I watch the news pretty regularly. And man sometimes its just crazy. Especially over the last few months. I mean I feel as if there has always been bad things on the news ever since I was a kid.
Iraq wars, middle east fighting, 911 etc.
All of which were due to hate but today there is a new level of hate, which in my opinion is almost childish and sad to watch.
What makes it really sad to watch is that most of it is due to religion. Being a devout Christian, its hard to watch other people of religious sects kill in the name of God.
I really think its crazy, then I come to realize that people who are not Christian probably think I'm crazy for believing what I believe in.
And then I know there's Christians killing people too!! WTH!
Today is Good Friday, its been a pretty good day I should add. I'm alive, and I'm thankful for that.
About 2000 year ago a man named Jesus was killed for his beliefs, and 3 days later, by a miracle he rose from the dead and ascending into heaven, and by doing this all of mine and your sins have instantly forgiven.
ONLY believe in this and YOU will sit at the right hand of the "Father" for eternity in heaven.
Hmmmmmmm sounds crazy right? I get it. In a lot of ways it does sound crazy. You probably started reading this not thinking I was going to call myself out or my own religion.
Who are you to judge?
I would like to think that most people who know me would say that my life at least looks like its going in the right direction. I'd personally like to think it is also, but I'm trying to stay humble.
If you asked me why and how my life is going in the direction that it is going I would tell you its because of my religion. I'm not doing this on my own. Again, I'm crazy right?
Maybe a little, but this brings me to my point.
IT WORKS FOR ME.
The other night I watch a documentary on Scientology, in the first few minutes of the documentary I learned that they teach. "This is not for everyone, but it might work for you."
Although I do not think many of their teachings are for me, who am I to say their teachings are not for you? This was the most significant thing I learned from this documentary and is really the reason I'm writing all of this today.
I began to watch this movie with preconceived ideas of who they are, and had a conclusion already made up about them.
Again not really agreeing with all that they do, I was no better at that time than an ISIS member. I have no intentions of killing anyone because of it, but I judged just the same.
Another religion that is not for me, which happens to be a sect of Christianity is Mormonism.
I have a ton of friends who are Mormon. Growing up in Catholic School I learned quit a bit about their beliefs. Although I'm not 100% sure of what I was taught was real being that it was being taught by devout Catholics, I still knew I didn't agree with what they believed.
But as I've grown up, and my mind has begun to think more than my mouth speaks (hard to believe i know). I have really thought about their religion.
Have I EVER met a Mormon who is not living a beautiful life? That doesn't have a beautiful family? Have you ever met one? Well my answer is NO I haven't.
So although not for me, I would be stupid to not notice that they are doing something right. What ever they are being taught, and whatever they believe in must be good.
Let me ask you a question.
What happens to us when we die? Do we go to heaven?
Crap I hope so, but if you didn't would you really know?
You'd still be dead.
Imagine living a life with an expectation of eternity and it was fulfilled, and if it wasn't you wouldn't even know because you'd just be dead.
But along the way you learned how to love one another, make the world a better place, and just really live a better life.
Now I like to call some people out before they call me out.
Let me guess you might be an atheist?
Not a big deal as far as I'm concerned, except for the fact that I hope you are not the kind of atheist who is letting all of your believer friends know you think they are crazy.
Atheism today in its own right is a religion. Some of the most influential people in this world are Atheists.
Bill Gates for example.
And those same people are people trying to make this world a better place today than it was yesterday. Just as most religions are trying to do.
Therefor, I would compare a REAL Atheist/humanitarian (since they like to couple those two a lot) just another religion. They believe in fundamentals such as you reap what you sow, do unto others as you would want done to you, etc.
Almost 200 people were shot in the back of the head yesterday in Kenya because one religion didn't believe what the other did. This was really really sad news to watch today and the fact it was all done really because people are judging one another makes it tough.
What kind of world are we living in?
Some pizza place today said they wouldn't deliver pizza to a gay couple's wedding.
I mean REALLY!!??? You don't need to agree with what they do, but come on.
Quit judging. This was also in the name of religion.
The whole moral to this story is that we will always disagree with what other's believe in. But do we want to advance this world or not? I would like to leave it a better place than I received it in. My wife thinks I'm the biggest judge of them all, and I've been actively trying to not be. I'd like to think I've been doing alright.
And what works for you? If its something that teaches hope, love, and the advancement of this world, then have at it.
For now I learn those things by being a Christian, but don't judge me, as I 'm not going to judge you.
