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By Sunny Tunget

 As usual, during lunch, my friends and I had a discussion. Normally, though, it is very light hearted and we laugh a lot. This discussion reached new grounds for seriousness.

There are at least two topics that I try not to engage in, politics and religion, because no one is ever right or wrong and feelings can get very strong.

This conversation was on religion. And boy did we get on a roll, especially when I explained my feelings about a preacher who gave what I felt was a stupid answer to a question my husband posed. The question: "Who is God?" The preacher's reply, believe it or not, was simply, "God is God."

The man was talking in circles. Was he not versed enough to be able to explain God? Or is it that he really didn’t know who God is? And if that is the case, why is this man leading people to believe in someone or something that he is not sure of himself?

When I made these comments at our lunch, a woman who overheard me came over to throw her two cents in. That was cool for me, but it upset one of my friends.

And that incident reminded me why I try to avoid these subjects.

People are actually killing others over their religious beliefs. Sept. 11 is one example.

I would like to know how people who are religious can kill other people over their beliefs. Is murder not one of the highest ranking "no-no’s" on the "sin list?"

I don't know who or what God is. I follow the only rule I think is important: "Do unto other as you have done unto yourself." I don't think that anyone else should believe the way I do, but who can prove me wrong? And I am not capable of proving anyone else’s beliefs wrong.

Talking about religion bothers me because of two categories of people: in one group are those people that say they believe, yet they don’t act as if they do. In the other group are the people that try to shove their religion down your throat.

Jeff Foxworthy has an easy way to keep religious people from knocking on your door. He suggests drawing an outline of a person and throwing religious pamphlets all around it. I would guess that would keep them away.

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