by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: June 25, 2007   Last Updated: August 18, 2008

Is it possible to be too religious? This is a question that demands some explanations. If by 'too religious' is meant one cannot quietly live his life with God without trying to convert every one he meets to his way of life, then yes, one can be too religious. No matter how we like to think that our beliefs and our ideas are common and others that don't think the way we do should, this is wrong thinking.

It is never a good idea to annoy others with our inane comments about religion continuously during our work hours. Wait until they ask for your advice, or show them gentleness and kindness rather than preaching it to them at every chance you get.

When God is truly worshiped and loved and one finds Him everywhere, the answer this need not be carelessly thrown around to be ridiculed by others. Yet, as I said, when an opportunity to help others arises, give that help. But be aware, that no one has all the answers and God truly works in mysterious ways and the wonders he performs are many. Religion means simply the outward religion, the showing of your beliefs to others of like minds and it is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is the absolute thing.

Religion takes in all aspects of how God is worshiped, the many avenues to him, and all the dwelling places, (churches) etc. We are expected to be respectful of others who see Him from a different viewpoint. The best way to practice our belief is to love God with our whole heart and soul and be as generous to other as the occasion calls for. It need not be a free-for-all encounter with all we meet. Each person has the need for their own particular privacy with their God and the best we can do is to hope ours and theirs are the same one. All we can do is to follow our conscience and when it tells us we are heading in wrong directions, we must turn around and find a better way. He will guide us, if our belief is sufficient enough for us to ask.

But religion is more than Sunday service. It takes in all that we do the rest of the week. However, as the topic implies, we need not make co-workers nervous by constantly showing how our religion is better than theirs. I like the idea of religion being the hope that Pope Benedict XV1 talks about in his writings. He teaches us about prayer:

"In prayer we must learn what we can truly ask of God - what is worthy of God. We must learn that we cannot pray against others. We must learn that we cannot ask for the superficial and comfortable things that we desire at this moment - that meager, misplaced hope that leads us away from God. We must learn to purify our desires and our hopes." (Pope Benedict XV1; Encyclical of Hope)

Learn more about this author, Effie Moore Salem.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.