With the aftermath of the election, the political problems seem to be more present than ever. With the rise of media and the recognition of social injustices, no political category is safe from criticism. One of these categories that isn't exactly on the front cover but still remains relevant is religion. Most commonly, Christianity.
Personally, I'm Christian. It's the way I was raised and what I grew up to believe. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't have my doubts. There have been countless times when I'd lay in bed and contemplate whether or not the sermon on Sunday morning was true. I'd have nights where I'd cry at the fear of not knowing what lay beyond death and what would happen if Satan himself came for me. But through all the doubt my faith still holds true.
Christianity has been a widely known and commonly practiced religion in the U.S for years. However, with the rising social changes in the past few years, the Bible and Christian religion as a whole has seemed to lose popularity with many in the younger generations. The concepts discussed in the Bible no longer hold credible in today's views with modern science social politics. Other religions are becoming more commonly practiced as well and this is NOT a bad thing at all.
The one thing I cannot stand, is someone insulting my beliefs and what I stand for. There was one time that I recall being so angry at the insults thrown at Christianity. It was right after the law passed stating gay marriage was legal. I have nothing against gay marriage. I support it actually. But there was a giant parade held where people were mocking the cross and the Bible for going against gay marriage. I remember seeing a picture of two girls covered in fake blood with a thorn crown using the cross as a stripper pole. I was outraged.
But then... I realized: We have done this to other religions in the past. The way we look at the Muslim religion and Islamic Religion. We even do that to other forms of Christianity. I'm guilty of it too. Baptists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witness, all of those religions I disliked because I never knew much about it. I was uneducated. What made it worse were the extremists of those religions going out of their way to openly convince people that their beliefs were the right ones.
So this Christmas, my gift to myself will be educating myself. As much as I may disagree, I do have respect for other's beliefs. It also makes me unbelievably grateful to know that we have the freedom to choose what religion to practice and how to practice it.
