Belief Systems and General Weirdness
By Mr.e

What you believe is a personal thing. It’s an intimate thing.

That is unless you belong to some religious organization or attend church on a regular basis. In this case what you believe, while still a very personal choice, becomes a shared experience and affects those around you in those circumstances.

Recent events around here have prompted some reactions on my part and damn it anyway what I believe is none of anyone’s business. That’s the long and short of it.

It took me a very long time to figure that one out. Most of my life in fact. Rewind the tape.

I am the son of a preacher man, a missionary kid, dragged along in that great crusade to save the world and convert it’s huddled pagan masses who were into God knows what kind of mumbo jumbo and devil worship.

Our side was right and they were the poor sods who had taken a wrong turn down a road that definitely does not lead to the pearly gates. Every other belief system was patently wrong and fair game for conversion. Sound familiar? Thought so.

Religion, organized or not has always been a volatile commodity what with the strong emotional ties that followers feel for ‘their chosen or inherited belief’.

Not until a few years back did I realize that I do not share the same ideals and beliefs that I was brought up to believe as irrefutable truth.

The fact that I was questioning and examining the religious system that I was reared in caused a bit of consternation; not to me but to those who thought I had swallowed the hook, the line and the sinker. So … I still had a bit of line dangling from my mouth where I had bitten through.

Admittedly I’ve not been to church since those days when sleeping in on Sunday became the preferred course of action, rolling out of bed only when everyone had left the house bedecked in his or her Sunday best.

My point is that after years of exposure to a belief system, I finally began to evaluate, step back from and question it. The process of deconstructing any imposed belief systems that are emphasized throughout childhood and beyond is an interesting exercise in self-discovery. What I am finding does not surprise me.

What did surprised me were the reactions by persons close to me when I told them that I was taking a critical look at my beliefs and that perhaps I didn’t share them anymore.

These reactions take the form of statements indicating that I should not be doing that, that I am in danger and that ‘they’ are concerned about my soul and salvation and well, that I’m rocking the boat. Let’s not forget that I am being misled.

Even after I told him that I do not share his beliefs any more, one friend vehemently continues to insist that I still believe what I was raised to believe. What part of my statement do you not understand (comprehend)? Obviously all of it.

After being raised in the missionary mold, it seems odd not to share ones personal beliefs with anyone, on any level. But since beginning my awkward throwing off of a religious cocoon and curious rummaging about in the dusty nooks and crannies of accepted beliefs I’m discovering that keeping these things to oneself is advisable.

That also goes for the pushy and in your face (or your front door) proponents of this or that religious thought. Keep it to yourself. Perhaps it stems from that uncomfortable feeling I got as a kid observing first hand the big missionary harvesting machine in action, as it set out to save souls.

I’m not looking for a definitive answer to the big question, but I am taking a step back and am trying to get a better look at the big picture.

Why did I tell you all this? I’m not the only one who thinks like this. Do your thing, but don’t touch mine.