Love. One. Another.

For most of my life i've struggled with the self righteous judgments from everyone around me. Constantly being judged while trying to find myself. First for being ugly- obnoxious- nerdy- not dressing right or acting right, to dressing more provocatively- trying to get attention for the wrong reasons. Needing to feel attractive by dressing in short skirts and skimpy shirts. Praying that one day i would be beautiful. Obviously not fitting in with any of the girls in church- but more-so knowing that i was honestly despised and disliked by all of them. Knowing the smiles and activity invitations were fake and part of an obligation. Always searching for a way to "fit-in" somewhere but never quite reaching those standards.

I remember questioning religious beliefs that i'd grown up hearing... attending church with other friends- needing to find the answers for myself. Listening to the closed off views and double standards that existed in each community based on looks, attitude, background etc. Having friends that were gay, poor, non-religious, those that liked to drink and do drugs, and all things forbidden by the righteous standards set forth by the organizations. Never understanding how the logic that different means they're no good.

Correct me if i'm wrong but Jesus taught to Love one Another, Love they neighbor as thyself and to let he without sin cast the first stone.

Buddha taught that "Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule." And that "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else' you are the one who gets burned."

Krishna and Rama from Hinduism preached that we should never "get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all." and that "Love means giving selflessly, excluding none and including all"

According to Muslims, Muhammad taught that "A true Muslim is the one who does not defame or abuse others; but the truly righteous become a refuge for humankind, their lives and their properties." And asked his followers "Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first."

In Judaism, their scriptures teach a couple remarkable things. First, “Love your neighbor like yourself.” Second, “Examine the contents, not the bottle.”

The greatest spiritual leaders in history have all preached love for others as the basis for all happiness, and never did they accompany such mandates with a list of unlovable actions or deeds. They never said, love everybody exceptfor the gays. Love everybody except for the homeless. Love everybody except for the drug users. Love everybody except for the gang members, or those covered in ink, or the spouse abusers. They didn’t tell us it was okay to love everybody with the exception of the “trailer trash,” those living in poverty, or the illegal immigrants. There was never any fine print attached to those commandments.

Simply Love others.

Period.

Why is it that sometimes the most Christlike people are they who have no religion at all?

I have known a lot of people in my life, and I can tell you this… Some of the ones who understood love better than anyone else were those who the rest of the world had long before measured as lost or gone. Some of the people who were able to look at the dirtiest, the poorest, the gays, the straights, the drug users, those in recovery, the basest of sinners, and those who were just… plain… different…

They were able to look at them all and only see strength. Beauty. Potential. Hope.

Isn’t that what love actually is?

Don’t get me wrong. I know a lot of incredible Christians, too. I know some incredible Buddhists and Muslims and Hindus and Jews. I know a lot of amazing people, devout in their various religions, who truly love the people around them. I also know some atheist, agnostic, or religionless people who are absolutely hateful of believers. They loathe their religious counterparts. They love only those who believe (or don’t believe) the same things they do.

In truth, having a religion doesn’t make a person love or not love others. It doesn’t make a person accept or not accept others. It doesn’t make a person befriend or not befriend others. Being without a religion doesn’t make somebody do or be any of that either. No, what makes somebody love, accept, and befriend their fellow man is letting go of a need to be better than others.

Nothing else.

I know there are many here who believe that living a homosexual life is a sin, an unnatural abomination in the eyes of God.

Okay.

First: what does that have to do with love?  And Second: Are you God? Because if you're not then you aren't delegated to make that judgement.

Come on. Don’t we understand? Don’t we get it? To put our arm around someone who is gay, someone who has an addiction, somebody who lives a different lifestyle, someone who is not what WE think they should be… doing that has nothing to do with enabling them or accepting what they do as okay by us. It has nothing to do with encouraging them in their practice of what you or I might feel or believe is wrong vs right. It has everything to do with being a good human being. A good person. A good friend.

That’s all.

I’m not here to say homosexuality is a sin or isn’t a sin. To be honest, I. DONT. CARE. I’m not here to debate whether or not it’s natural or genetic. Again, I… don’t… care. Those debates hold no encumbrance for me. If you're a good person- if you love others and treat people with respect... you're alright in my book.

I do however care about this incessent need some of us have to declare ourselves right and “perfect” all the freaking time and any chance we have. But guess what- There are things we all do or believe that other people consider “sinful.” There are things we all do or believe that other people consider “wrong.” There are things we all do or believe that other people would be disgusted or angered by.

“Yes, but I have the truth!” most people will adamantly declare.

Okay.

Whether you do or not… show it with your actions...show it with your deeds- not with your preaching and 'holier than thou' judgmental, condescending words. Not with your looks of disapproval or disgust.

Live the doctrine you cherish, don't preach it.

And just Love. One. Another.