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I grew up Catholic. I was baptized when I was only a few months old. I went to catholic school from the age of five until I turned 18. I loved my school. It was small and everybody knew each other. I never really had problems with bullying or getting help with my education. I appreciated my dad caring enough about my education to send me to a school that put a strain on his finances. I appreciated having teachers and classmates that cared about me. I appreciate that my high school prepared me for college.

           I had never really questioned my religion until my senior year of high school when I took a world religions class with one of my all time favorite teachers. Before this class, all I ever heard about other religions were that its members would not be going to heaven. They would not be saved because they did not accept Christ as their savior. This had been a fact I just never accepted. It contradicted what we had been told as children that God created us and loved us. If he loved us all, and if his love in unconditional, then why would he people he created to a place to be tortured for eternity? That just never made sense to me and I refused to believe that hell is a place that exists.  

           Organized religion will tell you you can’t just pick and choose what you want to follow within your religion. Why not? It’s my faith not yours. I just grew up not connecting the God in my head and the God I was being taught. While taking the world religion class, I realized that there were other aspects from other religions that I found really inspiring and fascinating. Reincarnation is probably the most interesting concept of any religion. At 21, I’m not sure exactly what my religion is or even if I fall into any category of organized religion. From my experience, people of organized religion preach love and peace and yet are some of the first to place judgment on others. Going around telling people that they will suffer for eternity if they don’t join your religion and believe what you believe just seems like the worst tactic to spread love in my opinion. If people are doing good and are not hurting anybody or anything what does it matter what religion their practicing.

           If all these religions exist, how could anyone possibly say that one is the best over the rest? I’ve been struggling with these thoughts lately because I do not know if I want to be a part of organized religion. I do not know what religion or spirituality I want to teach my future children. Do I have to pick just one? I think that is pretty limiting on my spiritual capabilities. By not allowing children to choose their own religion are we limiting their education and understanding of others? A lot of tension and misunderstandings in todays world stems from cultural differences, which can include religion. By educating ourselves with at least a basic understanding of organized religions I think can only benefit the modern world.

           Let me end this by saying that I am not judging people who go out and spread their religion. I’m happy for you that you found a community and a faith that you want others to join. I wish I could be that confident that my religion is the one and only right religion. However, I hope to find more people who question and are interested about learning about other religions. I think it would be easier for me to connect with religions if women played a larger role in religious texts. I wrote my senior research paper arguing for female priests. How can I follow a religion that thinks my sex is unequal in spirituality? I have millions of questions and hope to answer them throughout my lifetime. I’m in no hurry to declare a religion. It might take me a year of exploring or fifty either way my faith is journey and there is no other way I would want it to be.

Elephant Nature Park was the single best experience of my life. Located in Chiang Mai, this sanctuary is home to formerly abused elephants that were rescued from circuses, logging, begging, entertainment, and other forms of abuse. This beautiful creatures have found refuge at this beautiful nature park. I’m glad I got the chance to volunteer here and help contribute to their continued freedom. Because of their background, they will not likely survive in the wild. Thank God for places like this. If you’re ever in Thailand I highly suggest you make a stop here. NEVER RIDE ELEPHANTS!

My boyfriend is asleep on the couch in a t-shirt, briefs, socks, and slippers. He’s 20 going on 85. 

I miss my red hair!

Meerkat Trying Not To Fall Asleep

Hakuna masleepy.

Just an office friend

You look so beautiful.