Bob Schwartz

A number of religions, not just Christianity and Judaism, have major or minor holidays this time of year. While individuals focus on their own faith, it is also a time to think about following any religion.

The word “better” above is in quotes, because there is not a singular standard for what it means to be a good or better Jew, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. And among the options, I am in a weak position, or no position at all, to suggest what that might be. But I’m softly going to try, given the season.

If your idea of what it means to be a better adherent to your religion involves inflicting suffering, pain, abuse, damage to others, you should think again. Investigate whether there is something in your religion, maybe in the most basic and sacred moments and ideas, that contradicts that. Investigate whether you have been misled or have misled yourself, because they and you are human with all the human tendencies that those higher teachings are trying to change.

Christmas is just one example. Innocence is born, with the power and potential to do great good. Others are committed to eradicating that potential as soon as possible, and if not at the start, later on. If you think that is just a religious story, it is not. It is the story of history and the story of any day, this day, torn from the headlines.

Which side of the story are you on? Will you use your religion as pretext and excuse for being on the wrong side? Will you use your religion, which has been trying to teach you this, to rise above your natural human limitations and be…better?