Joe Beaty

Jr. Faith 06

December 15, 2006

This I believe.

 

            I’m sick of all the adults in my life tell me to believe in one thing, or do another. I don’t like having others’ ideas forced upon me. I believe that people have to right to believe in whatever they want.

            I sit in my theology class everyday, thinking, “This guy’s full of it,” but I don’t let what he says bother me. I know he trusts strongly in what he teaches, and I know most of he’s trying to make me a better person, but I still don’t care that much in the theology. I was raised by my parents to be a gentleman, to respect others opinions, and to be a good catholic. Since I entered high school I’ve only lost the last, because I want to. I do not go to church because I believe that spending my time doing productive activities will help me more, later in life, than a silly belief in god.

            I really don’t mind all the preaching so much, but it’s when I’m told that one religion is better than the next because ‘I said so, and it’s what we should all believe’ I get upset. I do not blame terrorists for their acts of violence; it is part of their religion most of the time. I do not blame Christians for their hypocritical charity after years of oppression and violence either. I believe that belief is in the eye of the beholder. Like a favorite color, song, or food, I do not think that religion can be forced, nor should it be. But it is.

            If it were up to me, we would learn world religions, embrace our foreign brothers, and try to make piece through friendship, setting aside our issues, and not try to settle our different through politics. I also believe that we should spend our time on this earth doing what makes us feel good. If that’s smoking a cigarette, that’s fine, if that’s having a few drinks, that’s fine, and if that’s breaking a few laws to get a little exhilaration (without hurting someone) I think that’s fine too.

            My main concern is not what I believe, or what others believe, but the fact that I don’t want to believe what everyone else does. I want to be me, because I’m happy with whom I am.