I don’t understand how some grown-up, intelligent, self-aware people do not struggle with religion.

This story is not meant to mock the faithful folks. I have religious friends and relatives, and I have nothing but respect for them. How they are keeping their faith is a mystery to me.

I struggle. I don’t even know where to start discussing this topic.

One way is to analyze my relationship with children. Not a great analogy but not crazy either: aren’t I to my four children what God is to me? It’d be nice if my kids loved and respected me (I hope they do!), assuming this respect is deserved. Do I want them to pay tributes to me, worship me? Let’s be more precise — pay tributes to me in specially constructed buildings full of statutes, paintings, and photos of me.

Let’s take this further. Let’s imagine that I, in this life or my afterlife, do want my kids to pay tributes to me. It doesn’t stop here. I want to be worshipped in a particular way. No shorts and no slippers if you’re expressing your love. And if it’s the anniversary of my birth or death, I want a special celebration and a special preparation. Fast. Abandon many foods and drinks.

That some higher being created this endless universe and everything in it, I can accept. That there is an omnipresent higher intelligence that understands everything that ever was, is, and will be, I can accept too. That this higher power has an ego that wants to be worshiped and he/she rewards for being worshipped — that’s silly.