Religion is a touchy subject for most people and like politics is best not discussed unless you want to get into some crazy kind of debate that could last for hours on end and with a few punches thrown here and there.\u00a0 Or you know if you live in the US you might end up shot or something…\u00a0 After all guns come with bank accounts or something like that.<\/p>\n
Anyway, I know a few people in 12 step programs for various reasons.\u00a0 There\\’s nothing wrong with that.\u00a0 However after having a conversation with a co-worker of mine and my own personal thoughts of being catholic and how I have essentially denounced my religion and instead choose to focus on my own set of beliefs<\/em> and have faith in what I choose to.\u00a0 I don\\’t discuss these with anyone, it\\’s none of their business.\u00a0 I do however agree with my co-worker when she said it\\’s the faith that you have in your heart that matters.<\/p>\n She\\’s got an impeccable point. I wholly agree with it. <\/em><\/p>\n Strangely enough this whole conversation started with her asking about life in Ontario in terms of health care and stuff which somehow led to immigration and my re-telling of the story of the Muslim mother who cried discrimination because her religion wasn\\’t being respected in a Catholic <\/strong><\/span>based institution of learning.\u00a0 Which in turn led to the discussion of why I am no longer a \\”practicing catholic\\” I can\\’t say I ever really was.\u00a0 I\\’m not a big church goer and really only go when I have to.\u00a0 IE: weddings, funerals and so forth.\u00a0 Although I went through all the steps of getting my first communion and all that other stuff…\u00a0 My dear grandmother is likely rolling in her grave right about now (sorry Nan I mean no disrespect).<\/p>\n Now don\\’t get me wrong, I have no issues with anyone\\’s religious choices.\u00a0 As a matter of fact I am innately curious about most cultures and their spiritual beliefs and working in a daycare that has a wide range of cultures and backgrounds most parents are usually more then happy to indulge my innate curiosity about why they do this that and the other thing as are my friends.\u00a0 Which is awesome.\u00a0 I am a nerdy girl after all and I love to learn.<\/p>\n However, there are some aspects of organized religion that disturb me.\u00a0 Especially Catholicism.\u00a0 No one likes a hypocrite and well the catholic religion is FULL of it.\u00a0 Can\\’t use birth control in any form, and countless other things that I simply will not get into because I believe that everyone has a right to choose and the right to their opinion and this isn\\’t the place for a hardcore debate.\u00a0 However the one thing that really rubs me the wrong way is say for example a child is born with Down syndrome, which is sad in and of itself depending on the severity and the deeply religious will tell you that that\\’s \\”God\\’s way\\”.<\/p>\n Sure, I bet they don\\’t have any special needs children now do they? <\/em><\/p>\n That\\’s OK, except it\\’s not OK to be Gay or some other sexual based \\”affliction\\” (pardon the term, I mean no disrespect) such as being transgendered and so forth.\u00a0 Although as it was explained to me once, you do what comes naturally to you.\u00a0 Being gay is something you\\’re pretty much born with.\u00a0 OK not pretty much, you just are.\u00a0 Whatever, you know what I mean.\u00a0 So it\\’s OK to say that God wanted your child to be born \\”UN-perfect\\” except for that?\u00a0 Um, right…<\/p>\n I love how other religions are ceremonious.\u00a0 I\\’ll ask people why is it that you do or don\\’t do that and I always get a well explained answer.\u00a0 Things that appear meaningful and special and spiritual.\u00a0 I get that, I also respect it.\u00a0 Even if I on occasion don\\’t understand it or agree with all of it.\u00a0 Some of it is actually quite nice.<\/p>\n Then you have the Catholics:\\”What do you mean we can\\’t do that?\\” \\”Says who?\\”<\/p>\n Answer: God said no, or the pope or it was written in the bible that was re-written several times over and has become a literature style version of the telephone game.<\/p>\n Right. <\/em><\/p>\n I\\’ve read parts of the bible and parts of it do make some sense to a degree<\/em>.\u00a0 I only say that because some of those things occur in the here and now.\u00a0 So ladies you can pretty much blame Eve for all the crappy things that happen to us.\u00a0 She was a bitch apparently.\u00a0 Thanks for nothing!<\/p>\n