Huntster,
I'll sum up for now - I don't think a fragmented conversation will bring a clearer view of your beliefs.
I'm not in denial, as you claim, because I argue a political or social point-of-view. I don't think that skepticism can be used to determine whether we should have guns or not. We can apply critical thinking in how we evaluate the evidence, but what we ultimately decide is not something that can be determined by science alone. Take vaccinations. They save lives. That's a fact. But the decision to vaccinate the population is not dictated by science - it is determined by people.
We can, however, apply critical thinking to paranormal beliefs, such as your own, and determine what is happening. As provisional as the answer may be, we can reach a conclusion. And the conclusion is: There is no god, not yours, not anybody elses. If there is, show me the evidence. But don't ask me to believe, just to believe.
You choose to believe, and that seems to be the merit for your belief. However, I don't think you are very happy in your belief. I looks to me as if you have chosen religion as a response - not a solution - to your problems, but it doesn't seem to give you any happiness, or even hope. What it gives you is some form of stamp of approval for you to come here and mock other posters. I don't find that a very nice reason, and it reflects poorly on yourself. It certainly takes the wind out of your statement that we should all be better. Sweep before your own doorstep first.
You believe in an afterlife partly because of nameless people's unverifiable accounts of NDEs - that there is something after death. You see your god when you are alone with animals, but not when around people - unless they share your beliefs.
It is often said that skeptics must lead a dreary life, because they have no hope. But what is this hope that religious people have? Possible salvation for themselves (and that's a big IF), but eternal damnation for all others. Is that hope? It sounds more like childish glee to me. And, as we see in Beirut today, religion is still being used to fight wars for a very long time.
I don't reject god, because, as is pointed out, I would have to believe that he existed before I could reject him. But I don't see any reason to believe. The hope I have is in the real world, because that's where I live. My hope is pinned on something verifiable, and something that gives me immense hope for the future. Sure, it may not tell me what happens after I'm dead, but then, I'm not all that interested anyway. I'll be dead, you know. But what science does tell me is that our future looks pretty bright. We take giant steps every day in improving our lives, and expanding our knowledge of what really goes on in the world.
Religion? That's stale, narrowminded dogma, used to validate inflicting pain on others. I take science any day.
