I cannot handle the religious aspect at all. It freaks me out as well. But as others have mentioned I make more use of it as meditation. Someone in a meeting said he doesnt actually say "God" grant me the serenity. But just skips the god part. Meditating to something bigger than yourself I find much more easy and useful. Even though I am freaked out because of the god aspect I actually have a copy of the serenity prayer hanging in my house because of the power of the rest of the message.