Tuesday, November 9, 2010

For The Love of Jesus.

According to the constitution, Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any religion. So my question is, when did freedom of religion turn into freedom of Christianity? When did Christians get to the point where they support someones freedom to express their beliefs as long as the belief they're expressing is the Christian belief? I'm not saying all Christians are like this or that they are the only religion that does this, but in my experience that's who I get it from the most. As a non-believer I have an outside view of religion. One of the biggest things I notice about Christians is the fact that they won't even acknowledge any religion other than their own. They have no knowledge of what other religions believe or worship. When I tell people I'm Agnostic, I usually get 1 of 2 responses. They either respond "So you worship the devil?" or they say "Is that like pentecostal?" I've seen and heard Christians mock other religions as stupid or crazy for the things they worship or their religious practices. If someone says anything to them that goes against what they believe, they completely shut down and don't want to hear any of it. Ive gotten to the point where I don't even like to bring up religion because instead of becoming an adult conversation were two people discuss they're views on a topic. It becomes them preaching at me and trying to save my immortal soul because that's the "Christianly" thing to do. What they don't understand is if they would actually read the book that they are so quick to throw in peoples faces. They would see that the Jesus they worship only preached love and acceptance. He never pushed upon anyone, he didn't use scare tactics to get people to follow him, he just loved everyone. These days, it has become very evident that there is a big difference between being Christ like and being Christian. They have become so quick to look down they're noses at anything they deem to be un-christianly. So where did this Christian arrogance come from? When the pilgrims fled Europe and established the first American colonies, it was to escape religious persecution. It was so they could have the freedom to worship god in the way they believed to be correct. So in-between then and now, when this nation become the very thing it was trying to escape from? It goes without saying that the USA is a christian nation. Just turn on the TV during an election. The politician that wins is the one that proves he's a bigger Christian. Not the one that's fighting to have prayer removed from schools because not everyone prays or the one that supports a mosque being built in every neighborhood in an effort to support diversity. Its the blue blooded, bible thumping, "god fearing" (which I've never understood why being afraid of god is a good thing) christian. According to a recent survey done, only 51.3% of Americans identify as Protestant, 23.9% identify as Catholic, the 3rd largest religious group.... Non-believers at 16.1%. So why are we all being so polite to the majority when we cant even get the same courtesy? A random person could walk thru walmart wearing a t-shirt that says "Real men love Jesus" and no one would give him a second thought except maybe to compliment him. But if that same person were wearing a shirt that read "There is no god!" they probably be met with alot of good ol' down home christian hate... and depending on which state they're in wouldn't make it out the parking lot alive. Can these people really think they're beliefs are better than everyone elses? When you say things like "I don't hate you, god hates you!" or "The lord is the only one who can pass judgement, but you're gonna burn in hell for your sins." When you gossip behind your neighbors back while in church. When you think going to church 7 days out the week will make up for the fact that you beat your wife and kids. When you make members of your own church feel uncomfortable to simply just be themselves. How could you possibly think you're setting a good example of what the love of god is? Even if they are right and in the end god is real and Christianity turns out to be the best way. I'm pretty sure a big chunk of that 51.3% wont be getting thru the pearly gates.