My Dad once told me that there are more types of religion then there are types of cars. I don't think that is necessarily true, but I do know that there are alot. I grew up Catholic (no surprise being that I am Mexican). I went to the Catholic elementary and middle school. Then when it came it high school I got to choose where I wanted to go. Honestly, I was so scared to go to a public school. I had never been. How would I survive? So I decided to stick with a private school, the problem was which one. The only Catholic private high schools in my home town were no co-ed. That right there was unacceptable. My parents then stepped in a found a nice non-denominational school that was co-ed. It was perfect. Or so I thought....
I started my freshman year all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. I was ready to meet all these people with different religions. The school was non-denominational after all. It was not. It was a Christian school that preached Christian views. I was not allowed to question the views that were being presented.
AWESOME!!!! What better way to explain religion. Instead of focusing on the differences we have with people why not focus on the similarities.
The newspaper The Ottawa Citizen asked the question, "Does Religion Divide or Unite People?". The answer is both. It does so by forming and bringing together groups that believe what you believe. That is great, right? Well not quite...by bringing people together by belief it all segregates those that do no believe the same as you. Unfortunately, that ends up leading to the vilification of the religions you are not a part of.
