The debate continues

     Over to the right and down a bit.  That is where you'll find a monkey who looks like he's thinking really hard. At some point he was pondering this:  Why is it that you can tell someone that there are 400 billion stars in the universe and he will believe you, but when you tell him the paint on the bench is wet, he has to touch it?
     I love that monkey.  He always gives me something else to think about.  As if I don't already have too much on my mind.  Oh well, I rather be busy than bored.
     The question above is all about faith isn't it?  I had an interesting discussion with my mother about faith and her lack of it.  We were talking about how there may be no heaven or hell.  This topic brought up the fact that there are things you would never do if you were afraid of where you would end up in the afterlife.  If you don't believe in the afterlife, however, you really don't have to worry about how your actions affect anybody.  I am not sure that is good.  Do the majority of people who have left the church still believe in God and Heaven?  Just because they left, does that mean the belief ends?  Does it matter?  Is going to church just too inconvenient in our over scheduled, tired society?  I know a lot of people who are Christians who do not go to church.  Does it make them less Christian?  Does going to church make you a better Christian?  This can be debated forever and ever, but do those who are Christian and go to church have more of a chance to deepen their faith with the help of their pastors/ministers?  When I don't make it to mass, I miss it.  I am on a committee at our church called Worship and Spiritual Life.  I am mostly involved with the environmental aspect of this committee, but I am going to a training session so that I can help the parish adjust to the new changes in the mass that will take effect during advent.  I am excited to be involved with this and it makes me feel that I am helping.  What I learn here helps me to understand my faith a little better.
     The above questions will never be answered to the satisfaction of all people.  The debate will continue to the end of time, and some would argue that it will have to continue beyond that.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.