Religion: What it means to you

Bear with me, as this is rather long/wordy, and I thought up most of it on the spot, even though it is true and/or what I believe. It may or may not be intelligible.

I was raised Catholic, and it was understood that I would remain Catholic and such. That's what my family still thinks I am. Thing is, I'm not entirely convinced there's a "God" figure. To me, it's a little like believing in an actual Santa Claus who really goes to every home on Christmas Eve, leaving gifts. The idea is nice, but reality as I see it doesn't quite support a God as portrayed by most religions. Omniscience and omnipotence and omni-etc doesn't sit well in my mind. Besides, if God created man in his image, wouldn't that indicate that God would have the leanings toward good and evil that man has? After all, it's God's world, and he could do as he pleased in creating man, so why not make a bunch of inherently good beings who are wholly good, unless God himself is not wholly good and this is reflected in man? Free will doesn't answer that for me.

To get back to the point, I have no bones with religion as a whole. Much good has been done and continues to be done because of faith, which largly promotes peace, loving thy neighbor and such. Those who war on behalf of their God seem to be not following what they profess to believe. (Ok now I'm getting sidetracked again.)

I believe in ideals being very near to being possible. I believe in being free to do as I feel is right, and you being free to do as you feel is right. I believe in everyone being equally a person, and I believe in everyone being their own different person, and I believe in treating everyone accordingly. I believe in creativity in almost all things. I believe in feeling. I believe in thinking for oneself. I believe in living a life which causes the least harm possible to any and all. I believe in living so as to do good where and when one is able. I believe in the simplicity it is possible to have. I believe in complexity of life and the questions life raises. I believe in knowledge, and I believe in belief. I believe in giving one's best effort. I believe in the importance of self and I believe in the importance of society.

I also believe I should stop typing now. At any rate, this is my religion, since it is how I try to live my life.

Jam it back in, in the dark.