Just wanted to add my two cents on to a brilliant article posted by Ricky Gervais on why he is an atheist, on WSJ. Before reading this blog post I recommend reading the original article here for context: http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

A simple and powerful concept that I believe every human being should embrace, regardless of religion, belief system, height, weight, color, or location. It’s this fundamental principle that I believe is at the core of Ricky Gervais’ point in this article, and I couldn’t agree with it more.

The beauty of life is in how different everyone is, whether it be species, gender, skin color, sexual orientation, hair color, eye color, language, religious beliefs (or lack thereof), or whatever, and how all of that can come together to create the world we live in. It’s BEAUTIFUL when differing opinions and beliefs can coexist. Why must people embark on endless journeys to get other people to believe what they believe? Or make other people feel wrong for believing differently than them? Or hell even KILL someone simply for believing differently?

When I proclaim my belief in something, why do people assume that it automatically means I’m judging them or saying their differing belief is wrong? I’M NOT. You are more than entitled to believe whatever it is you want to believe, and I am more entitled to believe differently. Having an awesome discussion about the differences in our beliefs will often result in “agreeing to disagree,” and you know what? That’s ok! We’re still both human beings who have just as much of a right to our opinion as the other.

To extend on this article though, step out of the “religious beliefs” category and see this in terms of ALL categories. Hate pop music? That’s cool, but it doesn’t make someone who loves it stupid. Red Sox fan? Cool me too. But does that mean I should hate a yankees fan or route against them? No. It means I should route for the Red Sox. Don’t believe in gay marriage? That’s cool too because no one is forcing you to marry someone who is gay. Telling someone who is gay they can’t get married simply because they’re different than you? Not cool. Feel like everyone should use Facebook how you use it? That’s nice, but I’m going to use it how I want to use it, and you can decide whether or not you still want me as a Facebook friend or not based on that.

If there’s one thing that bothers me most in this world, it’s that so much of what we do and who we are is defined in other people. Can’t everyone just stand for themselves and who they are? Why must people go to such lengths to make other people feel “wrong” just so they can feel “right”? If you really believed in whatever you said you believed in, you wouldn’t need other people to confirm it for you by believing it too. And by getting someone to feel like they’re wrong for what they believe in, and pushing them to believe the same as you, are you really validating that your belief is the “right” one?

Better yet, is ANY belief the “right” one?

No. Because “right” is relative. Your happy is much different than my happy. Your idea of tired could be my idea of ready to go for a run. Your idea of what tastes good is guaranteed to be different from what I think tastes good, even if we can agree on a lot of similar foods we like. If you believe the sky is in actuality green, who am I to say otherwise? Unless I can see it through your eyes, nothing can prove that the sky is not green to you. More importantly, you believing the sky is green should have NO effect on my belief that the sky is blue (aside from possibly a moment of questioning and introspection where I re-examine the sky to double check to see if my belief should be modified or not).

Bottom line is: whether you’re rich or poor, educated or uneducated, American or Asian. No matter what the topic, NOTHING entitles anyone to say what they believe carries more weight than what someone else believes. Period.