Words From A Deist

Deist~ A person who believes in God, without accepting any particular religion.

From a very young age I never felt comfortable in church. I always felt so humbled as if I were never good enough to be there. My father was a Protestant, and my mother a Buddhist. Separated and divorced when I was in grade school, my mother was the perfect example of virtue. She was also separated from her religion being here in the U.S., and disgracing her Japanese heritage by marrying an American soldier. I once asked her what she thought about religion, and her reply was "Her Japanese God, and American God are one God." "We pray to the same God from there or here." "We look to the same sky as one God for everyone." She was very wise as a lot of Japanese people are, and have a deep respect for family, and others. She was also very forgiving of those who were prejudice against her, which I could not always be.

We went to a friend’s all faith church once, and the children there teased my sisters and I for being Japanese. They would pull their eyes up and say chinks, we would always say "Get it right, we’re Japs!" I never liked the word Japs either, I felt it was the worst word you could call someone like nigger, spick ect.. We were teased enough at school we didn’t need to go to church to be teased. There are some folks who go to church, who need to go to church literally! I also don’t believe I need to confess my sins. What sins does an average person confess? “I swore 5 times this week, I had lustful thoughts for my husband, I looked at another man, I raised my voice at my child.” I don’t believe we are all sinners, I do believe we make human mistakes, and the majority of the world is filled with good people. Good people trying to live good lives, treating each other with kindness and respect, this is what I truly believe religion is.

I don’t believe I need to go to church to prove to people I believe in God, or that I am a good person. There are those who go to church that consider themselves higher on the totem poll. If you wish to do so, it is your choice, but don’t look down upon me if I don’t.

My motto is I won’t put you down for being who you are, and in respect do not put me down for being and believing in who I am.

Like in the movie Stigmata based on the gospel of Thomas:
“Jesus said... the Kingdom of God is inside you, and all around you, not in mansions of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood... and I am there, lift a stone... and you will find me.”

An interesting Deist site here:
Deist.Info: http://www.deist.info/