A Societal Issue?

         What affects our lives the most? What factors shape our character traits throughout adolescence and make us the people we are? Culturally, we tend to say that our family, religion, and life encounters is what’s most important to us which is manifested through our decision-making process throughout our lives. My question is, if religion is such a vital piece of most people’s lives, why are we so ignorant? While most people may have a religion that they choose to believe and participate in, they don’t take the time to educate themselves on the other types that are undoubtedly just as important. On top of that, what is it about Americans that makes us think we have the right to have an argument on a subject we know close to nothing about? We don’t take the time to learn about another’s religion but will sit up and argue with them that what they believe is wrong. 

Picture on Nashville Scene, Posted by Betsy Phillips

         I recently had an argument with one of my best friend’s boyfriend who doesn’t believe in God. As a Christian, I don’t ask that he believe, I only request that he respect how important my religion is to me. He argues up and down, there is no God. Christians can’t prove that God exists. Here is where a little knowledge would do him some good. If he was aware of even the most basic principles of the religion he would not argue that we can’t prove that there is a God. Christianity is based on faith, based on not having to see to believe. As a devout Christian, I was surprised how many other religions I could identify with when studying World Religions last semester. Did it change my beliefs? No, but it opened my mind and helped me to understand cultures that before I would categorize as weird.

        The moral of the story? One, you don’t have to believe in someone elses religion, but you should respect it because it is important to them and was important in shaping their character. Two, make it a point to learn about the different types of religions out there, don’t be so quick to judge another culture. I find, the more that I learn, the less I feel like I can’t identify with them. Lastly, an argument doesn’t just mean proving your point. It involves listening and addressing the other side. If you plan to have an intelligible debate, know both sides.