Since when does religion equal a good person?

Happy Holidays everyone!


Never a dull moment in this concrete jungle full of citrus and ocean breezes. I've often noticed that Miami is built a bit like a barricade. Even though we have almost immediate access to the ocean, most of the city is inverted so that the buildings block out any natural light, the sight of sea water, and human interaction. There are a few areas that I absolutely love about Miami but they are heavily outweighed by the things I dislike about it.

One of the things I can't stand, for example, is the way that perfect strangers who try to preach at me or try to force me to go to their church react when they find out I'm Jewish. "But... you're hispanic. How can you be Jewish?" or "That doesn't matter, you need Jesus in your life, come to my church we'll FIX you." and the ever most infamous "You can't be Jewish. Jews killed Jesus. Do you think thats right? That they killed Jesus? We can save you."

What.The.Crack.Are.You.On? No. The Jews did not kill Jesus. According to even the Christian Bible, the Jews just stood aside while the ROMANS killed Jesus (yeah, those very same romans that have a vatican in Italy with a pope.). There are many things I do not agree with when it comes to religion, even in some cases things that pertain to Judaism. Here's the thing though, I don't claim to be a good person because of a title of 'belief' that is placed on me. No. I'm a good person because I bend over backwards to help others, even when they are not very nice to me. Also, because I'm just plain kind of heart. I dislike seeing sadness or pain on anyones face. My instinct when I have an uneaten bag of chips in my purse after lunch, is to give it to the man rifling through the trash for food when I get off the bus, even though I know I'm struggling in my own way.

Money is a big deal to me, a huge deal really. Not because I want grandeur, but more so because I abhor owing anyone anything. It pains me to know that I signed on for something and then halfway through can't meet my end of the bargain. I avoid luxuries and I give give give until so little is left that even if I did have the urge to splurge I just can't. Never once do I complain. When I get preached at, when people try to drag me to their sermons, when they spit on my beliefs and accuse me of not being 'good enough' for a blessed after life, I smile and shake my head gently, always saying "Excuse me, I really have to go now. I need to take care of some things." and I leave without hurting them.

Faith is a beautiful thing. I admire those who can have faith so blindly. I think it's noble. I also think it's a little naive but I wouldn't want to burst their bubble if it's what keeps them going.

On a very serious note, however, I find it incredibly cruel to have someone sit there and say the above things to me. I find it harsh for anyone to assume that a building with a cross on it, will make any more of a difference than a building with a star on its door or a Book of Shadows (for the ones who celebrate Paganism or Wicca), or for those who go to a Muslim temple or Buddhist.
It is not our place as human beings to define god, or the gods, or any spirit. It just isn't. That is like saying that instead of the universe (for those who are atheists or agnostics) or God (for the religious) is controlled by US the humans. It's incredulous. Blasphemy on every religious level.

Therefore, it is also not our place to say, "My religion is the right one.", because guess what, your religion, is the same as mine, the same as the next persons. Overall they all say the same thing, be good unto others. Be good unto your earth that feeds you, be kind to the ones that gave you life, and be patient with the ones who make it harder.

Do not tell me I cannot be Jewish because I might as well have killed Jesus. Do not attempt to tell me that I can be saved. I can be the only one to save myself and I think I've done a rather fantastic job at that. Don't ask me to disregard my beliefs just because it clashes with my skin color or the language I speak or the island I come from. Most of all, don't you dare assume that you are a better person than I am, just because under a piece of paper where it says "Faith" you can check off anything else, or nothing at all. I am myself, my beliefs are what they are, and I still embrace those I love and even those who have hurt me, and wish them the best. Not many people have that kind of faith... in themselves.


With honesty and best wishes unto everyone under the sky, whether religious or not,
Sincerely (although long-winded),
Plutonia