Consider Being Considerate.

There is a man that stands on the corner of a popular intersection across from the Arizona State University Campus.

He stands there most days of the week, with a sign in one hand and a megaphone in the other.  The sign reads a brief warning, and he uses his megaphone to scream at passer-bys:

“Accept Jesus into your life, or prepare to burn in hell! You are all going to hell!”

His words do not have the kindness of a church sermon on Sunday morning. Or the comfort and accepting feeling of a youth group gathered in a circle on Wednesday nights.  His voice is accusing, and unbecoming to those that have the poor fortune to cross on that side of the street.

I am not an atheist. Not that I have the right to say that there is anything wrong with being one, for everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I do not go to church, head a youth group, nor am I involved with any Christian organization. 

But I do believe that there are much more ethical, much more moving, much more efficient ways to reach out to others about your own personal beliefs.

Christians are often taught to love one another, to support one another, and to accept others for whoever they are.

But a lot of them, not all, seem to forget that a person’s thoughts, feelings, and personal beliefs are all a huge part of what makes them, them. 

And they are not the only ones who do it. 

Every religion in this world believes that theirs is correct, theirs is real, and theirs matters.

How many people who believe in the same Jesus Christ as Jehovah’s Witnesses pretend to not be home or avoid going near the windows when they come by knocking on your door with a handful of pamphlets?

Why are there so many different denominations of churches for Christianity when there is only one Bible?

So many religions in the world that all pray, or give, or dedicate their life’s practices to some source of higher power?  Each one with it’s own history, practices, and beliefs?

Think about it. No matter how different each one is, they are all equally important to many people.

 Now the fifth amendment gives that man the right to stand out on that street corner with a megaphone and scream at anyone he pleases, and it gives people the right to recite bible versus in their facebook statuses, proclaim their excitement about Hanukah, and to speak out about their faith and knock on people’s doors handing out pamphlets about the good of Jesus. It gives people the right to Pray to whoever, whatever, whenever, and however they please.  It also allows me to publish this post despite its possible offensive quality. 

But there is a right way to reach out to a community, to advertise the greatness of your higher figure, and try to lead people in whatever direction you feel is best for them:

Respect their willingness to listen or avoid, Respect their wanting to learn more or desire to do anything but listen to what you have to say.

Sharing your beliefs is a two way street.  If you want to go out and share your beliefs and be taken seriously and be respected, then you better be willing to listen to someone else’s beliefs with the same amount of respect and dignity, even if it is every bit the opposite of what you yourself believe.