Once you've seen a man physically beat a woman in front of you (and have also been at the bad end of a fist) - there is nothing to believe in because it was beaten right along with that woman. There is no higher being that could protect anyone from that, or child abuse, or the absolute bullshit that happens on a daily basis all throughout the world. Why do people die for no reason? Why is there cancer? Why do people become so depressed and kill themselves? Why did 9/11 happen? To me there is no plan, destiny, or reason for any of that and to think that there is some being in the sky allowing this to happen is beyond me. Not only that but religion is watered down and tainted with thousands of years worth of opinions/views/changes which totally negates the idea behind religion, so frankly you’re really practicing the modern man’s word and not that of Jesus/God or whomever you pray to. I just think that its propaganda but if it helps you sleep at night thinking there is a "heaven" then fine. It helps me sleep at night knowing that I haven’t had the wool pulled over my eyes.