Dear Editor,
“I don’t have faith in faith. I don’t believe in belief. You can call me faithless still cling to hope. And I believe in love. And that’s faith enough for me”
The great lyricist Neil Peart wrote that for the rock band Rush off of the Snakes and Arrows album released in 2007. And that brings up a very valid point for me. I was never one to go to church every Sunday, never lighted any candles during winter for Chanukah, never paid any money for a religion, never did any of that. However, I was also never a faithless human being.
I’ll admit that at one point (well, for the majority) of my life, I considered myself a Christian on paper. I never really understood the other religions and was felt like I should be a Christian because there were so many who were where I lived. After doing research two years ago about every religion, I decided that religion was not for me. It opened up a new world for me. It was like I became one with myself and understood more about the world around me. It made me respect those who struggled to just simply say ‘no’ and make their own decisions in life-. Becoming a non-religious person showed me something that I probably would have never taken the time to research and it showed me to make sure I check my facts before I state an opinion.
Neil’s been a guiding light for me, ever since the death of one of my great friends. He’s shown me the light toward so much, and helped me when I needed to make the right decision. His books inspired me, and his words guide me so much that I embrace his band logos on my body. Now, with “Faithless” from Snakes and Arrows, he showed me the simple idea of freewill, something that I have always been severely lacking.I still have faith, though it might be different than what someone might consider faith. I have confidence in my life and confidence in other’s beliefs being different than my own, as what we all should have faith in. Sure, it may not be faith toward a certain religion, but its faith nonetheless. And please, if you should argue with me, I am open for it. Stop me on the campus, send me messages through Facebook or Myspace, do so whatever you feel necessary.
-Gregg Searles

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