This time of year....

this time of year, I have to at least chuckle when I see posts condemning all believers, Christian or otherwise.. and thinking that I am lucky that my Mom wanted to expose me to religion so I could be openminded about it no matter whether I accepted some, all or none of it... and that I had more openminded, straightforward conversations about religion, atheism and others along the belief spectrum than I have seen or heard from most o these 'enlightened' ones...

it also makes me smile to know that my mom would have been more accepting of their views than they would be of hers (no supposition, just what comes across in their posts)..

She raised me to condemn the hateful, to look beyond the surface, to ask questions and accept answers..and to at least try to understand someone's views before I make decisions on them and/or their beliefs..... to base my opinions of others on who they were and what what they were..

She accepted atheists (and those of any other belief system that was different from hers)... hated fake 'christians (or any others of any group who used their beliefs as weapons or podiums to espouse fake superiority). She was openminded and curious, both traits fairly rare for someone from where and when she grew up...

So, yes... I am a believer.. I defend atheists, when they deserve it... I call out "christians' when they deserve it... as a matter of fact, I have no qualms laying into someone and defending the same person as needed...I can like you and say you are wrong if you are... I can dislike you and tell you that you are right if you are....

If you are, in my opinion or to me, a good person, it is because of who you are. If you are bad to me or in my opinion are a bad person, again, it is due to who you are.

I have had someone (actually I can think of 2 specifically) that I admire and think highly of and supported/defended them, whenever they gave me reason to, turn around and tell me that I was prejudiced against what they espoused and that I was just like all the others like me (in this case, those who shared a general similarity of belief). (and to be fair, I can think of lots more of those same 'similar people' who have accused me of being against their beliefs, being ignorant of those beliefs, etc).

I only shake my head and realize how lucky I was to have someone like my mother have such an influence in my life..

And I think about the comment that Reid made on a thread on my behalf and know that was as much a testament to my mother as anything I have said directly about her.. and I can't help but smile even in the midst of times like now....

I never claimed to be a good person, just good in comparison to some... and even then, I know it is as much a reflection of my mother in me as anything.....

I never claimed to be the most brilliant person, again...only in comparison to some... and because of her, I value that difference and cherish the intelligence I have.....

not really posting to call anyone out or to start an argument... just expressing thoughts/feelings that have been brought out for a variety of reasons...

if I struck any nerves, please deal with that on your own or just elsewhere.... not my issue or concern and in my current state of mind, I doubt I would add anything that you would consider soothing and/or apologetic..... *shrugs*