Buddhists have a belief about this moment. That it's important. Right now. Not what you did a minute ago or what you're contemplating doing in the next minute, but what's right in front of you, right at this minute. That screen you're staring at as you read this? It's real. Touch it. The chair, bed, floor you're sitting on as you work on the computer? It's there. Feel it. The breath passing in and out of you? It's giving you life. Notice it.
Is this where I share with you I am a Buddhist? No. Because I'm not. Besides being raised Baptist\Presbyterian, I have also taken classes on Catholicism, Judaism, Islam and other religions that don't come immediately to mind. Am I a student of theology? I certainly am not. My field of choice is writing and software development.
Then what, you wonder, am I? What's my "religious label"? It's pretty simple. I am an American who doesn't have to have a label. One who can understand why individuals without religious freedom don't have knowledge of any religion outside the one their government dictates... but who can't understand why so many of us as Americans don't know more about the religions that color our country and our world.
So many people across the globe have no options in this area. No opportunity to learn, to confirm or to disprove what they believe. You and me? We do. Let's not take it for granted. If our beliefs--whatever they might be--are correct, then what do we have to fear from knowledge? We have so much to learn from each other, even if we don't ultimately agree. That's not scary... it's exciting!
Most exciting? In other parts of the world, people have to be willing to risk imprisonment or death for such religious freedom. But us as Americans? Thanks to that little thing known as the first amendment*, all we have to do is make the decision to explore, to learn. Pretty sweet, right?
*Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
