Paulie,

Ultimately faith is a special bond you have with yourself and your own values. That is my opinion. The ten commandments are incredibly valuable principles to live by, but how you value them is of utmost importance. The moment when someone begins to tell you how your life should be held is, in my humble opinion, a complete deviation of the basic principles of religion.

A strong guide of faith, in my opinion, is as much a necessity for our over-developed brains, as is any other physical manifestation in which we have sought to develop to ensure the survival of our species.

If you want to read a book on faith, from the perspective of a scientist (psychologist) - read "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl. It is a dark book, but has been referenced as one of the greatest modern testaments to faith the world has, (may ever imho) see. It's also a very short book (=

Coming from someone who thinks deeply, and has gone to purgatory and back within my head over such topics... I will reference the 85 year old Marine in which I spent a summer working with: If you aren't bothering me, you aren't hurting me, then you aren't my problem, and we can live in peace - But don't you tread on me or my values!

Coming from the Beatles, "Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.."

Coming from the sorority girls I lived with, "just smile, and wave."

I talk to my grandfather, who I never met. He was a raging alcoholic, and a cripple. But, before the car wreck, and before the co-dependent manifestations, he was an all-american football player, and a heavyweight boxing champion for the Marines. I hold myself not to make the same mistakes he made in his lifetime, and use his spiritual presence, or his genetic imprint, as a guide for me when times are tough.

Hope this may help you form a better understanding for yourself. If not... see Beatles quote above.