I’m not religious, but I don’t care if you are. I have always felt like there was this implied animosity between the believers and the nonbelievers, but it only exists if you let it. I may not believe in God, but I am still going to respect you if you do.
I haven’t always felt this way. Until middle school, I wore a dress every Sunday and my mother shooed me out the door to get to church on time. I sat in a pew and praised a God that I was sure existed.
During the summers, I attended a Christian camp. In addition to typical summer camp activities, we were also taught that we needed to spread the word of Christ to our friends and that those who didn’t accept Him as their savior were not going to heaven. The preacher advised us not to date anyone who didn’t believe in God, because they couldn’t ever be saved. Even though I was young, this still felt wrong to me.
I realize this was an extreme experience. Places of worship can offer community, fellowship and a sense of belonging. Some of the kindest, most caring people I know I met through church.
As I get older and start to develop my own personal views, I attend church less and less. However, on the occasional Sunday, I still go with my mom just so she doesn’t have to go alone. But it’s not the same. When everyone is singing a hymnal, I feel like the odd man out.
I’ll admit this isn’t something I’m totally comfortable with. When someone starts talking about God, a part of me just wants to go with it in an effort to not make the situation uncomfortable. I would rather lie about my beliefs than have someone possibly think less of me and that isn’t right.
Although it isn’t ideal, I appreciate how my family has handled it. My parents have always let it be my personal choice as to what I believed in and respected my opinions. Unfortunately, not everyone feels this way. The conflict between the nonbelievers and believers, and between religions, is as old as time and not going to cease anytime soon.
However on a smaller scale, if we learned to value everyone’s individual beliefs, the world would be a more tolerant place because of it.
– By Chloe Gruesbeck
