Both. I'm avoiding the question because it is too difficult.
After all, some of the greatest philosophers have already spent a lot of effort on it. Who am I to add anything to their efforts
What I say from here is _not_ a personal attack on you..... It's observation, nothing more, nothing less, of people with a religious "bent".... It is not critical of you or anyone with a belief.... I feel I need to put this in here to avoid the death threats from the religious.... The word "you" will be used in the plural not the individual sense unless specified, in which case it isn't an attack.... I'm also not saying that I am smarter than anyone who reads this.... OK?....

So, from that I can logically conclude that you are a follower rather than a leader insofar as you don't question the premise itself or the work of others on it you just follow the premise and the thoughts no matter where they may take you.

That would explain your, (that's a "real" your), reliance on quotation of the scriptures. It's much easier to accept the writings and thoughts of others than to question them and think for yourself. That being the case how can you claim or even expect freedom? You tie yourself to an unprovable doctrine that places restrictions on your decision making processes yet you claim to be "free". Free of what?

Religion, by it's very nature, is blind.... It doesn't evolve quickly because it is, in it's absolute basis, a controlling factor and the people with the control hate to relinquish that control.... That's human nature and animal nature.... period. After all, we are just animals..... Don't kid yourself we aren't animals... There are many religions in this world, (which is an anathema itself if it was created by a single supreme being), yet not one has _any_ proof whatsoever that their supreme being(s) actually exists. I won't ask why that is a fact..... Because I already know no-one has an answer that is viable. But did you ever wonder why an omnipotent being that created the universe wouldn't "drop in" from time to time to say "Hi, I'm really here...."? Just to prove that there really is a supreme being out there whether he is part of your religion or not.....

OTOH.... Religion is a _wonderful_ way for the "smart" people in a society, who understand that in order to have numerous people living in close proximity there has to be some order, (read: rules), that they need to live by or the society will fall apart. That's how religion evolved and that's what you believe in now..... some form of "order".... many of the religious doctrines, (if you look at them carefully and in context make a ton of sense.... "bury your dead the same day they die in the middle east - ever smelt a dead body - they go off real quick in the desert - and promote disease.... They may not have understood the relationship between the dead body and bacteria but they sure as hell understand that people get sick if you leave a stiff around for a few days on the back porch of the tabernacle..... )

I'm rambling.... like that's a 'first'.....

Here's the statement that will get me my death threats.......

Religion is for those that either, don't have the inclination to "think and discover" or don't have the mental agility to do either. It is for those that can't accept their own stupidity or lack of knowledge and still have a need to assume thay are the smartest thing on the planet, (that little teeny thing in the universe that is the only place your supreme bring visited).

Comments, thoughts, flames, nuclear weapons gleefully accepted......