FIGHTING ABOUT RELIGION

Our world sure is a strange one. It seems to me that more and more people are moving away from the kinds of conversations we used to have. You know, before the internet? (Oops, my age is showing, LOL. Relax, I'm 25). Anyway, I LOVE the internet. I think I wouldn't have become the person I am today without it. However, I have noticed how common it is now to use social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and such to rant and whine about every little annoyance that comes our way. One HUGE topic that sparks this whining is the topic of... you guessed it... religion. Look, if you watch my YouTube videos or follow me on Twitter, you know I myself am a religious person. But my reason for this post is not to defend religion. Actually, I would like to offer my point of view on this trend as a whole.

It has actually become the norm to start and hold entire internet conversations about things we DON'T believe in.

"Oh that person has a religion? Send them a comment telling them how wrong they are."

"Oh they aren't voting for my candidate? Tweet them that they are a monster and how they're destroying the world."

"Oh, they're a vegan? Spam them with pictures of meat and dead deers from my last hunting trip."

DO YOU SEE THE MADNESS??

I think it's amazing and wonderful that we live in such a way that we can freely express our opinions. However, when I go on these social platforms and witness my own friends fighting over issues that they don't believe in, it almost seems as if they are throwing away everything they DO believe in.

People who aren't religious: haven't you chosen to stand for treating others with respect? Upholding the freedom of people to believe as they wish so you keep your freedom to do the same?

People who are religious: are we not taught to love thy neighbor as thyself? Do unto others as you would have done unto you? Are we not all brothers and sisters?

I have been practicing my expression of the things I believe in with all my heart, and ignoring any urges to point my own imperfect finger at the things I don't believe in. We are on this earth to GIVE to each other. We are here to UPLIFT each other. How can we do that if we are following the grand illusion called "DIVISION?!" Remember, if "they" can divide us, "they" can and will ultimately conquer us. If you stand for what you believe in, I have a deep respect and admiration for you, even if I don't agree with you! But if all you have to offer is your argument against someone else's belief, I feel sorry for you. There is so much more to life that you are missing.

And for the record, any time I watch a video or read a tweet, if that person were to say "I believe with all my heart that being Catholic is the one true religion (OR Islam, Buddhism, Protestant Christianity, Atheism, or WHATEVER!) the thought would never even cross my mind to leave them a nasty comment about how "wrong" they are because already I feel secure in the things I DO believe. If I find myself wanting to argue with someone, it's usually because that person is saying or doing something that makes me feel guilty, making me act defensive. Speaking from experience, once you notice this reaction in yourself, you CAN learn to stop doing it, and once you find your security in your own beliefs, it is absolutely liberating. No one can bring you down because you respect and love everyone, regardless of differences. Do we really expect everyone out there to believe the exact same way as we do? No one is on the same walk in life that you are.  If I wish to have freedom in what I believe, I know that I must open-heartedly embrace the diversity of others' beliefs as well.

Believe in something. Love each other. That is the secret. <3