I go to church with my family and it is a lot of singing, dancing, discussing, and praying. It is a really amazing experience to watch how much things like God and Jesus move people spiritually. Since I'm not religious it can sometimes be amusing to watch the people in church, but I don't think any less of them because of what they believe.
I've grown up in a world where there are hundreds of ways to believe, your beliefs can be completely unique to you and that is ok. In the USA I called myself Jewish even know I don't believe in God or many other spiritual things, I am culturally Jewish. When people in the USA asked what I believed in I would say I believe in love and nature. I have no issue with any set of beliefs, as long as your a good and moral person, than I respect the way you believe.
Here in Ghana I can't tell people I'm Jewish because then they automatically assume I believe in God, and that's not true. Once I tell people I don't believe in God they ask in a very confused manner, "well then how was heaven formed?" I would assume that someone who doesn't believe in God would also not believe in heaven, but here that idea is so unheard of that it just can't be fathomed. Another common question is "if you don't believe in God who do you think created you?" I usually answer that I believe in evolution, and many times have been told that evolution is a delusion. Usually at this point I just say "well we have different beliefs I respect yours and I hope you respect mine" and so far everyone has said they respect my beliefs.
My family is Christian and very religious. They know that I support gay rights, and am pro-choice with abortion as well as some other things that go against the bible, and they respect that even if they don't agree. I'm glad they know because I don't want to hide my beliefs, I want them to love me for all my beliefs not just the ones I think they will agree with. My mom and me have had many discussions about religion, we usually don't agree but there is no tension. One of the big things we have discussed is moral. My mom says she try's to do everything as best she can and show as much love as she can because on judgement day God will look at all her sins and all the good things she has done. She doesn't understand that even though I don't believe in judgement day I still do good, she thinks that if I truely didn't believe in judgement day then I wouldn't care about who I hurt or what I did in my life because no one will punish me after death.
In school there is a lot of religion which is weird for me coming from the USA, where religion is a touchy subject in school. Here everyday before school starts there are prayers. Many teachers talk about God in class, I'm in a class called Christian religious studies (CRS), which is pretty much just readying the bible. One of the weirdest things though is that before every physics class the teacher has us pray, which just seems so out of place. And in ICT (information, communication, and technology) we pray at the end of class. At break very commonly students come to the class rooms and preach to us, which was definitely shocking the first time that happened. Many have told me to accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior, or to believe in God. I have asked some of them why and non have given me a very clear answer, or they say that if I don't I'll go to hell. They don't say this in a mean way, they say it more as, they really don't want me to go to hell. Mostly though people just don't understand, it doesn't make sense, in there world religion is part of everyone's life, if you aren't religious something is wrong so they really want to help you.
Another thing is the bible is law. So when I talked to one girl we got on the subject of gay rights. The said she would have no issue with gay people but the bible said it was wrong so there for she was not ok with it. I've also heard when people learn that I don't believe in God, heaven, or hell, "but the bible says they are real.", they would never think I don't also believe in the bible. Through all this learning of religion I may change some of by beliefs or not, but I'm ok with either.
Even though I don't think I'll every be particularly religious, I am really happy to learn about religion, since it is such a big part of so many people's lives around the world. This country is sometimes called the most religious country. Not because of how religious people are but the % of people who are religious is the highest. I'm learning lots and working through this exchange day by day. Miss all my family and friends.
I want you to know how much I derive pleasure from reading your blogs describing your experiences and feelings. I am impressed and admire the level of maturity with which you write and think.
ReplyDeleteI respect very much your perceptions on, and how you are dealing with, the issues of religion. Your views are certainly well in tune with those of your Grandpa. Clearly doing “good” does not have to be prescribed by and dependent on fear of punishment, e.g. going to hell, as described by the bible. Atheists can and do live moral and honorable lives, because it is the right thing to do.
No doubt being exposed to so many folks thinking differently from you, is a valuable learning experience for you, and certainly is within achieving the YESAbroad program objectives.
Love you,