Religion

Ok so I can't find the quote I was looking for to put into this entry. Although I can't find the quote I will do my best to paraphrase it for everyone reading.

So first lets set the scene. The world that this story takes place on is a fantasy world. There are like 7 million gods, one for just about anything you can think of. That being said we show our character, an older guy who is a really powerful magic guy. He has what he calls a personal relationship with his God, he calls her his red lady or something to that affect. When we first show the main character of the story he is sickened and offended to learn that this magic guy doesn't show the god proper respect and confronts him. The older mage simply says that he has a personal relationship with the god and will not change or explain that to anyone.

Obviously that was not the best telling of the story, but it pretty much sums up what I think about religion. Earlier today I read CV's post on religion and it really got me thinking. He talked bout how he was Catholic because he wanted to be and didn't forward messages on to people usually having a religious undertone so that people dont feel uncomfortable. I totally agree with him. But, from a religious standpoint, it bothers me when any person pushes their religion on people.

I am Catholic so I will speak from the Catholic view point. I myself am not a huge believer in the Bible as a end all book, I think of it more as a collection of parables that can be used to teach someone how to live a good life. (Yes that includes the New Testament being one big parable, but thats for another post) But for many hard core "Catholics" that book is the end all be all. Right in the Bible it says to mind your own business and let others do what they will. I think it would be great if people just remembered to worry about themselves and not push anything (including religion) on others.

For those who don't believe the Bible specifically says mind your own buisness please see the below versus from the Gospel according to Matthew.

Matthew Chapter 6
1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Yes I understand that is very long and Catholic, but really what it says is this. Mind your business and lead a good life. Really a message all can live by.