Growing up I did not have much to do with God and the church. My mother and father were Lutheran, but I cannot remember going to church even once. My parents divorced when I was three and my mother met my stepfather when I was five. His family is Catholic, and when I was a freshman in high school I was baptized and confirmed on Easter. Although I had to attend religion classes in order to do this, as much as I don't want to admit it, I can't remember much of what I learned in the classes. Since my mother and stepfather married I have been attending church on Easter, Christmas Eve, and Thanksgiving. When I was little it seemed like it was never ending, but as I got older I began to actually listen to what was being said and I began to actually like it.
             It is hard for me to believe in something that is said to be good, yet lets so many bad things happen. When I think of him I think back to the stories that I do remember from my religion classes. I think of Christmas and the death of Jesus when I think about God. I also wonder why things happen the way they do. Lately I have discovered that it seems as if everything really does happen for a reason. I have many mixed feelings and emotions when it comes to believing in God.
             The church to me is a place to go to celebrate our faith. It is a place that holds many emotions, such as happiness and hope at a wedding, and sadness at a funeral. It seems like it is a place to celebrate beginnings and endings.
             The most significant question I have about God is why does he let the bad things happen? I know we can't live in a perfect world, but it seems as if there are so many bad things that happen for no reason at all. That is what makes me question whether or not I truly believe, and what exactly I do believe. For example, why would God let young children who have never had a chance at life die so soon? And why do we have all of
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