Here's a short story I thought I'd share with you guys: 

After taking a class that focused heavily on Eastern spirituality, I took a liking to the tenet of pluralism (this is popular in Eastern spirituality, encouraging the equal value and substance of all religious/spiritual beliefs). It was a lot more welcoming, I figured, than the absolutist views held by Western spirituality. For me, I felt like it didn't matter what I believed or not believed; as long as I recognized that everybody was right, and should be right and happy with their decisions, well - I was satisfied. 

Unfortunately, my Catholic family took very poorly to this "hippie ideology", and suggested I consider the merit of absolutism for a moment. "There either is a God (Judeo-Christian, Holy Trinity-based, of course - and no exceptions), or there is not. Think about which of these two makes more sense," I was told. 

...."Okay fine - I'll bite," I said, "there is absolutely no god." 

Well! That didn't quite work out the way they wanted it to, I thought to myself with some amusement. And to this day, I still reflect on that experience with some good, well-meaning humor.

In all seriousness, friends, I still don't let my personal reservations get in the way of how I view others and how they view the world. If I see there to be potential for harm caused by one's religion or spirituality (on a dynamic enough scale), then I will take whatever action I can to prevent anyone from getting hurt. I never seek to dissuade people from their beliefs, rather than suggesting they reconsider the foundation of them. I always ask questions with respect, curious to understand my peers who are theistic, pantheistic, polytheistic, and whatever else. But that's beside the point, just thought I'd share this little story with you. Back to life as previously scheduled! 

Until next time,

Joe