Stand, sit, kneel, repeat-- part 2

So, why haven't I attend mass in over a decade?  I'm having issue with dogma, you know, the man-made rules one must abide to be a part of the "club."  I'm going to hell.  Did you know that?  And, why, may you ask?  Did I murder someone?  Steal from orphans?  Pee in the baptismal font?  No, none of those.  I'm going to hell because I had my tubes tied.  I have made the conscious choice to have only two kids.  Given our situation (financially, emotionally, intellectually), stopping at two is the right and responsible course of action.  Remember, every sperm is sacred.  And since I have blocked off the access of that sperm to any others eggs, well, I'm going to hell.

It's not the religion in and of itself with which I have issues.  Mostly, it's the people who hide behind it.  I have encountered so many people who claim to be Christian but perform the most un-Christian-like actions.  These people spout memorized lines from the Bible to announce to all how devout they are, but then spread venom and bile through gossip, hatred, and intolerance.  All the major religions tout peace and love, yet some followers use specific passages from their religious tomes to justify alienation, estrangement, enslavement, and war.  I have difficulty with entities that fear independent thought and specific children's stories.

My parents are devout Catholics, but you wouldn't know it.  They don't cram Bible verses down your throat.  They don't monopolize conversations with talk of God or the Church.  Their faith is seen through their actions.  If more Christians were devout in their actions instead of just their words, then the world would be a better place.

I saw an interview with Gene Simmons (of all people), and he was discussing the difference between Judaism and Christianity.  In Christianity, one just needs to ask forgiveness for all the awful things he or she did during life to gain entrance into heaven.  In Judaism, entrance is gained by living a good, kind life.  So, basically, I can act like a douche my entire life, but on my deathbed, I can ask for forgiveness and get into heaven ahead of someone who lived a good life, provided for his family, was kind to strangers and friends, but didn't go to church.  Doesn't quite seem fair, does it?