On occasion we do things that contradict our principles and beliefs, so we need to forgive ourselves and others a little more, not as a religious command, but as a way to go through life without tearing our hair out in desperation and crawling around others seeking easy laughs or inventing revenge. Can’t be forgiving all the time, can’t turn the other cheek all the time but you can’t let the negative outweigh what is positive, which is a lot.

I tend to believe that a normal person who feels strongly enough to follow his/hers religious beliefs in practice, most of the time, keeps strong social ties and feels  more strongly the responsibility to society – hardly the weak minded individual that is usually portrayed.  Hospitals and international aid organizations are securely rooted in religious beliefs, and they were kick started by religious organizations, but they’re hardly thumping their bibles at those whom they are assisting. They’re far too busy for that, I assume. They’re not weak and definitely not stupid.

In this day and age, I think it requires more courage because of the instant labeling of bigot, pedophile, church rat, etc.  That’s just on the Catholic side of things.

I used to think how corny, bigoted and antiquated it was to witness church processions in little villages out in the country. It’s because I was not aware of just how deeply the procession served to unite the locals, to have fun and party, and how it served the purpose of reaffirming their cultural identity in the process. Now I see a 500 year-old statue of a Virgin or a Jesus - and it is part of a heritage, it’s not just a statue to pray to, it’s not simply an idol to worship and it’s not an antique at a museum, removed from the human context that created it. Realization of the fact doesn’t make me want to get down on my knees and pray, but rather, to respect and admire it.

Deep Freeze, I don’t understand this targeting of Jesus all the time, especially when he had good things to say and abided by his principles to a fault. Obviously in his day, his actions resonated strongly enough for people all over the Roman Empire to listen and convert to his teachings and those of his immediate followers (the Bible has no direct writings from Jesus) - despite extreme hardship. What’s fair is fair and let’s give credit where it’s due.

We don’t make ourselves; we are a product of our society and society is ruled by principles rooted in the belief of the Supernatural. How Good or Evil we become depends on how we are treated by others and, witnessing the actions of those around us, we set our own course of action by the values of the society we live in.