Maybe I’m just trying to cover my bets regarding the hereafter, but I attend church on Sundays and a Torah group on Mondays. I’m open to mosque recommendations in Los Angeles as long as the following applies to them. What the Torah group and church have in common are a rabbi and pastor I admire, respect and adore. Both the Torah group and church are inclusive, non-judgmental, stand for something, will stand up for something but don’t stand up belligerently against anything that doesn’t harm people or the communities in which they live.

After attending both the Torah group and church for some time, I have come to some conclusions about religion.

The purpose of religion is to offer (vs. force upon) people the opportunity to disabuse themselves of both their destructive animal instincts and their personal self-serving egos and replace them with a perspective that better serves people and the community in which they live by bringing out their best qualities.

More from Mark Goulston @ Alternet

Posted by The NON-Conformist