It's not up to you

 I really wish that I could be positive every day. 

I would rather write about stupid, funny things that don't really matter. 

Instead, the hate just keeps coming. 

I was not raised religiously. I don't think many of my generation were. Our parents were forced to attend church and all that came with it. By the time we came along religion was more nebulous. The almighty (if you believed in one) wasn't just an old guy who only listened when you were in a certain building. For the most part, I was given a basic tour of the highlights of this type of belief and left to figure out the rest for myself. 

I was baptized into the Roman Catholic church, mostly because that was just what you did where I come from. Then, the church that I was baptized in burned down. Also, where I am from was one of the first places where survivors of sexual abuse by the church were officially recognized and reported on. So, there is less of a link to how great the church is, and more of a real knowledge that while these people might represent the larger picture, they are still human. 

I'm kind of off-topic here, so let's bring it back. There is a baptist church here where I live quietly passed a vote to make it so 2SLBGTQIA+ people could not have membership in their church. This enrages me. Maybe because I am pretty close to the edge lately anyway. 

In Newfoundland, and probably other places, we have a saying. Saturday night sinner, Sunday morning saint. It refers to the type of person that I don't think of as a true believer. I have read the Bible (and parts of the Torah, the Quran, and the Book of Mormon). As far as I comprehended, if you truly believe in the big guy in the sky, only he can do the judging. 

There is another phrase that gets under my skin: hate the sin, love the sinner. It is not up to us to determine how others live when they are not breaking laws, or hurting someone (without consent). It is up to us to be here for each other and recognize that though we have differences, we are all human. Our differences are what make us unique. 

Sometimes I think I would like to attend a church. To be a part of a community that lifts each other up. But the ideals I live with don't seem to match with any. I am not here to live in judgment of others for things like sexuality or wearing pants. I feel as though I am here to learn from all of those around me. 

Those who preach that Jesus (or whoever) is love, and then say that he (or they) is the only entity that can judge them loses the impact when they judge others for who they love. Get it right, it is 2022. We have more things to worry about. Maybe the churches should start paying taxes. Maybe then the victims of church abuse could get the help they need. 

In the spirit of recognizing each other for who they are not what they are I chose Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone. This song was released in November of 1968 and was written along the lines of the band's usual pleas for people to live in peace through love and music. Let's do more of that and less of the other thing. It's obviously not serving any of us.