Tid Bits

Ranting

Lately I find myself surrounded by unbelievers. Not just the average run-of-the-mill unbelievers, but the vocal, loud, in your face “I HATE RELIGION” which to me sounds a lot like “I HATE CHRISTIANS” unbelievers.  I don’t know if it’s because my boyfriend is a pastor, or what…but people have been out right telling me how much they hate God/Christians/Christ/Religion as a whole, more now than any other time in my life. Maybe it’s just the age that all of my friends are at?  The age where we’re supposed to ask these questions and draw our own conclusions.

I can understand not having faith.. being in a place in your life that just doesn’t jibe with what you think religion is about.  Or being too hurt in the past to feel like God is a good entity, or even there at all.  I can respect that people are in a different place in their faith walk.  I’ve always been respectful of people who are of other religions.  And I have been on an almost constant “I wont push my views on you, if you don’t push your’s on me” understanding with my atheist friends, which has always been okay with me.

But do not mistake my respectfulness for me being unsure, and don’t feel sorry for me because I have faith in something.  You accosting me and my boyfriend about your “science based beliefs” doesn’t make me think God loves me, or you any less.  You telling me that all my faith is in a “book” doesn’t make me feel like that “book” is any less important.  The pain in your life, which I understand was hard, trust me..I have had real, heart-breaking, body aching, soul crunching, fetal position-pain too. But, it doesn’t make me think God has forsaken you or me, or the people in Haiti/Japan/Africa— insert your idea of a ‘God forsaken country/continent’— it doesn’t make me believe he is any less good.  You tell me you don’t base your beliefs off of feelings, but your relationships with people are… you feel love from them, I know you do. Why is my assured feeling of God’s love less valid than your assured feeling of your significant other’s love? I’m not asking you to believe what I believe, part of my faith is that I don’t need your approval.  But I also don’t think that asking you to be respectful of me and my beliefs is that much to ask.  I’m not posting about how condescendingly sorry I feel for the heathens on facebook, so I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your patronizing “stupid idiot Christian” posts to a minimum.. and if you must post them, could they at least be freaking funny?

I guess my point is the same as it always has been, be kind and respectful.  Try to come from a place of love and understanding.  I don’t ask from much from my friends, by no means do I have a “you must be Christian” prerequisite.  But you are not going to change my faith by calling me stupid.  Your lack of belief will never effect my love for God.  I’ve never felt the need to tell you that “I’m praying for you”, but, please believe I am.. not in a condescending way, not because I think you’re pathetic. But, what kind of friend would I be if I had a faith in a loving God, who’s grace I live in, who’s relationship I’m constantly seeking, for the comfort I get from it.. and I wasn’t wanting that for you? What kind of friendship do we have if I don’t want good things for you, the only way I know how to experience them… It’s not because I believe you’re wrong, I’m just coming from a different perspective and asking that you receive the same gratification that I get from where I’m coming from, whichever way you reach it, whichever way you come to an understanding of it.