You know what Anne? You are my most favorite person to discuss religion with. Know why? Because even when we don't agree, I can always respect your opinions, and understand where you're coming from. I believe that religion is just one of those things that you have to go and find your own pathway in. I'm proud of you for being honest with how you feel, and I just wanted to say that I have always admired that about you.
Seriously, though, don't let anyone make you feel bad or uneasy just because your beliefs don't line up with their own. You have a good head on your shoulders, and a good heart, and I think you should follow both wherever they may lead you. Also, here is a poem I thought of when I read your post:
"Grandfather's Heaven" by Naomi Shahib Nye
My grandfather told me I had a choice. Up or down, he said. Up or down. He never mentioned east or west.
Grandpa stacked newspapers on his bed and read them years after the news was relevant. He even checked the weather reports.
Grandma was afraid of Grandpa for some reason I never understood. She tiptoed while he snored, rarely disagreed.
I liked Grandma because she gave me cookies and let me listen to the ocean in her shell. Grandma liked me even though my daddy was a Moslem.
I think Grandpa liked me too thought he wasn't sure what to do with it. Just before he died, he wrote me a letter.
"I hear you're studying religion," he said. "That's how people get confused. Keep it simple. Down or up."
Anyway, really, I've always thought that religion's importance lies most profoundly in it's ability to question, not in it's statement of "fact". And hey, you should know by now that anytime you want to question things with someone, I'm here for you my chica! :P
Seriously, though, don't let anyone make you feel bad or uneasy just because your beliefs don't line up with their own. You have a good head on your shoulders, and a good heart, and I think you should follow both wherever they may lead you. Also, here is a poem I thought of when I read your post:
"Grandfather's Heaven" by Naomi Shahib Nye
My grandfather told me I had a choice.
Up or down, he said. Up or down.
He never mentioned east or west.
Grandpa stacked newspapers on his bed
and read them years after the news was relevant.
He even checked the weather reports.
Grandma was afraid of Grandpa
for some reason I never understood.
She tiptoed while he snored, rarely disagreed.
I liked Grandma because she gave me cookies
and let me listen to the ocean in her shell.
Grandma liked me even though my daddy was a Moslem.
I think Grandpa liked me too
thought he wasn't sure what to do with it.
Just before he died, he wrote me a letter.
"I hear you're studying religion," he said.
"That's how people get confused.
Keep it simple. Down or up."
Anyway, really, I've always thought that religion's importance lies most profoundly in it's ability to question, not in it's statement of "fact". And hey, you should know by now that anytime you want to question things with someone, I'm here for you my chica! :P
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