The one thing besides our DNA that makes us unique is our own individual beliefs and opinions. Each person we met growing up imprinted their views on us, whether we realized it or not. As an adult, we are capable of coming into our own. Especially when it comes to what we believe and are passionate about, even though those beliefs may waver or completely change with time. Religion is one big topic forced on others.
Religion was forced on me in my teenage years while I was living with my father and my step-mother. I was baptized at the age of five as a Catholic, and at 15 as a Christian. Religion wasn't something I personally knew. It was something that was expected of me. I went through the steps knowing I didn't buy into what I was being sold. The churches I went to did not encourage young ones to ask questions, nor did my role-models. The whole, "you should be seen and not heard", kind of situation. Yet, I went along with it as I was told to do. At the age of 18, I decided I would never step into a church unless it was something I wanted.
In my early twenties; my brother-in-law was murdered. The idea of religion in general went right out the window. I was a bad Christian in most people's eyes because I was questioning God. It didn't matter that my heart was shattered and I was still young. It didn't matter that the manner of how it happened left my world upside down and I questioned everything and everyone at that point. I left religion behind due to the opinions others had. I believed it was not okay to question why.
Years later I did research on my own and I encourage everyone to do this. The beliefs that other influential people had were just that; their own. I studied every religion in this big world and finally decided what was best for me. I devoted years to breaking down what I should believe and what I could believe when all I had to do was do what I was searching for. Believe. The freedom to having no one influence my faith is the most satisfying feeling.
You may think you are helping someone down the "right path", but all you are doing is pushing them further away. Each person has their own path to walk, their own destiny to fulfill. Respect other's personal beliefs as you wish yours would to be respected. This applies to everything in life. Cramming it down someone's throat isn't going to make them feel as you do. Your opinions should be passionate, unique and genuine. None of those things can come if it's forced.
