Nowadays it feels like religion is black and white - you're either very religious or abstain from all religious belief. Christianity reigns as the most popular faith in the United States and honestly it affects a lot of decisions made by those in government, as well as those in authoritative positions on a lower scale - which isn't bad, just something we as Americans should be aware of. I have extended family that is very religious and I have family who is not; I have friends who regularly go to church or temple (or wherever else) and I have friends who consider themselves atheists.

I regularly think about religion. My mind is almost always on religion. But there's one thing you need to know: I am not at all a religious person.

If you are, that's great! I'm glad you're able to find a faith that you're comfortable with and believe in - I wish I could. The main reason I'm not religious is because I just can't find any religion I agree with enough to consider myself of said religion. My close family is Catholic, technically - this is why I refer to myself as "Catholic on surveys"; I went to Sunday school for a while, we went to church sometimes (usually on Easter and Christmas), and we said grace for a while before eating meals. But, as ancient Romans wrestled with practice versus belief, I do as well.

For years, it felt more like an obligation - we go to church because my grandma asked us to, we celebrate Christmas because it's "traditional" and everyone else does, too. Personally, I like Christmas because of the whole present-giving aspect (I'm not great at receiving presents but I LOVE giving them).

In middle school, I decided to make a complete turnaround and embrace a nature-based Pagan religion. I bought books on Wicca and other long-lived polytheistic religions, collected candles and rocks to use in rituals, and admittedly tried love spells to get my crushes to like me. For about a year this sort of religion ironically felt more natural and I thoroughly enjoyed and believed in the principles of Wicca.

Whenever people ask me what religion I practice I mainly just tell them I'm not really religious, more spiritual. I don't know how to honestly answer the question. I was raised Catholic, mostly, taught as a child to not take the Lord's name in vain and to abide by the Golden Rule. But my parents became more lax on religion as my sister and I got older and we began using "Oh my GOD!" more and more frequently. I generally associate myself with being a Catholic if I don't feel like explaining my troubles with religious belief, even though I do not believe I am a person who abides by Catholic beliefs; I don't even remember the last time I went to church.

See, it's not that I don't LIKE religion - I think it's essential to life as a human being. Everyone needs some force(s) to believe in for hope and salvation, however that is defined to you. I like the idea of church and communal worship and everyone working together. I like the idea of having a place to go after you die and having a rigid set of moral values. I just do not connect myself with any of that.

I'm not a bad person, I promise! I'm nice to animals, I treat my friends and family with respect, and I have good behavior. It's possible not to need religion to be a moral human (which I think is an atheist belief), but it's a little difficult to avoid Christianity and other major religions as a whole when they're everywhere - they are major religions after all.

Monotheism never sat right with me, which was only heightened after my brief stint with Wicca. That is one aspect of religion that I can admit confidently - I am a person with polytheistic beliefs. I feel that a diverse amount of gods makes more sense than one singular deity; it's almost like God is trying to take on so much and would have an easier time dividing up domains and giving jobs to different gods and goddesses. I also like the personal connection you can have with multiple deities: I know this is a major component of Christianity - especially early Christianity, like during the Roman period and the Middle Ages - but I feel like it's hard for EVERYONE to have a personal connection with God, like there's not enough of Him to go around. When there's a variety of different deities with different personalities and affinities, you can worship one that you feel will act as a guiding friend, helping you with moral issues and important decisions.

I hope you see my side to this: I am not condemning you for associating yourself with whichever religion you do, I think it's great you have one so established and you feel content and safe within your faith. I want you to open your eyes to the other religious possibilities people have, rather than trying to convert others who don't need to be converted. We have our religion, it's just different from yours. This doesn't make us immoral monsters!

Be considerate, be kind, and be open to those who are new to this whole "faith" thing. We are trying to work it out!