Religious Pluralism: Who's laughing now?

“I’m Praying For You.” <-- “I’m laughing at you.”

Maybe I missed the joke. What’s so funny? Is it because someone has a religious conviction? Perhaps this person isn’t devoted to one denomination, but is very spiritual and believes in a higher power. Is it really so funny that she is praying? Maybe it’s because she’s praying for “you.” The collective “you”. I understand that not everyone has a secure faith. Totally, for sure. But does that mean that those that do not have religion in their lives should mock those that do, or vice versa? No.

I came across this phrase not too long ago and I personally find it fitting: religious pluralism. Wikipedia does a good job of explaining what it is. According to Wikipedia, religious pluralism is a “loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of various religions”. This term can also be used to express that one’s religion is not the only source of truth or that another’s religion is wrong, but a more harmonious co-existence and understanding between different denominations and faiths. I don’t have a problem with people of other faiths. I understand if we don’t have the same convictions, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to belittle everyone I meet or try to convert them.

One of the most insensitive things you can do is make rude comments towards someone when they express religion in any way. “I’m laughing at you” proves that she has insecurities, bitterness, possibly had a falling out with the Church (whichever church that may be), or is unable to understand the fulfillment that religion provides for those that possess it. Whatever the case may be, I find it inappropriate to say you’re laughing at someone for having faith. What about you? You have to believe in something, right? What do you believe in, missy? Do you even have a moral code? Or do you just enjoy laughing at people who don’t believe the same things as you or that don’t rely on science and physics to describe the universe?

I understand religion is such a touchy subject, and, really, I don’t prefer in getting into religious debates, but I accept that there are other religions out there. I accept that there are people of different faiths than me, and I accept that there are people without faith. I won’t judge them. I won’t think of them any differently. I’d prefer if everyone act on a moral code than flaunt and force religion down others’ throats, but that would be in a perfect world. Alas, we do not live in a perfect world. There’s too much religion trash-talk in the women’s bathroom and it’s a little unnerving. Religious pluralism should be introduced to the world… hopefully it would leave an impact on how we treat each other.

"R.I.P. Evan"

“R.I.P. Evan”

No, I'm not a fan of this... Evan, you should be remembered somewhere better than a smelly girl's bathroom. Sorry.

Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes...

“Nothing changes if nothing changes.”

Be active. Do something. Is it really so hard to take the initiative? Nothing is going to change if you don’t push yourself. We should all take these words to be encouraging. I’m sure people reading this will respond with, “Of course nothing changes if nothing changes. Duh. Thanks, Captain Obvious,” but in all seriousness, if you want something to change, you should be the one to initiate the change!

“Be the change you want to see in the world,” said Mahatma Gandhi. Maybe this quote is completely unrelated, but is it really? Okay, so you got a C- on your Shakespeare paper. But is that because your ideas were poorly expressed and didn’t really answer the prompt, or is it because you didn’t really read Coriolanus and decided SparkNotes was your best alternative? That’s your fault. You can change your grade if you change your study habits. Voila! Change of cause and effect. Wonderful. Change yourself for the better and you will be a better contributing member of society.

However, if you’re sitting with a group of friends and they’re stereotyping a person or group of people walking past, instead of joining in on the ridicule, you can withdraw from the group. Correct them. If we, as human beings, talk about acceptance but don’t act accordingly, then how can we expect there to be less misunderstandings, less hate crimes, less stereotyping? Change the way you think, change the way you act, and you will see the change for which you strive.

I hate it when people complain and don’t do anything to change what they’re complaining about. I’ll admit that I’m guilty of this on occasion. I need that extra little push sometimes. Other times, I wait until the right moment to bring it up with the person with whom I have complaints or annoyances. If I don’t talk to them, the things they say or do are going to keep annoying me until I eventually loathe them. That’s not the way to go. I’ve changed so that I don’t loathe the people I enjoy being around. Communication, understanding, patience, and a willingness to change are what you need to be the change. Nothing changes if nothing changes.

"I feel empty, all the time."

“I feel empty, all the time.”

Maybe she feels like this because she wrote it while taking a load off in the English Building. In all honesty and curiosity, why would anyone write this in a bathroom stall without something coming along and pointing out the obvious? Boys apparently have convinced themselves that “Girls don’t poop”, but after walking in to the girl’s bathroom in the English Building, I can tell you that is most definitely not true.

Okay, okay. Besides the fact that the writer of this is emptying her bowels, there has to be a legitimate reason she is writing this on a bathroom stall. Is this the only place she can write this and know that someone will read it? Can she not be heard by her roommates, friends, loved ones that she must write this is a public, yet very intimate place?

Perhaps her immediate support system isn’t available to her or is telling her that her feelings are just a figment. If that’s the case, I’m not surprised that she has written about her emptiness on a bathroom stall at eye-level to whoever is sitting. It’s attention-seeking, sure, but it would be more attention-seeking if she had signed her name or provided reasons. There would be no sympathy for her if she had written her name. Facebook messages would be sent about how pathetic and stupid she is for having written that. It’s true. College kids can be ruthless.

Everyone has those days where they feel like they are droning on, without a purpose, alone, empty. It’s just one of those days. Girls—it’s a natural feeling. Whatevs. It happens. This poor girl needed an outlet for her crappy day (how appropriate). And so it is that her crappy day must be projected onto us unexpectedly. We must empathize with her emptiness of our own because we’ve all experienced it at some point, or at least know of what she is speaking.

The placement of the comma there seems to have some significance. Grammatically, its placement is incorrect and unnecessary. However in dialogue, she is pausing. All the time. Why does she feel empty, especially all the time? All the time: since when or has it really been all the time since her birth or just recently? Again, if there were more details to this, I might have to make more puns, but I’m glad there aren’t, as should she.