Tonight I Am...

I know that only yesterday I told you I was taking a week off.  That's still my plan but this post was just too important to me to not share it today so I hope you'll forgive me.

Today is Halloween.  Most of you are probably planning on dressing up and going trick-or-treating - I hope you have a safe, fun evening.

For Pagans, today is Samhain.  On this evening the veil between our world and the spirit world is at its thinnest, so is the best time to contact those who have departed (I seriously don't advise you do this though unless you know what you are doing).  For me, today is a reminder to remember those I love who aren't with us anymore so tonight I am planning on lighting a candle and thinking of my Grandad.

I will be remembering those times I rode on his knee as he sang 'Ride-a-cock-horse'; watching him in his garden and helping him to pick the runner beans; and his desk full of 'free gifts' he had claimed (mostly pens and a few pedometers is what I remember).

I hope you take time to acknowledge those beliefs that differ from your own and please feel free to share your opinions on tonight's festivities in the comments, or to remember someone you have lost.

No Title

I've struggled with writing this post.  It has been perculating for a while and now I've finally written I don't think I've quite captured what I meant to say.  Perhaps I should wait until I get it right to share it with you, but I feel it's just too important to not share right now.  This post was originally titled 'Sheltered' but after writing it, I realise that that's not the right title.  I'm not sure it has a title (but if you think of any, please share in the comments).

Everyone knows racism, sexism and general prejudices are bad.  At school we are taught why we should see the person rather than what country they come from or what religion they follow.  I never really understood why we were being taught this.  I assumed that all these problems belonged to history (which, to be fair, was where most of these lessons happened – in history class) and that it wasn’t anything to do with current life.  I was naive.  I thought everyone thought like me.

You see, to me, I understand what racism is, I just can’t comprehend it.  I’ve never been able to.  I can’t physically work out why racism exists.  So you can see why I had problems with being taught it.  

Since high school I have come to terms with the idea that racism still exists – a lot – but I don’t think I will ever get my head around how someone can be racist.  Thinking about it, it’s obvious that I had a great upbringing (seriously, my only gripe has ever been that my life wasn’t as messed up as I thought it was supposed to be – from films, magazines, friends) and this whole not understanding prejudice thing is where it really shines.  You see, I don’t think I am prejudice against anyone due to who they are, where they’re from, what they believe (I do have issues with some religions but that’s still with the business side of it rather than individuals), I don’t think I know how to be.  Clearly, if everyone thought like that then there just might be hope for mankind yet.  I’m not attributing myself with amazingness here as it doesn’t really have anything to do with me – guess I’ll have to ask my parents their secret.

Are you racist?  Have you ever witnessed racism?  What effect did your upbringing have on your values?

A Word on Faith

On Sunday my brother was baptised and he and Kess were made official members of their Church.  Now, I am not Christian (actually I'm Pagan) but I once was so know how it all works.  And I haven't been in a Church for a long while (mostly because I don't want to - it's not really relevant to me after all).  To be fair, I'm not a big fan of the Christian religion - to me it seems that a lot of Christians are only really Christian in Church.  Not to mention the wars and prejudice and the constant attempt to convert me (even after I was converted!) 

But on Sunday I realised something.  I may not believe in religion, but I do believe in faith.  I believe in people when they are filled with faith.  And I realised that I am not that different from many of the Christians in that particular Church.  The Minister spoke about how their faith led them to purpose and the ability to trust themselves to another and how they are never alone.  As he spoke I knew that that is how my faith makes me feel.  I don't believe the same things as them, but I believe our faith unites us.

I would consider myself a very open-minded and accepting person (I mean, not many non-Christians would get up and give a testimony starting with "I am not a Christian" in front the Church) (because that is what I did of course) (or no one I know, unless they just don't tell people they do on their weekends).  Okay, deep breath, sorry about all the parentheticals.  So yeah, I believe that everyone has the right to believe what they want and to live how they want, as long as it is not harming anyone else.  But as I look around me all I see is prejudice and hate and I know that that is not what religion and faith should be for.  We should all be united in the knowledge that we all have a faith, not be bickering over which faith is 'right'.

What about you?  Do you believe so strongly in your faith that you want everyone else to follow your beliefs?  Or do you let the idea of faith keep you peaceful and hope for a better world?