Don't take this the wrong way but, are you young? I used to have the same perspective, used to scoff at religion, ritual, blind beliefs, etc. The truth is, I

Don't take this the wrong way but, are you young? I used to have the same perspective, used to scoff at religion, ritual, blind beliefs, etc. The truth is, I don't think they're meant to be taken literally. When someone says "Just believe in yourself and anything is possible", they don't actually believe that ANYTHING is possible. Phrases like that provide a framework for people to live their life by. Religion is the same thing. These are psychological tools that can be used, to help keep yourself on the right path - One of happiness, productivity, etc. Anyways, just another way to look at it I guess rather than dismissing them. I have that initial reaction too.