It's saddening to wake up to the newest hashtag being something along the lines of "pray for [insert city/state/country']." It's also upsetting that people continue to fight with each other over different religious views. What's most depressing is seeing people not accept others because of what their religion says. We need to stop using religion as a reason to hate on people, be terrible and treat others wrongfully.

Disclaimer: I'm using Catholicism as an example for the majority of this article because it's what I'm most familiar with.

It's understandable that people want something to believe in, because it makes them hopeful during hard times and it gives them comfort. Also, it's nice thinking that someone else is planning our live out for us no matter what mishaps occur along the way.

One reason that terrorist attacks happen is because difference of beliefs. It makes absolutely no sense that someone would bomb a building or shoot up a nightclub because he/she thinks differently than those in said places. It also makes no sense that religious people, specifically Christians and Catholics, counteract this with their method of prayer, which includes lots of rants and hashtags on social media and possibly reading the Bible. People don't do anything. They express their wish and desires to someone who might not even be real. Obviously not everyone is like this, but there are some people I've personally encountered who are.

Aren't we all just fighting over who has the best imaginary friend? Who has the biggest book club? That's what the Bible is, you know; a book that wasn't even written by God. Also, you can even start your own religion, so arguing over whose is better is ludicrous.

It's bothersome thinking that based on Catholicism, a homophobic person could still go to heaven if he or she was a decent person throughout his or her life, but a gay man or woman would automatically go to hell for their sexuality. I went to a Catholic school until I was 12 years old, and I was taught that we are all made in God's image. If we're all made the way God wants, then why are some people made gay if that goes against the Bible? There is evidence proving that it's biology that makes someone gay, not personal choice.

Something else I've noticed people doing is picking and choosing what they agree with in the Bible. According to 1 Timothy 2-9, it's forbidden to wear or touch gold, yet some people have gold wedding bands. According to Deutoronomy 22:20-21, it's also forbidden to have pre-marital sex, but we all can agree that this is happening. No one is supposed to work Sunday, so hopefully you don't work or go somewhere where other people are working. You should probably stop watching Sunday football, too, since those men are technically working by playing. Did you know it goes against the Bible to eat animal products? That includes meat, dairy, eggs and more.

According to the Vegetarian Times, "the just-released “Vegetarianism in America” study, published by Vegetarian Times (vegetariantimes.com), shows that 3.2 percent of U.S. adults, or 7.3 million people, follow a vegetarian-based diet. Approximately 0.5 percent, or 1 million, of those are vegans, who consume no animal products at all."

Here's a video by YouTuber Earthling Ed explaining this some more.

Why are people only following certain beliefs in the Bible? Because they don't agree with them? Because they're outdated? If that's the case, shouldn't we change how we view religion as a whole?

Regardless, if there is someone dictating my life and watching over my every move, I'm not going to act differently. I'm going to be nice to people, because that's how we should all act. I'm not going to put someone down for their differences, because we're all different in some way.

No one really know who or what is watching over us, or if there's even anything up there at all. Be a good person and treat others the way you want to be treated, regardless of what your religion or their religion, or lack thereof, says.

"Religion has caused more misery to all of mankind in every stage of human history than any other single idea." - Madalyn Murray O'Hair