Following a religion isn’t always about going to the hour long services every Sunday and donating money to your church for charity work or repairs. Following a religion is so much more than that. Following a religion is about allowing it to affect your lifestyle and the way you do things, taking time out of your day to study and focus on your religion and religious goals, devoting yourself to it and actively being a part of it. While going to church and donating money is a part of being religious, it’s different because anyone can get up and go to church at 9am on a Sunday morning and anyone can drop $5 in the offering can, but it takes more than just anyone to be devoted to their religious lifestyle. Most people are not because it takes a lot of time consumption and effort, and it also may seem like the stories that the Bible tells are a bit far fetched and are questionable, but that’s all a part of following a religion; not questioning and believing.
Growing up in a Catholic family, I basically lived at the church in my younger age. There’s never been a sunday when my would parents say ‘Lets skip church today because we feel like it.’ We always go, unless there is a certain occasion that keeps us from going. We switched denominations a few times; from Catholic, to Methodist, to currently Presbyterian. My mother taught me the Lord’s Prayer when I was very young and used to make me pray every night before I went to sleep. She also used to read me the bible stories before I went to sleep, and she would also read them herself as a personal study. My father on the other hand, believes in God and participates in the churchly activities, but doesn’t do anything out of his way for our religion. He sometimes lets me skip Sunday School and go with him to my grandmother's house, without my mother knowing of course.
I grew up unquestioning the bible and all its stories, but as I got older and developed my own opinions, that all changed.Ever since I moved to St. Andrews, I began my journey in trying to figure out what I actually believed. In my personal opinion, religion restricts people from being who they really are and it often generates negativity from people with opposing opinions. I was never introduced to people with different sexualitys until I moved here, but I had definitely heard of people like that. People at my old school often dehumanized gay people and harassed them, making those kids cower away and not show their true selves. People are being socially discriminated simply because the Bible says same-sex marriage is not allowed. But I believe differently. I believe that everyone should be accepted for their opinions, not socially shunned from the rest of humanity. Gay people are not a "breed" of animal, they are humans just like us and deserved to be treated like it. It also leads people to judge those who are sexually active and is involved in drugs or illegal things, for this is considered sinful and wrong doings in the eyes of God. Sure, involving yourself in illegal activities may be bad, but if we all followed the Bible and did exactly as God said, then we would have no varieties of people and opinions. I’m not at all against Christianity, for I have seen the works and wonders that happen through it, I just believe that people should be who they want without anyone or anything holding them back and hating them. While I understand religion is supposed to try and rid us of all that hate and negativity, sometimes it rebounds and does the exact opposite. While I still go to church, participate in church retreats and mission trips, and believe the stories in the Bible and that there is a God and Jesus, I believe with a certain restriction because I do not want to be a judgemental and hateful person, I want to be a person who accepts all living creatures for who they are and what they’ve done.
