People always argue that their religion is the only true religion. They may not have a problem with other people and different religions but almost every religion claims that that religion is the only sure path to heaven/god/the internal inner peace attainable after death etc. How can EVERY religion be the ONLY way to end up happy?
Think about it. Everybody believes so strongly in their religion. Which is definitely a good thing, they believe with all their hearts, souls and minds. But then its hard to remember that just as strongly as you have faith in everything you've been taught, and believe it to be true, pure, hard-as-stone fact, somebody else has just as much conviction and faith in their own teachings that are completely different.
People that are born into a church and have been attending church as long as they can remember have no reason to and usually don't question what they've been taught. They've been hearing this stuff all of their lives and have accepted it as the truth for just as long.
Then there's people like me who haven't been attending church forever. I went to St. Peter's Lutheran church until I was around seven or eight years old. Then my family stopped going to church and I was left with a sorely incomplete knowledge and acceptance of my faith. I have recently returned to my church, going with my grandmother as often as possible in my search to re-claim my faith and spirituality. But what about the eight years span between? As I got older, I was suddenly lurched into a world of many more religions/faiths/beliefs than i was ever aware of and everywhere you look there's something to contest with what I'd been taught. I've been given plenty of time to build my own (somewhat jarbled) belief system and since returning to church I have heard many things that I agree and disagree with. I've also had the chance to get a close look at other religions aside from christianity. I've been to a Mormon church, a Lutheran church, and Anglican church... I've read about and associated with Pagans/Wiccans, etc.. I've seriously thought over Buddhism and other eastern religions.
What is the point of all this? What is the conclusion I've surmised for myself?
Organized religion sucks. And EVERY religion is, too some extent, full of crap. Having people tell you how to believe, isn't the same as believing yourself. It's just following instructions. I believe that you shouldn't have A faith, you should just have faith. Believe in your own way, choose your own path. Having your own relationship with God/universal energy/whatever you believe in is important. Not having somebody else's relationship with said divine force.
And there you have it folks, that is Shin's rant on religion.
 Shin~The ladle monster! · Mon Feb 20, 2006 @ 10:11pm · 0 Comments |
