WHY ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN, A MUSLIM, OR ANY OTHER RELIGION?

Just food for thought... :)

Today I was sent an email/chain mail from a staunchly religious friend, with a link to a website dedicated to highlighting Muslims converting to Christianity. She was very excited about the topic. Here is the link: www.jesusformuslims.org

Here follows my email reply:

My Friend,

Perhaps you would like this video about a Priest called to Islam by none other than Jesus? http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=8763537

Or perhaps you would like stories and videos about Christians who convert to Hinduism?

Or is it more likely that... just like a modern Bedouin tribesman born in Saudi Arabia prefers to hear about converts to Islam,

or just like a lady born in the Punjab region of India would likes stories of former Christians taking up the Vedic Texts and finding peace and enlightenment in Lord Vishnu,

or just like a Persian from 2,500 years ago would have preferred hearing about new converts to Zoroaster,

or just like a person born in Egypt 4,000 years ago would have liked to hear about new worshipers of Ra or Atan...

that you yourself, only because you were born into Christianity, prefer to hear about new Christian converts?

Ultimately, the overwhelming determining factor in your religious beliefs depend almost soley on where you are born and/or raised, nothing more and nothing less.

If you had been born in Saudi Arabia, you would be extolling to me the "virtues" and "Truth" of Isam... and sending out quotes from Joel Olsteen's Islamic counterparts.

If you had been born into a North American Apache Indian tribe 200 years ago, you would speak to me of the Trickster Coyote and the Thunderbird.

Of course, anyone can convert from ANY religion to ANY religion... and they do.

I can point out entire websites devoted to nothing but Christians becoming Muslims... the same can be said for Hindu sites showing and describing converts to their various Gurus...

BUT THE POINT is that all of these converts on all sides are in relatively very small numbers... the simple Truth, is that ones religion is determined by that which one covets first... that which one sees and knows first... that which one is born into.

And it is not a numbers game such as, "well I think my religion is true because I have more converts"... many religions dominated the globe in terms of sheer numbers throughout history... but this fact doesn't make them anymore True, than any other religion.

Sooo, before you make claims about your particular faith being the right one based on "your feelings"... just remember, that "your feelings" feel good, and right, and true, because that is what you have been most likely born into... not much else to it.

My Kitchen Table Said NO! (Based on the Chain Email Entitled, "God Said No")

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF, "GOD SAID NO!!"
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WORD GOD IS REPLACED BY "MY KITCHEN TABLE"?  (hint: nothing changes)

I asked my kitchen table to take away my habit.

My kitchen table didn't answer.
I realized that it isn't for my table to take away,
but for me to give it up.

I asked my kitchen table to make my handicapped child whole.
The kitchen table said nothing.
I realized that his mind was whole, and that my child was still there, just in a broken body.

I asked my kitchen table to grant me patience.
The kitchen table said nothing.
I remembered that Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it is not granted, it is learned.

I asked my kitchen table to give me happiness.
My kitchen table said nothing.
I realized I should appreciate what I have;
Happiness is up to you.

I asked my kitchen table to spare me pain.
My kitchen table said nothing.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to accepting life's difficulties as being par for the course.

I asked my kitchen table to make my spirit grow.
My kitchen table said nothing.
I realized that I must grow on my own,
but I have friends and family to help me on my journey.

I asked my kitchen table for all things that I might enjoy life.
My kitchen table said nothing.
I realized that I have a life to live,
and that I should try and enjoy all things.

I asked my kitchen table to help me LOVE others,
as much as my kitchen table loves me.
My kitchen table said nothing...

I realized a positive message about life doesn't require any gods or goddesses;
it doesn't require the Greek Zeus, Apollo, Posideon, or Aphrodite;
it doesn't require the the Egyptian Ra, Ptah, Osiris, or Isis;
it doesn't require the East African Ju-Ju on the Mountain,
or the Apache Trickster Coyote,
nor any of the more than 2,500 gods and goddesses that reside in the various mythologies of peoples around the globe...
... oh yes, and including that particular Hebrew god, the God of Israel "YHWH" (Yahweh).

Finally you might start to have the idea;
The difference between asking your kitchen table and any god or goddess for something is... ZERO.

THIS DAY IS YOURS
DON'T THROW IT AWAY

To the world you might be one person,
But to one person you just might be the world.

Good friends are like stars... you don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Why muddy up a nice feel good positive message poem with imaginary friends?