PREACHERS

I am right about my own beliefs. However it doesn't make me RIGHT. Maybe I've adopted an open attitude that by some standards could be compared to as having no definite belief (religiously speaking). The other day, another incident that makes my decision to quit my job at the end of this summer ever so much more justifiable. I believe there is nothing wrong with openly discussing your religious believes and other's, however to a point. The line is crossed once you start preaching or saying that once belief is better, right, or more intelligent than any other. The judgement of other religions is phenomenon I find quite annoying, especially if it comes from someone who is relgiously devout to a belief that "judgement of others is wrong and/or only for a higher power". My boss is Muslim ( I have nothing against anyone of any religion accept if I feel they are too extreme). He recently started a conversation with me about my religious beliefs. What do you think about this? What do you think about that? I thought these were questions of curiosity and found it nice that someone would take an interest in my personal beliefs. I told my beliefs and explained why I thought some things. Suddenly the conversation took a sharp turn. He began telling me hwo my religion was wrong and how the Koran was the only word of God. He todl me how what i learned was stupid because it was open to interpretation (the bible stories are open to interpretation, right?) and because I was encouraged to question things. The Koran is written and never has been changed. There is no room for interpretation and therefore it is the most reliable. I quote him, "I am in grade 4 because i am Muslim. YOu are in grade 2, and Jews are in grade 1". I can't believe these words came out of his mouth. All I said in defense was "what about all the people who have entirely different cultures and religious values? I disagree that there is only one way to find God." I was so pissed. How can anyone be so arrogant? Isn't that the opposite of what the majority of religions teach? What happened to being humble and accepting? It made me so angry to think that he would say such things, when I was willing to be open, share my personal thoughts, and also to listen to his beliefs without critiszm. JUST SO PISS OFF

Pottery

Last night I could have smoked weed but i chose not to. I have never done that in my whole life. I'm not sure why. My conscience won't let me, but why? Technically it's not wrong. Another part of my my mind reasons this and wonders what would happen.. why not? What if I'm a number one hit single song writer confined by sobriety? What if I'm a great artist waiting to be liberated into dimensions of the mind only available with the help of drugs? After knowing virtually no one who hasn't tried it, it seems like i'm missing out on "something". Yet every time the opportunity arrises my conscience usually wins. "no thanks, no I don't do that stuff". In the end I'm sitting at even. I'm somewhat proud to have stood by beliefs for so long and call myself 100% drug free (not including tylenol and the like) but I'm also weighted by the knowledge that technically, I'm just rebelling against something that doesn't really matter anyways "in the big picture" and missing some kind of experience. It's not like one time will turn me into a pothead, make me a bad person, or drop my IQ by 100 points. I've been called "straight edge" and goody two shoes since grade 6. The problem with it is that those labels assume that the person is controlled by authority, narrowminded, and boring. I wouldn't consider myself any of those things - i'm not particularily against any certain behaviors or people who do them (except maybe those that have the potential to ruin your future, ie. cocaine, thieving, laziness, etc.). It's just that I personally can't bring myself to do certain things for whatever reason I don't know.