Tag: leaving a religion

Instead of allowing others to manipulatively interpret our lives, our gods, our spirituality and our religious beliefs—interpretations that are much too small, elitist, repressive and oppressive—we must assume responsibility for interpreting them ourselves.

A friend one day told me he admired my courage. After I laughed and thanked him for the compliment, I came up with a saying that, whether I’m the first to coin the phrase or not, has worked for me many times in the past: “courageously fearful.”

At one time or another, all of us have worn other people’s beliefs and personalities. Being ourselves is so much more demanding than attempting to become someone else.