Religion as a Culture

There are many cultures in this world.  There are a handful of subcultures within a country.  Some cultures come and go such as fads and stereotypes.  There are some cultures as old as time.  One of those old cultures is Judaism.   

But isn't Judaism a religion?
Why yes Little Billy, it is.  And that is what I want to go into today.

I currently do not have a dictionary within arm's reach but as for what Culture entails, it incorporates these elements:  Religion, Lifestyle, Fashion, Food, and other miscellaneous isms that define a person or people.  Having said this, lets go on a trip to Asia.  Asia is a continent RICH in culture and lifestyles.  Almost every country within the continent have their own Cultures with their own unique styles, religions, foods, and miscellaneous isms that make it the Super Original land mass it is.

For someone or even a group of someones to come in and try to switch these peoples onto living another people's lifestyle seems wrong.  It almost seems like a type of genocide except that no one is being killed.  Just everything that made those people who they were as a society.  Things that worked for them for hundreds of thousands even possibly millions of years.

What is the reason for this discussion?  I will admit that I made the mistake of letting my guard down in a Baptist Church and mentioned my support of Homosexual Rights.  Apparently, the lady I was sitting next to decided to preach to me about how wrong my opinion was.  Yes Little Billy, opinions can be wrong.  Especially when you are in a church of any kind.  Say anything that goes against or challenge their beliefs and they go ape-crazy.  Sadly, this lady decided that Bible Thumping is her tool of choice.  She threw verse after verse at me.  She so badly wanted me to see things her way.

Now, one thing you don't ever want to tell Christians is that the Bible is flawed.  That is the ONE thing they will NOT go for.  To them, The Bible is GOD'S ONE TRUE WORD and no other document, tome, scroll, or book even comes close.  Sadly, I had to keep my mouth going by saying "The Mormons believe that The Book of Mormon is a true amendment to the Bible and was also written by Jesus, and Muslims believe The Koran is The True Word of God and The Jews believe The Torah is God's word.  These religions know this to be true as much as you do The Bible, specifically the New Testiment."  She had to go and say that Mormons had their own messed up views on things.  I bit my tongue from saying "Now I KNOW you didn't just go there."  But I did let her know that I knowingly married into a family of Mormons, my husband being a former Elder and Missionary.  She bit her tongue of any more comments.

In the end, I still can't believe that there are people in this world who deeply believe that they are good people and "judge not" when they themselves condemn anyone who doesn't believe in the "Correct Religion".  Lord even forbid that I don't believe in Jesus in the same way they do.  My mother-in-law knows my views on that subject and I'm sure she prays for me.  I'm not even insulted by it.  The reason I'm not insulted is because she respects my thoughts on the matter.  I wish more people would.  As a matter of fact, I respect her for her beliefs because her opinions, thoughts, and knowledge of the subject she doesn't have to read off from a book.  She doesn't memorize lines to tell me how she feels.  She doesn't even rely on quotes to teach me about Mormonism.  She tells me how it is from her own thoughts, feelings, opinions, facts, and heart.  She is not her religion.  And in her religion, God is refered to as "Heavenly Father".

Me?  I'm actually wanting to study more into Judaism.  I've joked about it from time-to-time and a few of my gamer friends call me "The Jew" on rare occasion due to a character I used to role-play.  But I don't know if Paganism really suits me anymore.  It was fun when I was in my early 20's but I'm older now and I just don't know if believing in spells and the elements really fit me anymore.  I don't know.  But at the same time, converting to such a different religious provider I would have to change everything I am used to being involved in.  Christmas being the big thing.  And I don't want to be the only person in my family to convert and live the lifestyle that goes with it.  I just don't think it would be right.  And how much would that confuse my son?  It's bad enough that my husband and I aren't conventional believers in God, but at least we believe.  Besides, my husband still holds to his Mormon beliefs for the most part.  He tries not to anymore, but he can't help it.  It was how he was raised.  Just like I was raised Baptist and I still think of certain religions with certain predjudicial stereotypes.  Don't be Baptists.  They are taught to hate then disguise it at not being judgmental because "These people just know not what they do."

Eitherway, I got way off track and I totally got off point about Religion as a culture.  If anything, I totally ranted on a subject I just can't let go.  Regardless, I just hope I got the point across.  What do you all think?