On this most inauspicious of days (6/6/6) I decided that a little slice of Webster's religion is in order for yall.

A few weeks ago, I chatted online with a friend of mine whom I have not seen in a very long time. Since we had last seen each other (years) she had become, for lack of a better term, “very religious.” I would never have considered myself very religious at all – but I am a confirmed catholic.

She was wondering how I was doing and we spent a few moments speaking about Grilled Cheese Religion and just life in general. We had worked together at Circuit City back when I was in college and she had seen some of the “wilder days” in my life^[1] and I guess she was worried for me.

She mentioned that according to the bible I was a sinner because on occasion I have been known to drink, swear and murder people generally not practice the catholic faith to a “T” and she wondered if I was worried about going to hell.

I mentioned to her that I think that I believed organized religion is basically a sham used to extort money from good people and I think its original existence was because of the need for social structure in early society without a proper police enforcement.

[note: There is a lot of good that comes out of organized religion, I just think those same things can be done without attending mass each week whilst stuffing wads of cash in an envelop so a priest can diddle an alter boy on a Pier1 couch]

I told her that I didn’t know if such a place as hell^[2] (or for that matter heaven even) existed, and that in each different religion around the world the exact rules differ but the main object is that you respect others and generally try to contributing to life/society in a positive way. (Killing off an entire race of people is not affecting life/society in a positive manner – yeah Hitler I’m looking at you Jackass.)

So if there was indeed “heaven” created by some “god” wouldn’t he want me to “enjoy” his gift (Earth) which he created to the fullest? The gifts that I have given others which give me the most satisfaction are the ones that are enjoyed often and used by the recipient, couldn’t earth be viewed the same way?

So I told her my motto of “live life to its fullest every day", and "contribute in a positive manner to society" was (as I believe) my one way ticket the promise land if such a place existed. Enjoy yourself and help other enjoy themselves. That means doing random good deeds to put smiles on faces – and your’s too.

These acts could include (but not limited to) holding a door for someone carrying a large box, petting a puppy, having a 2 5 13 a few beers with a good ole' friend, letting someone pull in front of you while driving or even visiting an old folks home to entertain them with your tap dancing skills.

80 years sounds like a long time to live – and we each would be very lucky to live that long. The truth is that most people you meet on a day to day basis won’t make 80, a lot wont make 70, a bunch wont make 60, a handful won’t reach 50 and a couple won’t make 40!

Life is too short to worry that your hair is falling out (or more aptly running down the back of you neck and setting up shop somewhere south of the “equator”) or to argue about semantics of having the words “under god” in the Nation Anthem.

Enjoy the day – because it could be the last day on Earth

[1] Spent hoisting 4 kegs up the side of a URI dorm building only to later run through the hallways with somebody’s underwear on my head. Picture not included.

[2] Buffalo NY