Hello,
I've recently began defining myself as a skeptic. I'm a long way off from being polished, with all the detailed answers at my fingertips. For now, I'm still closeted about confronting people's fantastical notions. My active rebellion against dangerous fantasy started one day on the subway when instead of just ignoring the Jack Chick tracts, I collected them and threw them away. My first baby step. An opressive christian society is a one I just don't want to live in.
To me, God and humanity are essentially the same thing. For you and I our mortality is all there is. From before we born here until the end of our race, we are/were part of humanity. It is the beginning and the end of us individually and eventually as a whole. For the religious, "God" is not so far removed conceptually. He is all things collectively where we are individually. It's only a small difference split wide by those who crave power over others.
I choose to take responsibility for my own actions.
The existence of God, if possible, is unknowable.
Thusly, any progress toward knowing him is illusory and can only hinder progress in my own life.
I hope that I can give those I come in to confrontation with the patience and respect I expect from them and not treat them with ridicule.
It seems the community here is rather small. I'll do my best to participate.
-sal