Do you practice religion?

I know someone else out there thought of this scene.

Maybe? It is a Classic.

But seriously.

I was raised Catholic.

Did all the ritual things. Questioned all the ritual things.  Never really got answers to all the questions. I became old enough to really think for myself when choosing some kind of moral code to live by.

Growing up, whenever a relative I was close with passed away, I kept an open conversation with them. As if they could somehow hear me. They could hear my concerns and thoughts.  They had gone on before me and that was somehow comforting. Even if I knew they weren’t answering me, I guess that’s the belief part.

But I don’t understand how we are this (possibly) only version of humanity and we are troubled with religion.

Imagine if we all had to answer to ourselves. Each decision we made was the deciding piece of the puzzle. There would be no hiding behind a higher power that will forgive you for anything. You control you. You are responsible for your actions.

Religion starts wars. It is an interpretation of truth.

Science states that earth is 4.5 billion years old.  Religion floats the possibility of it only being 6000 years old.

I don’t understand the judgement from others who consider themselves religious. Isn’t that against what you’re going for?

Forcing others to live by what you deem acceptable behavior is not how you show grace. Love and acceptance to all humans, right? Give to the less fortunate, right?

I have three children. They were not baptized or christened because my husband and I chose to give them the opportunity to decide. They are amazing humans.

Most recently I was reminded by someone (super close to us) that my kids are, in fact, not christened/baptized. My husband and myself are. So, where do you think they were going with that conversation?

My thirteen year old was sitting with us at this conversation and caught on rather quickly. No one is going to force me or my children to feel less than for not following their religion.

I went home that day and googled how to get unbaptized. Which isn’t a thing apparently. But if it turns out we are all going to “hell” at least we’ll be together.