A Matter of Faith

So, I’m an atheist. Throughout the course of my life, I’ve gone through phases of feeling religious, and feeling a connection to some sort of higher power, but it’s never something that stuck.

I could go into my rationale for feeling this way. I could talk about the reading I’ve done and the things I’ve seen in my life to make me feel this way. But that isn’t why I felt compelled to write this morning. I felt compelled to write about faith.

Faith, when practiced correctly (and there is a correct way), is something I really truly respect. Honestly, it’s beautiful. There are less than a hand-full of people in my life that I feel that feel a connection to some sort of higher power and utilize the life they have been given to enhance that connection. I mean, when you think about it, that kind of interpersonal relationship is staggering.

When I think of what it means to be a good Christian, I think of the meaning of the word: Little Christ. It all comes back to that Gandhi quote, “I love your Christ. I do not love your Christians, for they are so unlike your Christ.” (that’s a paraphrase, sorry)

If you can be close to Christlike in your day to day actions, if you can respect people from all walks of life, if you can put your selfish wants and desires to rest in the name of your beliefs, then you have my respect. (I’m using Christianity here because that is what most of my religious friends identify as. Forgive me for taking shortcuts.)

And most important of all, at least in my eyes, is the following: no judgments. No racism, no sexism, no homophobia. Christ accepted all people, and so should you. Be tolerant of others religious beliefs. Be tolerant of atheists like me. Open your heart to people different from you, and you have my respect.