I was raised by an Irish Catholic family with a deep faith. My parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins openly comment on their relationship with God and are never afraid to discuss their spirituality in conversation. I aspire to be more confident in speaking about my faith. By ‘speaking about my faith,’ I do not imply that I intend to impose my beliefs upon non-Catholics, but rather I wish to share the part of me that holds deeper meaning beyond face value. My Roman Catholic upbringing is a major part of who I am as an individual and has influenced my thoughts, behaviors, actions and reactions across the span of my eighteen years. You, as the reader, may then wonder why I have such trouble feeling comfortable expressing that force which has empowered me through the darkest times of my life.
It is understandable that some mutually agree to engage in debate with one another, even over sensitive topics like religion. It is intellectually and spiritually necessary to have these types of mature discussions. But universally, when engaging in any conversation, it is absolutely vital to remain respectful of the other person’s opinions and personal values. Of course, in a perfect world, people would respect each other and the majority of the world’s problems would not exist. By simply reflecting on the horrific events of the summer thus far, it is clear that many people have difficulty respecting the respective differences of their neighbors, causing fear, violence, and injustice.
Growing up in a predominantly Jewish community amongst children and teens who both publicly and personally expressed their religious dissent was not always easy to cope with. I can remember being in line in the hallway at school as a young third grader when a Jewish boy in front of me turned around by his own accord to tell me that Jesus wasn’t real. Of course I am now able to recognize and fully respect that according to Jewish belief, the New Testament is irrelevant; however, as a little eight year old girl, I took this boy’s comment very personally. I was too young to understand why not everyone believed in Jesus, and he was too young to respect the dividing factor of our faiths. Although this young boy’s unsolicited comment was harmless, I later faced direct religious insults by people I have referred to as ‘friends.’
Personally, I am not one to debate. I tend to stay quiet and let others express their opinion as they wish to do so. However, I will admit that I have felt uncomfortable and to be honest, under attack, by past friends and acquaintances who identify themselves as ‘Atheists.’ I don’t intend to send the wrong message across: today, some of my closest friends are Atheists and that’s okay. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, as it should be, but it is when people unfairly encroach upon the beliefs of others that all respect is lost and problems arise.
Roughly a year ago, I was working a closing shift at the restaurant I am currently employed by. As I helped a friend of mine clean the dining room, he told me of the many losses he had endured throughout his life and how they had impacted his mindset. That was when our conversation took a turn. It is easy to understand how a person can hold onto anger and become faithless, but there was no reason for him to turn his life’s miseries against a co-worker who cared to listen. Pointing at the gold cross around my neck, he laughed, calling my God “imaginary” and essentially said that anyone who believes in God (approximately 89% of the world’s population) lives disillusioned, “in a fantasy world.” Prior to his criticism, I had not once brought up God or tried to apply any concepts of Catholicism to his situation, but listened to what he had to say and empathized with him wholeheartedly. I only wish I had been strong enough to tell him how disrespectful he was and how much his words stung, but I knew anything I had to say would only seem naive and wouldn’t change his bitter nature. It was unfair of him to treat my religion as a joke and to discredit the kindness I had shown towards him. I know that I have made my share of mistakes and have not always acted as I should, but under no circumstances would I ever deliberately attack someone for their faith or personal opinions and values. Apparently we live in a world where too many people believe it is acceptable to discredit and belittle others based on the differences that set us apart.
I remain fully aware that the ignorance I have witnessed and been subjected to over the years is rather minute in the grand scheme of life, but it still matters. There is a conversation that society isn’t having. America’s youth needs to not only learn about the variations of religions that exist, but more importantly, how to respect the religious differences that divide each and every one of us. America is nicknamed ‘the Melting Pot’ for a very significant reason, yet somehow, as the country becomes more diversified, people are finding it harder to treat their neighbors with common decency. Treat others as you wish to be treated. It’s as simple as that.
