Religion from an Intellectual Standpoint (What I know to be true) Disclaimer: the following is my personal belief and in no way is endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Recently I purchased a CD containing music from a very talented band. On the inside cover of this same CD there is a note from the band regarding the blindness of religion. All you seminary students know the scripture and as soon as I can I will look it up in D&C, that we should seek knowledge but do so with a clear mind. For to seek exclusively for knowledge, we may fall away from God and cease to believe in the existence of a greater goal in our lifetimes and our purpose for existence. I would like to ask a few questions of those who think they have found a greater knowledge than what is contained within the scriptures and the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This particularly goes out to members who now believe themselves to be above the "blind opiate of religion". First my personal belief is science explains how then God explains why. I also personally believe in the process of natural selection with regards to animals and species that do not have an awareness of self. By that same token for those of you who believe in natural selection and Darwinian creation theories, I ask you to explain logically why humans use less than 15 % of their brain. First I will sum up the question and debunk the theory that we were created through eons of competitive elimination with the other species of this planet. Having no formal schooling above High School as of yet, I cannot rely on the learned vocabulary or extensive knowledge of the postulates and theories that make up various creationist and evolutionary beliefs. So I will use a simple tool that can be grasped by the youngest of us.....logic. Who are we? For the Darwinians, we are reformed animals. For the religious, we are children/creations of a God. Yes naturally people will gravitate to the belief that they are part of a divine work. We seek to find a new level of existence. The Darwinists believe these thoughts of God are only the creation of an insecure being with a fear of a limited existence. Which side do you take, it has long been the stereotypical assumption that intelligence causes one to believe in science, and ignorance leads to a belief in an alternate creation with magical properties that defy science and reason. Why would a creature of origins derived from animals use a limited portion of it's potential. Why is there 85% of the human brain untapped. I now ask someone to explain to me why these portions of our brain "evolved" so that our speed and agility might be inhibited by our bulbous heads. Logically it doesn't make sense. I believe this to be the "veil placed over our eyes." Now begins the spiritual part of this discussion taking place in my head. Those of you who I have intrigued by all means keep reading. For all those who would like to offer an explanation as to the limited function of our huge brains, please by all means e-mail me. I will post your questions here and then attempt, as best an 18 year old can, to answer them. Who are we? We are children of God. Why are we here? To be tested. Where am I going? Depends on the grade you get on the test {|-). We are here to be tested, to see if we can overcome instinct to acheive a higher level of thought. One that is not plagued by greed, envy, lust, or hatred. We must use belief, faith, hope, and love of our fellow man to do this. The natural man is an enemy to our salvation. We have been given tools, and I intend to take advantage of the assistance of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For it is a church ordained of God. It has the same organization as the primitive church that existed in Jesus' time. It contains a man who receives revelation concerning our ongoing battle to acheive a higher level of thought and ultimately it teaches the logical truth of our purpose here. So I ask the intellectually blinded. Who are you? What is your purpose? Lastly, tell me sincerely that you KNOW what will happen when you die. I can testify with conviction that I know the answers to all of these questions. If you believe me to be blinded by religion, then I ask you who is blinded by their beliefs? He who is willing to learn everything, or he who is willing to limit his thinking by ignoring the burning questions you have asked yourself many times as you fall asleep at night. Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? These questions are more than fear they are the examples your sentience. If you deny them you deny your existence as a thinking creature.