Rachel's Religious Rant

In my upbringing I was taught to never ask about a persons political views, religion, or what they did for a living. None of these things should be reasons for judging a person.
Like my day job, my religion (or lack thereof)  does not define who I am. I do not understand society's need to place me into a category. "So.....what are you?" I get asked everywhere I go when the topic of religion or spirituality arises.
             "Um...well my Mom's a minister so I was raised Christian...." I always trail off, mostly because I don't really know what to say. 'I don't fit into a category' gets barking sarcastic laughs and harsh criticisms. 
            "Yea but you're like, Pagan right?" my best friend always asks. She's a hard-ass Roman Catholic and I swear her brain is all RACHEL MUST BE CATEGORIZED OR DELETED. REPEAT. RACHEL MUST BE CATEGORIZED OR DELETED...
I enjoy the idea of a God and Goddess living in harmony. I love the four elements, candle work, wands, the outdoors, faeries, Greek god/goddess's worship, Selene, Hecate, Artemis, Pan, and Helios.
But I'm not Pagan.


I like the idea of Christianity. I like the songs sung in church. My favorite Bible passage is Psalms 23:4. I love anything having to do with Moses and the mass exodus out of Egypt. I love the Bible as a creation story not to be taken as literally as some people do. 
But I'm not a Christian. 


I like the idea of Kundalini. I love love LOVE Kundalini Yoga. (The oldest known form of yoga.) I like that it helps you focus on the transformation of you. I like the chanting, the praying, and the self reflection. 
But I'm not Hindu or Buddhist.


So yea. I follow moon cycles and sing Christmas carols. The Mists of Avalon and Siddhartha are my two go-to spiritual books. I have three crosses and a pentacle hanging on my wall right next to a poster of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake. I have seven tiny glass, wooden, and jade elephants for good luck and a alter set up in my closet. I own Caribbean and Chinese good luck charms. I love singing spirituals. 


At the end of the day,  I believe that people corrupt religion for their own selfish purposes. I love that this world has so many options of worship for everyone. I hate how religion rips apart family's and starts never ending wars. That people use God/Goddesses names for their own evil doings.


I believe that you are wrong about religion. I believe I am wrong about religion. I believe we're arguing over something that wont matter in the end. Mostly, I believe we're missing the whole damn point.


No, I don't know what that point is, but that's the beauty of life.