I live in Moncton. One of the astonishing things about this town - and maybe yours - is that the churches seem to go into hibernation from Sunday noon till next Sunday morning. No wonder they're declining. The only church that seems at all active is a very commercial Wesleyan outfit down the street from me. It appears to be a sort of religious MacDonald's.

Primitive peoples had faith for a reason. The teachings of their faith were essential for survival. Native Canadians believed there were spirits all around them in trees, in hills, in grass... I don't know now many have had the experience of living extended periods alone in the bush, or getting lost in it. But, oh, my, there were times when I profoundly wished I believed in the spirit of a mountain that I could not find a way down - and dark coming on.

We have come close to strangling all the reason out of our faith rules by replacing faith with dogma, by arguiing over whether Mary was a virgin, whether God is the same as Allah, whether Jesus rose in the body. Who cares? We waste time over arguing about the precise rules for gays,and  about  whether God likes us more than somebody else?

Sometimes, I agree with atheists who just skip the whole thing.

Look. I have faith. I know I do. I can't explain it. I believe that God is the inspiration for what we read in The Bible, and for me. But I also know that man has been the interpreter of that inspiration. I don't believe that condemnation of gays comes from God.  I don't believe believe that God calls us to commit genocide - though if you literally believe every word of The Bible, then you have to consider the possibility  that Hitler was carrying out a Godly command.

I don't believe in killing or stealing. That's not simply because God said so. It's because it makes damn good sense not to have society that kills and steals (even in the name of God.) It makes sense, and it's in the general spirit of The Bible. (Indeed, I have sometimes thought observant Jews in my native Montreal were the most Christian people I ever met..)

What our churches do far too much of is saying we should do something because God said so. They should talk more about WHY God said so. And be very specific.

I could not tolerate a Roman Cahtolic church - much as I respect many of the priests I have known - because I cannot stand its insistence on dogma and superstition. (If I ever meet another case of Marianitis,  I might reconsider killing.)

Churches should be doing far more about discussing why religion makes sense, more time bringing Christians together in a Christian setting (though with a minimum of casting blessings. Less Christian worshipping and more Christian doing.

I suggest every minister drop into a local synagogue and find out what a real House of God is like. There is constant activity, meetings of groups, social events, serious discussion. I  have spoken at synagogue breakfasts, evening groups, barmitzvahs - hundreds of times and on all kinds of subjects.. I have rarely spoken in any Christian gathering except to conduct a dozen or so services.

Give the atheists a change to find out why they might be attracted to Christianity.