Believe (or not)

"It is always easier to believe than to deny. Our minds are naturally affirmative."
- John Burroughs

I've started reading "The God Delusion" tonight. I'm only on chapter one, but my initial verdict is "highly recommended." He talks a lot about Einstein, who is apparently quoted out of context a lot and made to seem as if he was a proponent of (organized) religion or of a belief in a traditional kind of God, anyway. I expect to gain a lot of insight and knowledge (of examples of the trappings of religion). The big preconception I once had of atheists is that they are a bitter uninspiring bunch that are missing a sort of "religious" or spiritual experience in their lives... I shudder to think, now, of how much I used to judge people I didn't know, just based on what I was taught by others - perhaps that's a good summary of the trappings of religion. I believe there's more where that came from, though. I'll keep you posted on how my reading goes. And if anything else comes up that "inspires" me, I'd like to remember to discuss that, too. That's what I really want to do with this exercise is get out some of my deepest feelings and experiences that I don't always share with anyone, otherwise.