I have often wondered why people that call themselves good Christians find fault in anyone who cares to disagree with any part of their faith. I myself am a Christian, but I try not to push it onto other people. I decided to write a post on this after a discussion with 6mile and NK about religious tolerance. If I remembered exactly WHERE the conversation was on the blog..I would link it. If I find it, I will do so at a later time.

I don’t exactly fit the “ideals” most Christians believe in. First of all, I believe that there was never meant to be a physical temple/building, but a temple within ourselves, that you are supposed to be one-on-one with God. I believe in an ultimate superior being, but with 2 faces… one of man and one of woman. Why not? God said he made us in his likeness..so doesn’t it seem logical that he could actually HAVE 2 faces. I see him as our stern, but gentle father..and our loving, caring mother. I know that kind of flies in the face of Christianity, but it IS what I believe to my innermost sanctum.

I have friends of mulitple different religions. They don’t seem to ever try and push their religious ideals on me, yet I know multiple Christians who have. They push for religious understanding and tolerance, yet they severly criticize anyone who doesn’t fit their exact ideals. The Bible says, “not to judge others, lest ye be judged yeself.” For people that are so “religious,” they sure act high and mighty. These people annoy me to the utmost degree. I especially don’t like those that preach that if I do or don’t do certain things, I am going to Hell. I don’t really think they are in a position to make that decision. As far as I am concerned, only one being can decide that…and it isn’t them. This may sound cynical and judgemental on my part, but I cannot help how I feel about how I and others have been treated.

Someone once told me that I am more like a Buddist/Hindu-Christian combo than anything. This was from a man of Buddist religion that is married to a Christian lady. I believe in karma. I believe that what goes around, comes around; that if you do evil, it will come back on you 3-fold. I believe in spirit guides, and totem-like animals. Mine happens to be a dove..which sometimes shows with another friend. I feel like they are there watching over me, that God sent them to do so. People don’t normally find doves wherever they go..but strangely enough, I seem to be followed by this one. I can’t help it, it’s part of who I am…

I have a strong Native American heritage. We believe most living things have a spirit..and that is how I feel. I have inherited the ability to sometimes see things before they happen..usually in my dreams. It is a gift and a curse. A gift of sight..but a lot of times with no way to fix the inevitable. That being said, I will say..nothing is set in stone. We all have a plan set up with God, but we also have multiple choices, with many different outcomes. Because of this ability, I have also been called a witch, and not in a good way. How can something that was given to you from God make you automatically anti-Christian? It can’t..it is just people pushing their views and ideas onto someone when they don’t understand what is happening. People always try to find a way to comprehend things they don’t understand..and not always in the best of ways. My great, great grandmother was a medicine woman. That didn’t mean she wasn’t a Christian though. I also see spirits, and I am okay with that. Not everyone does…and if you don’t believe in them, you won’t see them. That being said, that doesn’t mean you haven’t had some sort of supernatural experience yourself.

Another thing is, I believe that most religions are interlinked. How you may ask? How many people have actually gone and tried to understand the differences between the different religions? By no means am I an expert. Most people do not know that the Bible was in fact written by man. That it is supposed to be God’s words interpretted as the person was given it. I have no major problem with that except that man is obviously flawed and prejudiced. I believe if I remember correctly, it was the Emperor Constantine that called together a meeting and had a session to vote what books were actually to go into the official Bible as we know it today. That means MANY books were left out. Most of these had to do with how there are not supposed to be physical temples, and that women WERE created to be equals with man. At the time, that would have lessened the power of the male-dominated Christian church. They wanted people to be taught subserviance..so I feel things were changed to say what those in that session wanted..not really completely what GOD wanted said.

Also, many Pagan rituals/holidays were incorporated into the Christian faith. Such as the Holy Trinity. Pagans believed in the face of God as the Goddess as well, if I remember correctly. Also, their Holy Trinity was also known as the maiden, the mother and the crone… this was changed to the Trinity of the Father, the Mother, the Child and into today’s the Father, the Spirit and the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is by tradition a woman, but that is not widely spread by the churches. Want more info, here’s a website about it. http://www.northernway.org/twm/mary/trinity.html . I was also recently educated that Hinduism also has a Trinity of sorts known as Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Hindus also, to the best of my knowledge, believe in an ultimate superior being as well, with the 3 above as different aspects or faces of the one ultimate God. The following website explains some of the differences between Christianity and Hinduism http://www.religion-cults.com/Eastern/Hinduism/hindu4.htm .

Equinoxes and Solsticies were also celebrated by the Pagans. No one knows when Jesus was exactly born, but to try to move into a more Christian-based era…the winter solstice was moved into the holiday Christmas..the Yuletide. Yet, this is all based on ANOTHER Pagan holiday. The following website explains this in great detail…alot better job than I could ever attempt to accomplish. http://www.unhinderedliving.com/yule.html . And by the way, most traditional wedding songs are of Pagan origin. I know this because if you are Catholic, they will not allow them to be played at your wedding, as a friend of mine was recently educated about.

I didn’t say really anything about Muslims or Jews. They believe in the Bible up until the New Testament, and have their own set of beliefs, but I am still educating myself on those. But, from what I have seen, true Muslims are willing to be tolerant, it is the radical ones we always hear about. What does this mean? You shouldn’t judge others until you know the REAL person..or how about just don’t judge them at all.

Another website that helps with explaining the differences and similarities between religions is http://www.religioustolerance.org/winter_solstice.htm . Hopefully, more people will become open-minded and tolerant. That is what life is really all about.