Religion is a very sensitive issue. Most people are very defensive about their religion and many others forced what they believed onto others. I've posted a lengthy post about religion, faith and humanity sometime ago. You can read it HERE.
Once again, I speak only for myself and this is my personal opinion and experience. As I get older, I admit I'm not very religious and due to work, I'm only able to attend Mass once a month but that does not mean I don't remember God in each and everything I do. Not being able to participate in the church's activities or religious celebrations does not make me less a Christian.
You don't have to be in the church to pray. I prayed on my way to work, before I sleep or even when I'm stuck in traffic jam.
I'm a human first and I practiced LOVE. I for one believe that humanity is above religion. Learn to be human and have compassion towards others first. Everyone is God's beautiful creation. Regardless of their race or religion, they are also human like you. Somebody with feelings, hope and fear. Just like you.
There is a friend, who is of different race and religion. One day he told me
"You know what i really really wanted in life? After all my needs and wants have been met? I want to die. I told my mum and my close friends I want to die."
And I nicely said
"Everyone is going to die one day what."
He said "No. I want to die in war. In Syria. I want to fight for my religion. Everyone close to me know about this. I was supposed to go to Syria in January 2015."
"Then? What changed?"
"Everything changed when I met you. I remembered clearly you told me religion is about love and you asked me is it love when you kill others in the name of religion? I tersentak and tersedar."
Terharu iolss I tell you. Cheesy, I know but with a twist. I felt like it was one of the best compliments I ever received. I felt like I made a difference, albeit a small one. I felt like I achieved something.
We were always discussing and shared about our religions but never once I or he intended to convert the other. I respect his opinions and vice versa. Sometimes before we had our meals, we take turns in saying our grace, in our own way.
At times when he was stressed and disappointed with life, he would say
"Cyn, please pray for me. Keep me in your prayers."
I prayed for him and did he converted into Christianity? No.
No issue because before religion, we are humans first. Tuhan ciptakan kita semua berbeza supaya kita boleh belajar untuk memahami dan menerima orang lain, bukan untuk kita menindas dan mencaci. Learn to see the good in everyone. Learn to accept people as who they are and not who we wanted them to be.
Once again, I speak only for myself and this is my personal opinion and experience. As I get older, I admit I'm not very religious and due to work, I'm only able to attend Mass once a month but that does not mean I don't remember God in each and everything I do. Not being able to participate in the church's activities or religious celebrations does not make me less a Christian.
You don't have to be in the church to pray. I prayed on my way to work, before I sleep or even when I'm stuck in traffic jam.
I'm a human first and I practiced LOVE. I for one believe that humanity is above religion. Learn to be human and have compassion towards others first. Everyone is God's beautiful creation. Regardless of their race or religion, they are also human like you. Somebody with feelings, hope and fear. Just like you.
There is a friend, who is of different race and religion. One day he told me
"You know what i really really wanted in life? After all my needs and wants have been met? I want to die. I told my mum and my close friends I want to die."
And I nicely said
"Everyone is going to die one day what."
He said "No. I want to die in war. In Syria. I want to fight for my religion. Everyone close to me know about this. I was supposed to go to Syria in January 2015."
"Then? What changed?"
"Everything changed when I met you. I remembered clearly you told me religion is about love and you asked me is it love when you kill others in the name of religion? I tersentak and tersedar."
Terharu iolss I tell you. Cheesy, I know but with a twist. I felt like it was one of the best compliments I ever received. I felt like I made a difference, albeit a small one. I felt like I achieved something.
We were always discussing and shared about our religions but never once I or he intended to convert the other. I respect his opinions and vice versa. Sometimes before we had our meals, we take turns in saying our grace, in our own way.
At times when he was stressed and disappointed with life, he would say
"Cyn, please pray for me. Keep me in your prayers."
I prayed for him and did he converted into Christianity? No.
No issue because before religion, we are humans first. Tuhan ciptakan kita semua berbeza supaya kita boleh belajar untuk memahami dan menerima orang lain, bukan untuk kita menindas dan mencaci. Learn to see the good in everyone. Learn to accept people as who they are and not who we wanted them to be.
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