Essay on Personal Rights, Growth, and Lifepath. Original Content

Most people agree that everyone has a right to their own point of view. However, most people also feel compelled to tell others why their viewpoint is the best, and how messed up anyone is that doesn't feel the same way they do. Day after day I see people ridiculing, persecuting, and generally being rude to others over religion, sexual orientation, politics, history, aliens, and almost anything else people feel strongly about.
I don't think all of that bad behavior is because there are millions of computer warriors trying to save others from erroneous beliefs. It is because in their minds, if other people aren't wrong, that means they are. Our beliefs and opinions are shaped from the time we are born. The caregivers bringing up a child usually feel strongly about their world view. They do everything they can to cause the child to think like they do. As people grow up, they are subjected to countless others who also believe they are correct in their understanding of the world we live in. As time passes one thinks about all of the information they have been presented with, and picks the beliefs that make the most sense to them.
Personally I don't think any of this personality molding is by accident. Two examples: I have two sisters who have traveled down what to me are very strange religious roads, but they have gotten what they needed to help them deal with a confusing subject and with life in general. I believe they were put on that life path. We grew up attending Southern Baptist churches. There were so many contradictory things in the organization itself and in the interpretation of the modern bible that all three of us looked for something else.
My oldest sister became a Messianic Jew. She reconciled the differences between the old and new testaments in that faith. She also had a need to be different, set apart, from most of society. She needed the feeling of belonging and hope that her new faith gave her.
The middle sister felt very isolated and alone. Her husband was in the military and they were living far away from friends and family. She had problems she was unable to deal with. Along came the Jehovah's Witnesses. They wanted to talk. They visited her frequently. They presented their case with carefully memorized answers to all of the questions she threw at them. Now as a member of that organization she has structure in her life. They dominate her every move, from her relationship with her family to how she spends every waking moment. She also has "friends" all over the world. She never has to be alone.
As for myself, I don't believe in any organized religion. I do believe in God. I don't think it is some wild accident that the universe is here. I believe everything is as it should be, and we are all walking the life path we need to be on for our personal growth and for influencing those around us. Although most people feel differently than me, I think they are probably doing exactly what they need to do. I don't judge anyone for their beliefs, lifestyle, or their understanding of the world around them. That much cannot be said about the vile and hateful way I see other people acting.
Especially in an internet format, people feel the need to be insulting or downright cruel. It would be much harder to be such an *sshole looking face to face with the object of your vile criticisms. If you are an atheist, follow Buddha, Jesus Christ, or Islam, you are free to share your beliefs as long as you don't harm anyone else. You do not have the right to belittle or insult others for theirs. They are not you. Making fun of people, calling them stupid or uneducated, acting superior - just makes you a bad person. What right do you have to incite hate and distress? Another belief of mine is karma. You really will reap what you sow. Be careful to sow flower seeds and not thorns.

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Comment by scotty michele brown on July 31, 2013 at 5:12pm: Indeed it has Nobody. As bad as dealing with a J.W. and their myriad of quirks, that isn't as bad as the Messianic Jew. She is openly pro-Zionist. We used to send links to articles that showed the reasons we were for or against zionism to each other, and try to have polite discussions. I tried to avoid the subject. I finally told her I believe the people in Israel are committing mass murder and genocide. I said I was unable to continue having much contact with her because it always came up. Now we only see each other every couple of years. Such a shame. She is very much like me in most other ways. At one time we were best friends.

Comment by Nobody Will Observe on July 31, 2013 at 4:54pm: Sorry Scotty if belief is getting in the way of a better relationship. My brother went born again for a couple decades. It can be quite all consuming!

Comment by scotty michele brown on July 31, 2013 at 4:30pm: There you go Nobody Will Observe. Illustrating my point in this essay beautifully.

Comment by Nobody Will Observe on July 31, 2013 at 4:27pm: And doG said; Thou shall be miserable ;)!

To celebrate is to sin.

Comment by scotty michele brown on July 31, 2013 at 4:16pm: Kryptographic, I have to say I agree with you about Jehovahs Witnesses. But her religion is not my choice. My family is a mess! In addition to having to walk on eggs around the Jehovahs Witness sister, my older sister is just as bad. She only celebrates Jewish festivals. My mother still celebrates all of the "Christian" holidays and if we get together then because that is when everybody is off work, it is AWKWARD. I celebrate them in a secular way. Both of my sisters think the holidays are evil. I just try to stay neutral. It isn't my place to tell them what to believe.

Comment by Cryptocurrency on July 31, 2013 at 3:41pm: btw, the Jehovah's people are sadly misguided and they have brainwash written all up and down their foreheads. It's in invisible ink though and only a special kind of fluorescent light will reveal it.

Don't mind me Scotty, I'm being a clown. Your blog is good and your thoughts are sound. I'm an idiot and everyone knows this.

Comment by Cryptocurrency on July 31, 2013 at 3:06pm: Smart stuff and it's bad karma not promoting your work. Come on you admins and mods. Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey. Well, maybe skip the bakey part.

I feel you Scotty. Ya see, my words are often taken out of context or i'm misunderstood. I believe in an alien religion and worship salamanders. That's just me. I dress in drag and moonlight as a complete jackass because I really want people to think of me as a Bilderturd call boy.

Comment by Tara on July 31, 2013 at 2:16pm: AMEN to that Scotty! I'm 100% with ya.

Comment by Nobody Will Observe on July 31, 2013 at 1:48pm: Please try and be a little more sensitive, when expressing a wish for people civil and human ;)

Generally it's a good practice to also apologize in advance, just in case ;)