17 days and counting until Christmas, 85% of the shopping done in good shape overall, but Christmas brings me to a topic that I don't like to discuss much…religion.
Jesus is the reason for the season, and if you are not a part of Christianity in some respect or form, Christmas should probably not even fall on your radar. I guess there are the pagan origins and other such traditions, but at the root of it all it is a Christian holiday.
I'm not going all bible thumpy on you dear reader, not at all. That is not, nor will it ever be me. I spent the better part of my formative years in many different types of religious settings, be it Catholic, Baptist or some other sort of denomination. Had we had Jewish and Muslim folks in our small town, I might have even experienced those too.
But religious I'm not. Or maybe I am, religion by definition is an organized collection of thoughts on the universe/supreme beings etc… I'm paraphrasing of course, but I have some pretty strong feelings on those who claim to be religious or do things for religious reasons.
At a very fundamental level I have problem with any system that casts prejudice or persecutes because it doesn't fall within the "religion guidelines" Catholics condemn the gays and are strong on pro-life views, certain groups condemn women and treat them as second class. If we take a look at the ongoing conflicts in the world are not a lot of them generated from one group/tribe/religion believing itself superior to the other?
I think it's all crap.
I don't argue with faith, and belief in a higher power, a sense of community and servitude, that's all good stuff and falls in line with my philosophy of treat others as you'd want to be treated. Worship God, Allah, Buddha, the earth and sky, Colonel Sanders for all I care, just don't use it as an excuse as to why you did or didn't do something.
You and only you are ultimately responsible for what you do. Don't tell me the church made you do it, or so and so came to you in a dream and said all blue eyed people are evil. Your religion is not an excuse for your actions.
If you go out and deliberately harm someone or something it is not in the name of (insert higher power here), it is your dumb ass self that is doing the deed. If you lack the judgement to determine right and wrong and good vs. evil don't use religion as your justification.
I don't buy it. I'm not professing to be holier than thou and more worthy than anyone else. That's not my nature. I live by my integrity alone. If I think I've done something wrong, I cop to it, simple as that. I don't gossip, criticize or be intentionally vindictive if I can help it.
I'm not perfect, never will be, I sling some shit from time to time, but I really do live by the golden rule. Treat others as you'd want to be treated. I help out when I can or am able as I know that there will come a time that I will need the same. I don't dish out more than I can take if you know what i mean.
If I say something unkind about someone, I figure that someone is doing the same about me. Karma is a mean bitch and she'll come around and kick your ass if you aren't careful.
I'm not super cheery, always making muffins for the PTA, working at the homeless shelter, rescuing kittens in my basement or painting rainbows on the walls in the local hospital.
I'm just me, trying to be the best person I can be, with a faith and belief in a higher or collective power.
We chose to send Miss K to Catholic school for a whole host of reasons, top of the list was not that she could receive a catholic education.
But at the top of the list was to put her in a place where she could learn about the world and develop her own love for her fellow schoolmates and teachers, that was in a caring and nurturing environment.
Already she's become a better person, she knows that Jesus has a birthday at Christmas, that yes Santa comes and brings presents but perhaps there is something more than just that. Our public education system is so afraid of offending someone that I'd be surprised if there was much mention at all of the actual reason that Christmas is celebrated.
I feel strongly that she's in the right place, and despite my objections to religion as a whole, I think she's getting a better picture on the world as well as learning to read and write.
Til the next time….what do you believe in?
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