Alright. Here we go. Last nights post was delayed due to procrastination.
Bad Religion:
So, I was thinking about religion earlier. I'm not entirely sure why, but it just crossed my mind. Maybe because I'll be going home soon, and as such, will most likely be attending church more frequently than I do now. Which is to say, I'll go at least once, haha.
In any case, I've been thinking about the different types of religions, how I was raised, and what my beliefs are now. And, I've found, that over time, my beliefs have changed.
Which they probably should have. You know, what with the growing up and "finding yourself" bull shittery and whatnot. But when I was younger, I don't think I particularly had a religion. Yes, I went to church. Yes, I was baptized as a baby. Yes, the only thing I'd been introduced to was Christianity. And as such it shaped me and my morals. But my family has never been super religious. We were your average Christians, church on sundays, celebrated the holidays, baptized the babies, said our prayers, and touted God's grace when it was appropriate.
But by and large, we honestly weren't all that religious. And I myself, am even less so now.
In a way at least. i don't really go to church all that often anymore, but I do say my prayers every night before bed, and before most meals. Partially because it's how I've been conditioned, partially because I do what to give thanks. But the difference is, now I know who I'm praying to. When I was younger God was just that big guy in the sky mom said to pray to. Now, he's a definite force of ideals that I believe in. I don't know if I fall under the Christian sense of God anymore. At least not in the strictest sense.
The way I've structured my ideals generally comes down to "don't be a dick". Which, coincidentally, coincides with a lot of religious beliefs. I believe there is a God. Just one. I believe that he make take on different forms. And as different forms, different people see different things. Which is why I'll never knock (most) any religion. In your world, God is this. As long as you're not "being a dick" you're square. Hell, you don't even have to believe in a God.
But everyone believes in something. And I think, that as long as you're a decent person, why's it matter what God you do or don't believe in? Just because I consider myself to (loosely) be Christian, and you consider yourself atheist or pegan or pastafarian or whatever, it doesn't mean I'm any better a person than anyone else. I don't believe there's a God who actively interferes with our lives (and if there is I bet he's playing the sims with our lives, watch out for disappearing doors and pool ladders). I think our strength and wisdom and ability to learn comes from people.
We learn through stories, which is why the Bible is so loved. It's got a shit ton of stories in it. Even if they're all written in funny language that takes forever to understand (which is precisely why I've never made it through). But just because you haven't read the Bible, or the Torah, or the Quran or whatever, doesn't mean you don't learn. There are plenty of other stories that you can learn the exact same lessons from. And some of them come with dragons, which, come on, are infinitely cooler than a kid with a sling shot.
So all in all, this really isn't a post about my religion, or lack there-of, but about being a decent person. None of us knows for sure what happens when we die. And all of us are trapped on this planet we call Earth with a few decades to live and make a life for ourselves. So why waste it arguing religious bullshit and judging others based on things that don't particularly matter (unless ones religion is douchbaggery). Not all Christians are bible thumpers, not all Muslims are terrorists. So for _____ (insert religious figure there) sake, shut the hell up and argue about something important. Like hungry babies or something.
Quote of the Day:
"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?"
-Abraham Lincoln
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