In the group of friends that I had started developing in the 7th & 8th grade years, there was a very diverse mix of Christian religions. Catholic, Methodist, Protestant and Lutheran just off of the top of my head. Years later we would attend youth groups at each other's churches during the weeks and that was something enlightening for me. On a 'smaller' scale such as Christianity, there are many divisions, but they all basically believe that Jesus was the Son of God who came to open the way to heaven for each of us. The differences are in how each of the religions deal with getting that idea across to the worshippers and how they worship God the Father and the Son. It was interesting and enjoyable to attend services at everyone's different church. We even had developed a small brass ensemble which I conducted in high school to perform in a few of the churches during services later on. All of the churches had one thing in common, they instilled faith and hope in those attending services. They may have different ways in going about it, but in the end, its all about promoting peace, love and faith that God is there for you. We may not always see this in our every day lives, but looking back on events I can see how some of my roughest times made me a better person today because of them. Would I have preferred not to have experienced the pain? Of course, but its because of that pain and those events that allowed me to grow as a person and express myself much more openly then I ever could before. I am one of those people that honestly believe that there is a Higher Being that doesnt neccessarily make bad things happen, but rather brings us through the rough times to more appreciate what we have. People point out to September 11th, 2001 and ask where God was then. That was indeed a horrendous day no matter how you look at. Roughly 3000 died in a few short hours in a terrible manner. But stop for a second to think how many more COULD have died that morning?? I am not in any way trying to trivialize those who did lose their lives on that day, but there could have been many more fatalities. I would like to think that God or whomever you believe exists prevented many more people from dying that day.
That brings me to another thought I have on religions in general. Just as I said earlier that the different divisions of the same core religion, I began to expand that belief onto the world stage. Why cant all of the 'major' organized world religions be looking towards the same God or Higher Being but from a different viewpoint? Would God be any different of a being if called Allah? Humans look for things that are familiar and comfortable for them. To me it would make a lot of sense if different cultures would see the same God in different ways. It's possible that its not God that is different throughout the world, but instead, the way that the people follow and worship is. Thats why I have a hard time understanding all of the bickering between religions about each being the one 'true' religion.
Religion is supposed to be about bringing an inner peace to us. Giving us emotional strength and stability. Making us all aspire to be better people in our day to day life and in our dealings with others. Its not supposed to be about asking for material things in life. When I pray, its more about asking for guidance so that I dont screw up my life too badly. I dont get disappointed if things dont always seem to go how I want. Much later, I will look back and see if I can understand why things went differently then I would have liked. Often I see a whole new path that opened up for me that I hadnt even thought of before. I would like to think that is the goal of all religions. To promote peace to everyone regardless of their race or their own beliefs. That is the one area that seems to be so simple to understand and yet the hardest thing in the world to accomplish. It never ceases to amaze me how often throughout history violence and bloodshed has happened in the name of religion. I doubt that any God would approve of people killing others in his name. I would hope that would be the LAST thing any God would want his followers to do.
Dont get me wrong. I am not an avowed pacifist at all. I will not instigate a fight, but I also will not stand and allow someone to hit me twice, or endanger any of my family. In those instances there are no rules. If I am going to get into an altercation with someone then I have pretty much come to the conclusion that my safety is in danger and that there is no alternative. When you are fighting for your own survival, there are no rules.
I dont attend Mass very much anymore. I still believe strongly in much of the Catholic teachings, but not all of it. I dont try to preach to people on the street or convert them wildly. If anyone asks me how I managed to keep my sanity and sense of humor in my rough times I will tell them that it was purely because of my faith. People are more receptive to information they are asking for instead of having it crammed down their throat when they arent asking. I still have a deep faith and general calm about me that drives my wife nuts at times. I have a healthy respect for all religions and am intrigued by the similarities and differences in them all. Through my seperation, divorce, bankrupcy, deaths of family and friends, health problems and everyday stress, do I still believe in God? More then ever. I hate to think what I would be like if I didnt have my faith to keep me going in the face of adversity.