Thursday, October 20, 2022

Do We Need Religion?

This may or may not have been written by a formerly religious person: 

When I was religious - I would think only of myself.

Now that I am no longer religious -- I think so much how to help other people. 

When I was religious - I would earn money and spend it all on myself. 

Now that I am no longer religious - I make sure to give a significant amount to the less fortunate. 

When I was religious - I would watch pornography and other bad stuff on line. 

Now that I am no longer religious - I am careful only to watch clean things and put a strong filter on my computer. 

When I was religious - I would randomly sleep with women with whom I had no intention of having a serious relationship. 

Now that I am no longer religious - I am abstaining until my wedding. 

When I was religious - I would speak disparagingly of others, use foul language etc. etc. 

Now that I am no longer religious -- I try to be careful only to speak words of positivity and kindness. 

When I was religious - I would stay out all night partying and then sleep until the afternoon. 

Now that I am no longer religious - I go to sleep on time and wake up early. 

When I was religious - I was filled with jealousy, hatred, anger, resentment and most bad middos. I didn't work on myself and didn't care.

Now that I am no longer religious - I am mostly free of all of those maladies. I constantly work on myself to improve. 

When I was religious - I wanted to stay single forever so that I would have no responsibilities and so that I could enjoy "playing the field" and "sampling" all that there is out there.

Now that I am no longer religious - I want to get married as soon as possible and build a large family of children devoted to perpetuating good values. 

When I was religious - I would cheat, lie and steal in business. After all, G-d was watching but I didn't care.

Now that I am no longer religious - I would NEVER do or say anything dishonest. 

When I was religious - I caused my parents endless heartache. 

Now that I am no longer religious - I am EXTREMELY meticulous in honoring my parents [and grandparents, whom I used to ignore]. 

Isn't it a GOOD THING that I am no longer religious 馃榾馃榾.

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Mussar Haskel - Society needs religion even if it wasn't true. Now that it IS true - 注诇 讗讞转 讻诪讛 讜讻诪讛.