Born to be Christian?

Whatever any personal view on the war in Afghanistan or the unrest in the Arab world, I find it disturbing, to say the least, the amount of killing that goes on in the name of God/Allah/Yahweh. It cannot be denied that religious wars have caused much suffering throughout the history of the world.

In no way do I condone any sort of terrorism or fanatical extreme views, of whichever side and I certainly don't agree with many practices of some religions, particularly when it comes to the treatment of women as second class citizens who are looked upon simply as possessions of the male population to do with whatever they please. But so do I oppose the outright hatred and intolerance shown by some sections of a 'Christian' population to anything other than Christianity. Some say we should 'give them a taste of what they do to others' but that just makes us the same as they are. It doesn't solve the problem.

 

 

Today I couldn't help thinking, 'what if I hadn't been born into a Christian home in England?' 'What if I had been brought up in a sincere Muslim family somewhere in the Middle East or if I had been influenced by a Hindu or Buddhist family life in Asia?' I know that as a child, I was taught the truths of the Christian Bible and taken to Sunday School and encouraged to spend my life for God according to Christian ways and beliefs. I'm sure that living and being brought up in such an environment has shaped me into who I am today, although I do appreciate that at least in this country I am free to change my ways, beliefs and allegiance if I wish. But I am equally sure that if I had been born into a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or any other religious way of life, I would probably at this moment be trying to live the best I can according to such teaching.

So am I a Christian because of accident of birth - that I just happened to be born in England of Christian parents? Maybe, maybe not! But it certainly makes me feel that I should be looking beyond face value of ordinary people who follow other religions. Maybe they are just doing the best they can to be the best they can and be faithful to what they believe is true. And maybe they are not as free as I am to change their point of view if they want to, without any real repercussions. God loves all of His creation, whatever our understanding of Him - and as a true follower of Him, so must I.