As someone who has been baptized Catholic and grown up in a religious household, I have had the perspective of looking from the inside out when it comes to other's perceptions of me and my religion. Similarly, someone of a different background or religious affiliation might feel that he or she is misunderstood when it comes to stereotypes about his or her religion.

In today's society, there are so many "phobias" when it comes to religion, personal beliefs, or just general way of life because it doesn't completely match someone else's. Too many times we see others being discriminated against because of their beliefs. Are they hurting others because they speak their minds about what they personally believe? Most of the time no. So why can't we agree to simply disagree? Instead of calling him or her out for expressing what is on his or her mind, why don't we take a moment to see things from his or her perspective? Instead of immediately assuming that the words being said are "WRONG!", why can't we look at their beliefs as another perspective of what's "right". I always like to use the example of abortion.

We as a country are probably never going to determine whether the act of terminating a pregnancy is right or wrong. The least we can do is not shove our own beliefs down other's throats because they don't necessarily agree with ours. If you decide to get an abortion, who am I to say that you can't. My personal beliefs shouldn't affect you when it comes to your decision. Do I think it's right? Not necessarily. But I'm not going to tell you that you're going to hell or that you don't deserve to be a mother in the first place. I'm going to respect your decision because it was yours, not mine. The same principal can be applied to almost any situation where disagreements occur between two different parties. It's completely okay to disagree, in fact, it's healthy in some situations, but it's how to disagree that makes the difference.

In disagreeing respectfully, you may find a new perspective on something that you have never considered before, or you yourself may enlighten someone else on your own beliefs. Instead of immediately breaking down someone else's thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, why don't we take a step back and look at the bigger picture of what really matters- respect for everyone.