Faith as a Human Value
Faith is one of the most valuable concepts of the human existence, and thus, so should be the value of religious tolerance and acceptance. For some, believing in a higher power is tantamount to breathing while others hold an equally strong conviction regarding their absence of faith. The design of our ethics, our approach to our mortality, and our sense of purpose are all created in relation to our belief systems.
At its best, religion is a beacon of hope. At its worst, it can manifest as one of the most destructive forces available to humanity. While one may believe that people with strong religious faith are inherently of the highest moral character, it is not a universal truth. People are subject to the imperfections of our humanity. We succumb to greed, gluttony, lust, pride, sloth, anger, and envy. We are prone to corruption and have self-interested tendencies as opposed to determining a better path that benefits the greater good. We distort and misuse religion to cater to the needs of our personal agendas.
The World is Full of Religion
There are thousands of religions in the world with five main religions capturing the majority of believers – Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Each religion has its unique belief system and yet, they all share the same fundamental tenets. Rituals of homage and practice exist in all these faiths. They all express ideas of an afterlife. Most importantly, they all dictate the importance of being a decent human being.
It is important to mention here that the absence or lack of desire to participate in a specific faith is still a belief system. If one does not believe there is an afterlife or if one does not practice rituals of a religion, it is still a belief system. It is also very important to remember that the absence of religion does not inherently make one morally deficient. In fact, quite the opposite can be true.
Value in Diversity
I genuinely appreciate the diversity that exists in the myriad of religions available to humans. It is beautiful to have access to choice of thought and choice of practice. I respect religion, even though I choose not to participate in any one specific belief system. I believe it is because of my choice to not subscribe to religion that I strongly value religious tolerance and acceptance. I choose to not judge others based on their belief system and hope for the same in return when people learn of mine.
I believe one’s personal choice for faith should never preclude them from opportunities for enriching or enhancing their life, provided their faith does not infringe upon the rights and liberties of other individuals. Such behaviors are discriminatory in nature and have no place in modern society. Humans have exerted considerable effort for far too long to tolerate such behavior from others.
Faith is a personal choice. The value of religious tolerance and acceptance runs as deep as a well. As long as we treat each other with equality, kindness, and love, our shared humanity should always take precedence.
Until next time…
With hope, faith, and love…
Jessica <3
