The other weekend when I was entertaining, my Muslim friend from Kyrgyzstan asked me if I was religious.  I told her I was raised as a Protestant, but I’m no longer a believer. She said “no longer a Christian?”.  I told her I’m no longer a believer in ANY organized religion.  I do not recognize the Christian God, the Jewish God, or the Muslim God.

But I’m not an atheist.  I do believe there is a power that drives the universe.  But it is not this jealous God who demands piety and self-sacrifice in his name.  And it is most certainly not the God in whose name all the past and current violence is being invoked.

If asked to describe my religion I would honestly have to say that my belief is based on a calling from God to expose the bigotry, hatred, and hypocrisy of organized religion  I take my faith very, very seriously.

So if a “Christian” kills an abortionist, I’m calling them out on it.  That doesn’t happen too frequently fortunately.  And when planes are flown into buildings, bombs are set off in Brussels, murders committed on the streets of Paris, all in the name of Islam, I’m going to have something to say about it.

I’ve got an especially strong hatred for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Committing genocide against Christians, taking sex slaves, killing homosexuals, and raping innocents, all in the name of Mohammed.  A particularly evil individual who set the standards ISIS is now following.   And the God I believe in doesn’t like it one damn bit.  He expects all right thinking people to stand up now and be counted, or be held accountable for failing to do so for all eternity.

Now you understand my mission.  And I honestly believe the vast, vast majority of Muslims stand with me on this, even though we don’t worship the same God.  Every Muslim I have ever known personally has been good people that I’m proud to call friends. I’m quite certain that they would not follow the teachings of Mohammed to rape and pillage, and I expect they don’t appreciate those who have hijacked their religion for evil purposes.

I treat every individual I encounter on my journey as an individual.  Be they Christian, Jew or Muslim, I will show them all the respect they deserve.  In truth, I even respect their religious faith, even of I don’t share it.  My religion and their’s are not incompatible.  There are many people who belong to organized religions that I actually admire.  True faith is a beautiful thing and I have witnessed the comfort it brings to them in times of trial.  So, as long as no one is being told to submit or die, I’m all about live and let live.

But my religious beliefs cannot and will not be silenced by those who demand political correctness.  I’m going to spread the message my God has demanded that I share.  Hell, I guess that makes me an evangelist of sorts.  It’s disheartening to be personally attacked for speaking God’s truth, when the real horror in this world can be witnessed on a daily basis.  I believe deeply in the power of words, my opponents believe in death and destruction.  Still, I have faith that the truth will win out in the end.  True believers like myself just need to have the courage to stay the course.  I pray to my God for the strength to do so.

You have to believe in something.