives to a religion are free to do just that.  They are 
also free to attempt to convince others that accepting the 
precepts of their particular belief will enhance their lives.  
As a result, some will find comfort and hope, which will make 
it easier to face the daily burden of life; some will find 
reason where none before existed; and some will find faith 
and the realization that their life has a meaning.  But there 
are many who have found all of this without any external 
influence on their life; or in some cases, in spite of those 
influences. 

Peace will come with the understanding that cultural 
differences are normal and acceptable; that the world is 
much larger than our individual perception of it; and 
that tolerance is love at it's greatest level.
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