I will start with religion. Religion is one of the old taboo subjects that has certainly been a topic for discussion in this election. This is not the first election to garner such attention about religious beliefs and the role those beliefs would play in decision making of the elected president.
The United States was founded on the principle of separation of church and state. Many of the initial immigrants left their native lands in order to have expression of religious freedom. Yet today, we find ourselves in an environment in which religious extremists are almost center stage because they are the loudest and the most angry that the remainder of us will not accept their beliefs. What happened to the silent majority? Or the 98% or even the 47% as defined by Romney?
Moving on from the divisiveness of politics I want to know:
What is the minimal criteria to declare oneself a Christian? A Roman Catholic? A Mormon? A Muslim? A Buddhist?
In my life I have explored a few of these. Important to me is the role of women, not just in the structure of the religion, but the overall attitude toward women. Are these attitudes dictated by religious beliefs? I can only think of one religion that demands the subservience of women. For the less familiar it is the Mormon. Just think about your value when you are one of many wives! Yes, I know polygamy is illegal in this country and that is why Romney's grandfather moved to Mexico.
Like many young adults in the US, when I got to college I explored the religions of my friends, having already been exposed to Roman Catholicism and the Seventh Day Adventists. Incidentally, for me Judaism is a blend of these two in so many ways and my birth to non Jews precluded that.
My exposure to Buddhism is limited and I am confused as to the role of women.
More recently, I have been exposed to Islam. There is so much that is comfortable here in that the Quar'an is an outline of how to live one's life while respecting others. Yet I cannot reconcile myself to the idea of praying five times a day!
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Location:Abuela Dr,San Diego,United States
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