When it comes to religion and beliefs, it’s not your job to convince me of anything, anymore than it’s mine to convince you. We’re both grown adults! Life has provided each of us decades-worth of whatever experiences (lessons) each of us required to get us to our current spiritual place. Respect that.
She was an acquaintance. It was a conversation about a college class reunion. Turned out, I went to that same college. We had different majors. When I shared that mine was religious studies (not exclusively Christian, but all religions), she started challenging that and getting into the usual Christian language patterns and saying I should read tha bible more.
Seriously (laughing), did she not figure out that religious studies coursework included lots of scripture studies classes, same as one studying for ministry (which I was). And I had incredible teachers. Trust me, my bible was read, highlighted, annotated, and challenged, actually years before I entered college. I was also single, female, and thirty back then.
My point is
When it comes to religion and spirituality, it’s not your job to challenge mine, to change me, or try to convince me about yours. If your beliefs and religion feed your soul and help you grow your greatness, evolve, and be your best, then good; honor what works for you, resonates, and makes sense to you. If you try to push those beliefs and that language on me, though, and or challenge me because I hold more open views and use different words (start from a different place, actually), that’s arrogant and disrespectful of another’s life experiences (lessons), spiritual teachers, and sacred soul path.
Next time, I will simply say
STOP. Enough already. Grown-ups here (very life-seasoned ones). Neither of our jobs is to convince anybody of anything. Peace. Let it go. Done.
Fortunately, followers of most religions and spiritual paths aren’t like that. Most religions also don’t have directives to recruit outsiders. They’ll welcome inquiries if one is drawn to them, though. In that regard, their approach is more like mine: It’s not my job to convince you of anything. (If you ask, I can share my thoughts, observations, and beliefs, so far.) It’s not my job to make someone else happy. (That’s their job.) It’s not my job to save anyone. (I can be a light, though, be present, and let them go in peace.)
Processing again. Sometimes it comes out in writing. Take care, blessings, and peace. – Anne