1 big door

Recently, I found myself in what could only be described as a heated debate about religion. It started with a simple observation, the likelihood of practicing a particular religion is often influenced by where one is born. For instance, being born in Pakistan might mean growing up in the Islamic faith, while in Nepal or India, Buddhism or Hinduism might be more common. This suggestion triggered an unwelcoming response. I was shocked by the skepticism towards religion being deemed unacceptable, and shocked by the close-mindedness and certainty with which my fellow conversationalist declared their own beliefs ‘right’ and dismissing others as ‘wrong’.

I’m no religious scholar, nor would I describe myself as a devout Christian, so perhaps I'm not the ideal candidate for such discussions. But since when does lack of expertise prevent anyone from exploring their curiosity? I question things out of a desire to understand, much like I might question whether the chicken on my plate is fully cooked—there's no harm in curiosity.

Growing up, my Sundays were for church, and Fridays for Bible study. As I got older my relationship with christianity faded . This wasn't due to a loss of faith in God or Christianity, but rather a belief in people. It might sound cliché, but I found that most people, regardless of their religion, strive for a similar moral ground but of course there are the few bad apples. It became clear to me that being a good, genuine individual isn't about the religion I practice or how often I attend church, but about how I conduct myself with those I care about and how I view myself. This is not to say I've abandoned religion entirely, but my approach to it and how it influences my life has evolved and I look forward to studying and learning more.