Okay folks,
I live and grew up in Colorado Springs, purportly the city with the largest amount of religious organizations per capita in the US.
We have everything from Focus on the Family headquarters(ick) to the largest Metaphysical fair of its kind in the US (happening this weekend) to every group in between. But what makes me sad is the division between the the extreme right wing and even those of us that stand in the middle.
C Springs has got to be the most volatile place to live in if you have a difference of opinion with regards to the teachings of Christianity.
I am not Christian, nor am I religious, I consider myself to be spiritual. I think being a spiritual person is more important than being religious. Why do I say that? Here’s the scoop:
You say, “he religiously cleans his car,” you never say, “he spiritually cleans his car.”
I know that sounds silly, but it’s true. If you live your life spiritually rather than religiously you have a better sense of things around you. If you live your life religiously, you go through the motions but the ends are never satisfying nor helpful to fellow humans. Not that washing your car could benefit your neighbor, but maybe caring for the things you have benefits you in a different way than a simple ownership. You thank whatever your God is, or Gods are for providing you with the means of transportation.
To go to “The Karate Kid,” this may also sound silly, but he was being taught to put his soul into what he was doing, not simply go through the motions. Remember “Wax on, wax off?” If you think about it, it makes sense.
I am not sure exactly where I am going with this whole thing except that maybe I am a little afraid of our rights, as guarded by the constitution, to have freedom of religion are being trampled by The Religious Right.
In C Springs those rights are being trampled on every day and the Christian Right is doing everything possible to squash my right not to have to live like they think I should.
For the most part I am a morale(ummm,by their standards) and upstanding person, but because I don’t follow their “book” I am doomed to hell. In addition because I believe that people have a right to make mistakes (in their eyes commit sin) I am a sinful being for thinking that.
I just wish “The Religious Right” would get off my ass for not being a Christian. I wish people would get a freaking clue and realize that there are so many beliefs out there that no person can ever totally agree on what is truth. In my eyes, your truth is not truth but a means to explain in human terms what can’t really be explained.
So as humans we hurt and harm another for the sake of who is right and wrong? What if my beliefs are right and yours aren’t? This human existance should not be about forcing our self beliefs on another but to accept the differences as genuine individuality.
I enjoy my individuality, I enjoy your indiviuality. We may never totally agree but if we can come together and agree to disagree our lives will be richer for it. Let’s discuss it, but not fight over it. Let’s begin to appreciate our differences and maybe learn from another. I will not take what I don’t deserve and I wont give what you don’t deserve. But for goodness sakes give me a chance for being different.
Lots said, nuff said!