12/2/05 It's December ?

Here I am again, 1 in the morning, supposed to be studying but I constantly drift off to reading people's "backpacking the world" adventures. I ran across this gentlemans (David Melancon) post, he could not have said it better " I think religions can serve a wonderful purpose in that they give us moral standards to live by, but at the same time, they are also “dividing lines” that for centuries have been the cause of war and oppression. Why must we hold on so tightly to a system of beliefs? And why must we be told what to believe in the first place? Doesn’t the idea of learning who you are and your place in this world by using a little introspection and self-discovery seem much more natural and logical than by just simply adopting a code because of how you were raised or where you are from? For me personally, finding the answers on my own is much more meaningful than having them spoon-fed to me. I guess it can be best summed up with a simple analogy: Put two people in the middle of a deep dark forest and tell them to find their way out. Give one of them a detailed map of the forest, some food and water to last a few days, and a gun. To the other one give nothing. Now of course, the one with the map will most likely find his way out relatively quickly by simply reading the map. The other person however, may possibly spend weeks being lost, making wrong turns, trying to find food and water, all while trying to avoid being eaten by wild animals. But if he uses his own instincts and learns from his mistakes, he will eventually make it out. Now, my question is this. Of these two people, which has a better understanding of the forest and how to survive in it? I think the same can be said of our world."