Steve was a bit harsh on religion with his last post but it was well deserved. In a society consumed by the delusion that religion is the answer to everything, he approached this issue the only way he say effective: with a kick to the head.
Human consciousness is a mystery that should be left for neurologists. It is wrong for a religion to say what your responsibilities are in this world. It is also wrong for a certain religion to say that a certain angel will meet you in heaven or a certain number of virgins will be available to you if you commit an act of martyrdom. Such questions and mysteries cannot be answered yet, if they can ever be answered. However, answering these questions and mysteries with the notion that a supreme being has controll over them gives little respect to you own cognitave processes.
Ages ago, why the sun and moon rose during the day and night respectively was answered by a polytheistic answer of eternally warring sun and moon gods winning and losing battles. We now know that we are part of a solar system that has multiple planets in orbit with some of them having moons. Likewise, the questions of consciousness and the "soul" may be answered by scientists in the next century and the default answer of God is understandable, but still disrespectful to our collective intelligence.
Why do I say collective intelligence? Let me start by saying that having the same beliefs as your neighbor, colleague or new acquaintance only reaffirm those beliefs. Religions have that power about them that it is a self perpetuating machine given the right parameters. What this does is not only give a good base for which the religion the expand upon, it also makes way for exclusive and more polarized groups. When you have large populations so set on certain idealogies on completely uncertain events it makes our species look terribly idiotic.
I'd like to keep going but I have responsibilities at work.
But before I go I leave with one simple idea:
If you're want to take action in your life, try it without "God's help" or without the knowledge that God is looking over your shoulder (he isn't anyway). You might find completing the task to be tougher, but that is because you are now up front with the reality of the situation. Though it may seem daunting to overcome this certain task, you will most likely come up with more intelligent choices and rely less on "luck" and other uncontrollable factors. This is real self improvement.
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