Laid-Back Reflection

Hola! So after talking about life, time, discrimination and womens all those thoughts that randomly pop into my laid-back mind, here comes another big one Religion. Yeah, that word. It holds power, peace, love, hate, confusion, and everything in between. Just like life, religion is something that almost everyone has some connection to whether you follow it, question it, ignore it, or even fight it.

To start with, let me be honest I'm not here to define what religion is or preach about what's right or wrong. I'm just sharing how I feel about it and the thoughts that roll in my mind when I hear the word. Because for me, religion is more of a personal journey than a fixed rulebook.

Growing up, I saw people around me follow different rituals, go to temples, mosques, churches, read scriptures, chant prayers. As a kid, I just followed what I was told. I did it because everyone did it.

But as I started growing and my mind started asking questions, I found myself wondering what exactly is religion? Is it about God? Rules? Fear? Faith? Culture?

To some, religion is their identity. It gives them comfort, community, and strength. For others, it's a burden or something they were forced into. And for many, like me, it's confusing sometimes. Not because I don't believe in something bigger, but because I don't understand why religion often separates us more than it brings us together.

Here's something that bugs me why do people fight in the name of religion? Wasn't the whole point of religion to find peace and connect with something divine? Somewhere along the way, we twisted it. Made it about who's better, who's right, who's going to heaven, and who's not.

Every religion talks about love, kindness, honesty, patience. But we often forget these things and focus only on the outer layers like the clothes we wear, the rituals we perform, or the words we recite. Isn't that missing the whole point?

I remember asking my mother once if all religions talk about being good and kind, then why are there so many divisions, so much hate? She smiled and said, "Because people follow the rules, not the purpose." That hit hard.

Sometimes I feel that religion, at its core, is not a problem. It's beautiful. It's humans who complicate it. We use it as a badge, a weapon, or a shield anything but what it was truly meant to be: a path to understanding ourselves and others.

I'm not against religion. Not at all. In fact, I love listening to stories from different faiths. There's wisdom in them. There's beauty in the way people express their connection to the divine. But I believe that the divine can't be limited to one language, one place, or one name.

Some of my best friends follow different religions. And honestly, that has never been a problem. We respect each other. Sometimes we even learn things from each other's traditions. That's how it should be. Respect, not rivalry.

I've also seen people use religion for peace. Like when someone lights a diya for a sick family member or when people gather to feed the poor or pray for someone going through a hard time. That's the kind of religion I admirethe one that brings people together, not tears them apart.

Another thing I've realized is that you can be spiritual without being religious. You can believe in energy, in goodness, in karma, or the universe, without following a specific path. And that's okay. We're all different. What works for me might not work for you. And that's the beauty of it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is follow what feels right to you. Don't do something just because society says so. Ask questions. Explore. Talk to people from other backgrounds. You'll realize how similar we all are despite the labels.

Religion doesn't have to be a box. It can be a bridge. A bridge to kindness, understanding, compassion, and self-growth. But only if we let it be.

Growing up, I saw people around me follow different rituals some woke up early to pray, others fasted on certain days, some read holy books daily. As a kid, I did what I was told. I touched feet for blessings, went to temples during festivals, and repeated prayers I didn't fully understand. It all felt like a tradition, not something I had truly connected with.

But as I got older, I started asking questions not to rebel, but to understand. Why do we do this? What does it mean? Is it really about devotion, or just habit? And the more I asked, the more I realized that most people don't have all the answers either. Many just follow what they've been taught without pausing to reflect on it.

One thing I've noticed is how different religions actually have so many similarities. They all teach us to be good humans, to help others, to forgive, to be humble, to live with purpose.

But somewhere down the line, these simple teachings got buried under politics, control, and ego.

I've read small bits from different holy books the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, the Quran, even Buddhist and Jain texts. You know what's crazy? At the core, they all say similar things: be kind, be patient, don't harm others, seek truth. But instead of focusing on that common ground, people argue over the differences in language, rituals, and customs.

Sometimes, I wonder if religion was supposed to be like a guidebook one of many ways to connect with something higher, or even just to find peace within ourselves. But humans made it into something rigid, competitive, and exclusive. We started saying, "My religion is right, yours is wrong." And that's where the problem began.

I've seen both the beauty and the danger of religion. I've seen it give hope to people during their worst times. I've also seen it used to justify violence and hatred. It's not the religion that's flawed it's what people do with it.

And then there's spirituality. I think it's important to understand the difference. Religion is often structured it's about traditions, communities, and beliefs. Spirituality is more personal it's your own way of connecting with something greater, whether that's God, the universe, nature, or just your own inner self. You can be spiritual without being religious. You can also be religious and not spiritual at all. It depends on how you live it.

I don't think there's one right answer. Some people find peace in rituals, others find it in silence, in music, in nature, in doing good.

For me, the true meaning of religion or belief is simple: if it makes you a better person more kind, more aware, more loving then it's doing its job.

So, what do I believe? I believe in humanity over identity. In kindness over dogma. In unity over division. I believe that if your religion teaches love, then live by it. But don't use it to judge others. Don't build walls with it build bridges.

You don't need to shout your beliefs to prove your faith. You just need to live them. Be honest. Be curious. Be respectful. Let others walk their path, and focus on walking yours with grace.

So, yup that's it for this chapter at the end all i am gonna say is there no need to discrimate or hate just because of this religion.

Every human beiing should be treated, respected and loved equally... after we all the human beings ;)

Because in the end, no matter what religion we follow or whether we follow one at all we all share the same planet, breathe the same air, and hope for the same peace.

That, to me, is the most sacred truth of all. If you have reached till here thank you sooooo

much again it means a lot for me.