I went to tuition yesterday and we went through several case studies which more or less prove that material possessions aren't all there is to life. So there, Tien. We also learnt that believing in things other than yourself is dangerous. Have you heard the story about the warrior and the broken arrow? He thought that his arrow was a magical object that would protect him (rather like how Christians think of God) and when he finally discovered that it was a broken arrow, he was so disappointed that he prompty went and got himself killed by a stampeding horse or something like that.

I've ever wanted to pray to whatever out there that might be listening, but in the end I never do it, because I know that there's nothing there and the only reason why I get that feeling is that I'm not strong enough to be able to believe in myself. If there's going to be a tomorrow, then I'll be the one to create my tomorrow. Why is it up to the 'powers above'? As if they really existed, anyway. I believe in Fate to some extent, but not gods and the like. Science was meant to overthrow all this unlogical thinking, right? And while we don't know if everything the scientists say is true, science is certainly more believable than those god-influenced theories, simply because we can see it in everything around us. Brownian motion has been observed, yes? But how many people have seen God? I'm just going to stick to the dreams which I can see. It's dangerous, and it may hurt, to have nothing to believe in but me, but I think it's still safer than believing in something which, for all we know, doesn't exist and never existed.

There was a time when I actually was a Buddhist, and another when I actually was a Christian, but never after I discovered that burning incense and things of the sort was causing air pollution, and never after learning that God ever demanded a sacrifice. If they truly cared about us, why would they ask us to damage our Earth, the only habitable planet? Why would they want us to eat any meat at all, since that would mean taking life? If they don't care about us, then I think it's better not to believe.

It's true that customs and traditions count for nothing with me. I'm one of those people who just discard whatever doesn't work, sentimental value usually not taken into account. I hate it when people burn paper money, even though it's a tradition I'm expected to keep up. I won't go this year. Nor the next, either. I'd refuse to go anywhere near temples or churches altogether if I could get away with it, but I don't really feel like giving my grandmother a heart attack. So I guess I'll just sacrifice my beliefs for once.

How many people on this planet can honestly say what I've said today? How many of those freethinkers are actually atheists? I don't know. I don't want to know.

Aerin
P.s. Tsuyo has a really cute Sephiroth avatar.