My family has been in America for a number of generations. Over time, the role of religion has taken on a change in my family. Our predominant “religion” is Christianity. As compared to the older generation of my family, “generation X,” my cousins and I have a different outlook on life. My great-aunt is what many would call a “hard-core Christian.” Her outlook is “If you don’t have time for the Lord, you have time for nothing else.” Her weekly routine is Sunday morning service, Tuesday choir rehearsal, Wednesday night Bible Study, Thursday deacon board meeting, and so on. As a child, I was constantly “preached to” by her. She would always chastise me in the ways of the Lord. Always quoting scriptures, saying things like, “…you know the Lord is your Shepherd…you can do all things through Christ

who strengthens you…you should read Proverbs for wisdom.” No matter what the occasion, she had a scripture for everything. When I moved to Arizona she told me to make sure I found a good church home, and to tithe, and read Psalms this, and Proverbs that. Even as a child, whenever I wanted something, I had to earn it by memorizing something Biblical like the order of the books of the bible, or a certain chapter that she cited for me. Due to hearing so much of this, over time I began to tune it out. I just did what she said to pacify her so that I could do what I wanted. There would be times when she would go on and on, and literally, I would leave the room, come back, and she had not noticed that I had even left.

I see America as a diverse nation that focuses on individuality and differences. It was originally founded on these principles. As opposed to other countries, America allows us to practice our own religions, no matter how far fetched they may be. They only put limitations on outlandish practices, such as human sacrifice and those of that nature, but you are free to believe what ever you want. In other countries, however, you can be prosecuted or imprisoned for not following their religious views. America goes against these foundations and so far, has been successful in its attempt. However, along with these differences come problems. I believe that the best approach to religious diversity is Absolutism, in which only one religion is absolute and true. For example, if one religion believes that it is all right to kill someone, and another believes murder to be unjust, then how do we decipher which one is correct? How would the law distinguish who is right and w

Some topics in this essay:
Psalms Proverbs, , Shepherd…you Christ, Bible Study, “american dream”, safety net, outlook life, families america, left religious,