Weaponized Religions

I once was explicitly taught that people of other religions were idol-worshippers, heathens, and going to Hell with a capital "H". At that time I also had a white superiority complex cushioned with my image of white jesus and a sense of duty to convert and change any of these pagans aforementioned. In fact, any and every conversation with a "non-Christian" was to have an underlining purpose of proselytisation. 

There was a distinct "us" and "them": 

We are the saved. We have access to the Truth with a capital "T". We have our pity stories but now we are saved once and for all. They, though, are the doomed--just waiting for us to come. Just waiting for us to tell them who Jesus was. Or, to go to Hell. 

We are the predestined. We do the good. We bring the change. But only the change that we think the Bible teaches. They are, well, it's confusing. They are perhaps predestined, but maybe not. They definitely can't do true good, though, because they don't know the source of Truth and Good with a capital "G". 

My religion was being used as a weapon to cut divides between people.

No longer could I see the humanity in others--I was merely seeing them as a checklist to complete after their conversion. 

In the work of peace, there cannot be divides likes this between people of faiths. It is people with a faith who so often have the endurance to continue through the hard stuff. Religion and faith bring a god (or gods), a belief system, and a community from which people are empowered. Religion and faith provide communal meaning for life which allows for hope that can otherwise be so hard to see in this world. From my experiences, these pieces have been crucial in my ability to engage with all different aspects of the world and to advocate for social justice, change, and peace. 

This is not to say that atheists, agnostic, or antitheists can't do this important work. In fact, one of my dear friends is a firm atheist but aware of social inequalities and changes more than most of my Christian friends. But, when I look through history, the names associated with great change and social justice are people of faith: 

Martin Luther King, Jr., Ghandi, Aung San Suu Kyi, Malcom X, Dietrich Boenhoeffer, Nelson Mandela, Rigoberta Menchu, ... 

These exemplars of the work show the importance of peace within and peace amongst. 

For this to be true in my own life, religion must stop being used as a weapon. 

Don't fear: Putting down the weapon of religion does not have to mean pluralism. But it does mean living into the tension of possibly having an exclusive religion yet an inclusive lifestyle. It also means respecting other people, and that includes the spiritual and religious dimension of life, too. 

As it turns out, "us" and "them" are actually "we". So, let us lay down our weapons, join hands with our neighbors, and do the work of the Love with a capital "L".