Religion. Yeah. I Went There.

In the past few months I have blogged about things I believe in. That was all just superficial and this post is bound to step on some toes. There is one topic that is most often avoided because of the controversy that follows it like an ominous cloud: religion. Lacking a better term that sums up the moment: shit just got real. So this is where you can see how I truly feel about something. There are few people who I trust to tell this to, but I wanted to make a leap and literally spell it out right here in my blog. 

I don’t believe in an individual deity. I do not believe that there are angels who are warring with demons, or of a revered “Heaven”. I do believe that a man named Jesus Christ lived in Israel and did magnificent things for people; it means that I don’t believe that he turned water into wine and that when he was crucified, he died and rose again. I also believe that the prophet Muhammad thinks he spoke to Allah. What I believe in does not disregard these claims. In my opinion, religion may mislead some people to do awful things, but it does so much good for this world that one cannot argue with the power that it holds.

For example, I believe in the 10 Commandments and think that those are values that   everyone can live to. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt love thy neighbor. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Pretty standard stuff. However, this does not mean that I am under the impression that God gave these to Moses through thunder at the peak of a mountain. 

All that said, I think that people who follow a deity or are immersed in religion are some of the most grounded and friendly people I know. My best friends are all religious and are kind, centered and grounded. What their respective religion has done for them has gave them a sense of belonging and a strong moral compass. While I may not agree with their reason for action, it is hard to argue with someone who is against extra-marital sex. Or someone who thinks that it is important for them to serve God for a year and build houses or do another type of service without pay. And I support any religion as long as it doesn’t hurt people because or the most part, they are incredibly similar. 

All religions acknowledge the existence of Jesus Christ, whether Judaism, Christianity (all forms), Mormonism, or even Muslim. So the Mormon’s believe in an extra book, so the Jews only (for the most part) study the Old Testament, so what? These religions carry the same message, celebrate this omniscient God who wants you to live a healthy and loving life which is followed by an eternity of being in His presence. So why should people make Mormons the butt of jokes? Is it because they follow the Book of Mormon? In my experience, that extra book taught them something that the Bible and Karan left out: it doesn’t matter what religion you follow, treat everyone with the same amount of kindness that you would another Mormon. 

Here is a Bible verse that transverses religion and you can apply to any situation in any time. This one verse defines why I love religion. It may refer to a deity, but it leaves you room to interpret it however you please. 

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”