So whether you believe in Jesus Christ, another higher power or evolution, I understand why. I get it! In your heart, your mind, with all that you are and have, you feel truth in what you believe. It seems right. You find peace and meaning to life in your beliefs!
This is why the topic of religion gets so heated, SO quickly. There are so many ideas, theories, religions, etc. trying to explain life. Don't get me wrong, I BELIEVE in science. Science explains; it gives us numbers and definitions, and brings us closer and closer to the smallest and largest ideas and matter in the universe. It helps us explain what we are and how we work. Science is fact and is a subject that almost can't be denied or debated. But I know that science doesn't satisfy me, and this is where people differ. I want to know why we are. This is where faith takes over. The reason there's a debate about this in the first place is because no one knows! We could aaaaall be wrong, yet our faith is what guides us. However, with over 7 billion people in the world there is bound to be some conflict.
So here's what I really wanted to talk about. The idea of "shoving religion down someones throat". The idea of getting into a conversation with someone who will sit there and tell you that what they believe is what you ought to believe. You're wrong and they're right, so you better just sit down and listen to what they're saying because they're obviously WAY smarter than you are. And you know, you're basically missing out on life itself. That's what I've been told it seems like. But I can tell you right now, that those people talking to you, trying to convince you with all their might that their beliefs are true, are only doing that to help you. I KNOW, it seems ridiculous and the total wrong way to go about it. You may know for a fact that they're wrong, but to them, what they're saying is the truest thing in the world.
I know a boy at my work who I've heard say multiple times that he hates getting religion "shoved down his throat". He grew up in the church, his parents made him go, and as soon as he got old enough, he left and despised all that religion was. Occasionally I like talking to him about what changed in his heart that made him want to turn away from Christianity. After I listen to his answers, he never wants to hear a word I have to say. It aggravates him to hear anything that may "defend" what he argues against. He turns to the "I don't care what you believe just don't try to push anything onto me" statement.
Why can't we talk about this? Going back to beliefs, I know you believe in something that may be totally different from me. Just like you respect me for believing what I do, I respect you too! I respect that in your life, where you are and what you've experienced has lead you to have the faith that you do, whatever that may be. I want to hear what you believe because I respect you, and I would hope that you would listen to me too. Unless you are on an uneasy ledge of converting to a different faith that you are trying to avoid (which I doubt many people are), what's the big deal in hearing someone out? Either it can change your life in ways you couldn't thank someone enough for, or you brush it off the second they're done talking. Either way there isn't harm in just listening, engaging in conversation, offering opinion, or sharing your beliefs.
So no, nobody is "shoving religion down your throat", and only you have the power to allow yourself to feel that way. People are sharing the truth in their lives with you. Be open and honest and share the truth in your life with someone else, whatever it may be, because what you have to offer is huge.
