by Kat Apf

Created on: April 14, 2009   Last Updated: May 23, 2009

Everyone has their very own set of religious beliefs. Some are conventional and some are a little less traditional but we all have beliefs. We live by these convictions or we try to. So, how do you deal with someone who believes something different from what you do? How do you come to accept their ways?

Knowledge-

The best path to acceptance is knowledge. If you learn about someone else's religion, while you might not agree with it, you will probably have a better understanding and be more accepting. So, branch out a little, ask people of different faiths why they believe what they believe. If you don't know anyone outside your own faith, hunt information down on-line and at the library about other faiths. Get to know what makes people observe the way they do and chances are, you'll feel more accepting toward them.

Agreement-

A good thing to try to keep in the front of your head is no matter what you believe no one has to believe it along with you. Everyone has the right to believe in something. Does it have to coincide with your beliefs? Absolutely not!

Remember if you believe it, then in your world, it's absolute law. But it doesn't have to be absolute for other people. As long as what a person believes in helps them cope on a daily basis and doesn't hurt other people, it's okay.

There is No Correct Way-

To accept other people's faith, you have to know a very important thing. No one way is correct. There are many paths to the same destination. Accepting others is normally something a religious belief will foster. We shouldn't judge other people on how they worship or anything else.

Faith is a very personal thing and people tend to be firm in their ideas and thoughts on their faith. People can be zealous and at times, overzealous. But to grow as a person, you must know that your way, while it's right for you, may not be right for everyone. And that's perfectly okay.

In the end, if you truly have faith in your beliefs, then you know whatever it is happens to be true. So does it really matter if someone else doesn't think so? If it's true to you, that's all that counts.

Those Who Don't Believe-

Don't forget, some folks don't believe in a higher power. Surely they'll have their own set of morals and ethics but they might not have religion. And this is also okay. If they are open to talking about it, that's fine but in reality, you won't change their mind, any more than they'll change yours. Just accept them as they are. If they are solid in their non-belief and are sure it's what's right for them, you have no business telling them otherwise.

Learning and Growing-

It's great to talk with people about religion but go into it knowing you probably won't change any views. You might get some deeper understanding of a faith outside your own, but more than likely, you aren't going to convert most people. And that's really okay. Sharing and learning is good enough. You don't have to get the entire world to believe your way. And your higher power is probably a-okay with that.

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