To be or not to be...

I've recently had a conversation on facebook about religion. It has basically been a discussion between those that are religious versus those that aren't. It started with one person saying she was baffled by educated people who were religious. Now, I consider myself to be educated. I have a bachelor's degree. I keep up with current events (mostly). It surprises me to hear a comment like this, because I would think an educated person would not be devoted to a religion without going through a trial period to see if they believed that it was a true religion. To assume that someone educated would choose against religion, I believe, is ignorant.

Here is why I am for religion, not necessarily any particular faith, but religion in general:

George Washington best stated it in his farewell address of September 19, 1796. (This is long, but so good)

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of the religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice. And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

'Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?...

Observe good faith and justice toward all Nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be that good policy does not equally enjoin it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and at no distant period, a great nation to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can doubt that in the course of time and things the fruit of such a plan would richly replay any temporary advantages which might be lost by a steady adherence to it? Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices?"

The quote is a little lengthy and wordy, but it does have a valid point. In a religious society, there is a moral obligation to a higher power, which guides moral conduct. Without this sense of accountability, society starts to degrade. The current social state of our country is a prime example. Values that were once considered essential have now been pushed to the way-side as people abandon religion and are left to figure out how to live on their own. Families are disintegrating, more and more children are being born into broken homes, and morality among all ages is rapidly decreasing. If there is no consequence, beyond the laws of the land, to our actions, why try to be a good person? There's no law against being a jerk and being selfish, so there's no consequence. But if you believe in the existence of an afterlife, where there are consequences to your actions, you tend to be a lot more careful about what you do. You try to help others, you try to be compassionate, you try to be a good person. Without religion, you take away morality, and that, my friends, is why I believe religion is vital.

My Amish quest

For the past couple of years, I have found myself becoming more and more Amish. It started when I decided to make my own jam. I would get these delicious strawberries from a stand and make it into the best strawberry jam ever. So much better than store bought. Then Craig bought a 10 lb box of peaches from a farmer in Beaumont and there was no way we would be able to eat those before they went bad, so I canned them. They, also, were way better than the store bought canned peaches. Then, people with apricot trees and pear trees let me pick a ton of fruit from their trees to take home and I canned those also. Way better then store bought. Well, maybe not the pears. I still need to perfect my canning methods for those. All this got me wanting to have everything fresh right in my own back yard. I bought an apricot, peach, and avocado tree and was given a pomegranate tree. All are still small and not really producing yet, but they will. I'm dying for a new house where I can plant all the things I want and can hopefully get the majority of my produce from my own home.

All of this slowly turned into me not wanting to have any processed food in the house. I started making everything from scratch, including bread, so we could have fresh, home cooked meals. Don't worry, I haven't gone completely overboard, yet. I still buy goldfish and granola bars and all the kid snack stuff, but slowly, I am weeding out all the junk that you can buy in stores. Someday, I hope to make my own cheese. I'm thinking this is the best kind of food storage you can get because it is self sustaining. You don't have to rely on someone else for your food. So there you have it. I am slowly turning Amish. Well, except for the internet. I think it would take a lot for me to become unplugged.

Decisions, Decisions...

or

Right now I am 33 weeks pregnant, which has got me thinking a lot about how I am going to deliver. My doctor has been talking about inducing me early, on account of my last very fast labor, but I'm not sure how I feel about that. I was induced with Abby and I think she could have been cooked a little longer, given how small she was when she was born, which makes me anti-induction. Then I think of my experience with Rex...do I really want that again?? I don't want to be soiling our awesome new van. But I'm also strep-positive this pregnancy, which means that they want to run IV antibiotics during labor. If I'm not induced, the worst that will happen is that they'll keep us in the hospital longer to make sure the new baby isn't sick. So I'm kinda torn between the two. While I would love to have a fast labor again, I would not love to have the baby in the car again, especially because it takes a million years to get a birth certificate and social security card that way. But with being induced, I can plan for everything in advance, like who's going to watch my kids, etc. What do you guys think?