How would I know?

| Do you practice religion?

Should I?

I was raised by science-based atheism, grew up around Jewish and Catholic kids, studied Buddhism in college, and am surrounded by Protestant Christians today.

To believe in something without hard proof is admirable. Something that exists, against all odds. I even sometimes question the validity of causality in the randomized controlled trials that guide my field today. How can you possibly be sure of anything in this world?

To practice something in all your actions is aspirational dedication. I’m fascinated and scared by it. How do you know if what you’re practicing is the right way?

I could give a list of activities I treat “religiously” or secular beliefs that are more like morals than religion. But isn’t that watering down a term meant for the divine?

I imagine if I practiced a religion I would stop asking these questions and have some answers.