I am not a bad person, and I never have been. I abide by all the rules set for me, I am honest, my morals are in line...
I don't appreciate being "condemned" because I cannot consider myself a part of any organized religion.
I am not saying that those who believe in organized religion are wrong. If you've found your place with religion, I am happy for you...just as I am content in my situation.
I was having a conversation with someone the other day, and she asked me my opinion on religion. I told her, and was immediately chastised and put down. I've honestly never felt more angry in my life. I'm not one to fight with someone I am barely aquainted with, but I ripped this girl to shreds. How dare she belittle me with her personal beliefs?! How dare she wish me condemned for my opinion and way of life?!
I do not believe in organized religion. Never did I say that I didn't believe in a superior being or "God". I have perfectly good reasons for my opinion. I was in church for Easter one year, and I zoned out completely, as I usually do. (Forgive me. It is understandably difficult for a fifteen year old to focus on a monotone religous history lesson for an hour and a half.) He said something that caught my attention and turned my heart cold.
"We must pray for those not of this faith, for they are mislead and will perish unforgiven and tainted."
Is that not the most disgusting thing spoken by a priest you have ever heard?
I was so unbelieveably angry, even then, at fifteen, when I heard that. From that day on, organized relgion was completely ruined for me.
Wait! Do not flame. I understand that not all churches and religions are like this. I have other reasons. Since the begining of time, religion has been a major factor in seperating groups of people: World War II and the genocide of the Jewish people, the constant anguish between the Muslims and the Jewish that continues today, even the War on Terror. Killing for God?
Religion seperates us.
I understand that beliefs, alone, seperate us as well. As I said before, I am not part of any religion, and still, I was ostracized. However, I still believe that "religion", just the title, increases seperation and discrimination somehow.
I believe in...something divine. There are miracles in this world that we will never understand. However, as mortal I am...I don't claim to know what that Divinity is. I will not give it a name...I'll let it exist.
I won't give this belief a name...I'll just let it be.
To that young lady I mentioned before,
If you let me think what I think, I'll let you think what you think. I would never dream of criticizing your beliefs. How dare you...
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