Not everyone believes in religion or God. That’s fair enough. But I wish people who don’t, would stop attacking and belittling those who do.
Since the death of my husband just over 20 months ago I’ve thought a lot about religion and belief. I was raised a Catholic but as a child I struggled with their doctrine. I asked a lot of questions. Not always appreciated I might add. I drifted away from that faith when I was free to make my decisions. But, I do believe in a ‘here-after’. I’ve experienced too many things in my life to think when we pop off that’s it. I don’t know if I’m right or wrong but it’s what I believe. Whether I’ll see my husband in the ‘next life’ I don’t know. I’d like to think I will. But I don’t rely on that happening to get me through the day to day. Or to help me build a new life. But not everyone is like me.
I’ve learnt a lot about grief over the past 20 month. Particularly the grief that comes with losing a partner. I’ve also learnt a lot from networking with others in the same position as me. For some I’ve met, their belief in God is the only thing keeping them going. The belief that when their turn comes, they will be reunited with their husband sustains them. I feel deeply for these people, because I know first hand what a struggle it can be at times. But most important is this. Without their faith, they would be completely lost.
When we engage with people (particularly on social media), we don’t always know the challenges they are facing. Or, the struggles they are dealing with daily. So before you are tempted to attack someone based on their religious belief, please pause for a moment. Because you don't know if belief and hope is all the person you are attacking has and to take that away from them leaves them with nothing.
