Sta Hungry Stay Foolish

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

A blog by Leon Oudejans

Love vs Religion

7 May 2016

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I might be in trouble again and ironically for following my own advice from my 4 May 2016 blog -Distrust. I like someone and she likes me. She is here for some 10 years and speaks very reasonable Dutch (see my 5 May 2016 blog) despite being from far away. She is afraid that her religion will pose a problem. I don’t mind her religion. I told her that I respect her religion as long as she respects mine. Here the problem starts as she basically asked me to change my religion.

This is also where macro and micro views differ. In my macro or general view, the Gods in monotheistic religions – and especially the Abrahamic or Semitic religions – are ultimately the same while assuming a different name or title. For some this very thought might equal blasphemy but I prefer to keep an open mind rather than a closed minded belief.

It may come as a shock or surprise to some people but Christianity (0 – today) is ultimately “just” a derivative of Judaism (ca. 1,000 BC – today). And Islam (>632 AD – today) is “just” a derivative of Christianity. Considering their many common features – like Abraham – these 3 religions are also referred to as the Abrahamic religions. Essentially, the origin of both Christianity and Islam is rooted in the Jewish religion whether we like it or not.

Wiki: “The origins of Judaism lie in the Bronze Age polytheistic Ancient Semitic religions, specifically Canaanite religion, a syncretization with elements of Babylonian religion and of the worship of Yahweh reflected in the early prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible”. Please also see my 30 April 2016 blog: The origin of beliefs.

In my micro or personal view, I cannot accommodate her wish to change my religion. Besides the obvious that she is not willing or not allowed to change her religion, I respect mine too much to betray it. I am not eager to hear a rooster crow three times (Luke 22:34). And quite frankly I doubt that asking somebody to consider changing religion has anything to do with mutual respect.

She asked me whether I visit church a lot. Actually I do not. I don’t think that the sincerity of faith – or religion – lies in frequent visits to a religious place of worship. Faith and religion shouldn’t just be words or opinions but should steer your moral compass and your actions. Else it’s just keeping up appearances and utterly meaningless to call yourself a religious person. I replied to her that each night I “Have A Talk With God” (Stevie Wonderlyrics, video, Wiki).

In my 30 April 2016 blog on “the origin of beliefs”, I stated that the primal emotions of human beings are either ruled by Love or by Fear. Today’s fear and hatred amongst religions has caused distance and distrust between people, especially between the ones with different religions. 

In my 28 April 2016 blog (“Sometimes Love is not enough”) I used this diagram to explain that Love always wins from Fear – if it’s genuine. Losing your religion is not the answer. 


R.E.M. – Losing My Religion (1991) – artists, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2

Oh life, it’s bigger

It’s bigger than you

And you are not me

The lengths that I will go to

The distance in your eyes

Oh no, I’ve said too much

I set it up

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