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Due to two recent surgeries, I’ve been lying flat on my back for most of the week, and am rather loopy. As a result, it seems that I may have inadvertently published this post before I intended to do so. If so, I apologize for any confusion.😘

Some of you may have groaned when you read the post title. I can only assure you that the overall post speaks to issues that are decidedly universal, and not dependent on any “religious” ideology. Nevertheless, there is no denying that my mother’s religious beliefs informed the manner in which she raised me, and contributed to the formation of the person that I am today.

With that said, I was born and raised in the Catholic faith, spending 12 years in the New Orleans Catholic school system. As I grew older, I expanded my limited knowledge and gained an appreciation for the moral teachings on which Christianity, and many other religions are rooted. I also recognize that “religions ” hold no monopoly over such moral truths, but that they exist in the hearts and minds of most of us.

Although I don’t walk around hiding my faith and beliefs, I have no need to hold them up as proof that I am better than others. Yet, because of the constant mental and emotional disquiet caused by the state of the country, the use of religion to justify the inexcusable, and the silence, and, or worse, support for inarguably un-Christian, and immoral beliefs and acts, I feel compelled to write this short, but in my heart, meaningful post to declare where I stand.

Just the other day, right after overhearing a person embracing the Bible to justify his belief that religious persecution and racism are in line with its teachings, I happened upon the words to the Second Commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Every time I hear these seven words, they send a shiver up my spine. These words wield such power, are clear, concise, and offer no room for endless misinterpretation, exceptions or conditions. They should be etched in the hearts of both Christians, those who claim to be “Christians,” non-Christians, as well as  those who hold no religious beliefs, but value love, compassion and empathy.

Quite unconsciously, as I read the words, I thought of the following as my “mission statement” of sorts:

• My Bible does not promote or condone hate, racist views, misogyny or any other manner of treating the ‘other’ as inferior.
• My Bible teaches that we are equal, plain and simple.

• My Bible espouses the beautiful ideal of loving another as you love yourself, and
• My Bible does not serve as a conduit to promote views that are intended to denigrate, seperate, or exclude anyone.