As I was writing my post from yesterday (and getting a little bit riled up), I started thinking a lot about the formation and perpetuation of certain Christian stereotypes. Sure, there are some great stereotypes that tend to be true when it comes to being a devout Christian. Having a reputation for being honest, caring, moral, and likeable are definitely things that we don't need to complain about. It's those other more negative stereotypes that we need to worry about. It makes me a little upset that we actually have to worry about such negative stereotyping of Christians, because I personally have plenty of other things to worry about besides how other are perceiving my religious convictions on account of the fact that I have some to begin with. I started to convince myself that it's those few Christians out there who are going above and beyond the calls of Christianity in their actions who are making the stereotypes negative for the rest of us.

All around the world, people decry the fact that there are fundamentalists around us. There are people in this world who we worry about as being terrorists and other such horrible things. What many people don't realize is that there are fundamentalists in every religion, in every race, and in nearly every country around the world to some extent. It doesn't matter what cause they are fighting for, the fact is that they are fundamentalists who are forcing their views on others in an unsolicitied manner. Any action taken that makes some other individual uncomfortable is a form of abuse and should be stopped. Sure, I'm not saying that all fundamentalists are prone to taking radical and dangerous measures to forward their cause, but even non-violent actions of these people can cause other just as much distress.

Take the situation that I spoke about yesterday. I'm not saying that the people who came to my door were necessarily religious fundamentalists, but what I am saying is that may be going a bit too far. They may be have been acting in a totally non-violent manner and have positive intentions, but by forcing their ideas on others, they are crossing that fine line between believer and religious fanatic. I'm sure that a lot of you out there reading this are "tsk tsk-ing" me right now, but just hear me out. No one in this country, or anywhere else around the world for that matter, deserves to be mistreated and/or harrassed by anyone else...period. Not by Christians, not by Jews, not by Muslims, Republicans, Democrats, liberals, conservatives, any religions, any race, any cause. No one deserves to believe in or do anything that they don't want to do. It's plain and simple.

For you Christians out there, you wouldn't like to have people from your local mosque or temple knocking on your door asking you to question your religious convictions and faith, right? So, you can imagine that people who are of another faith or who choose to align themselves with no particular religion would like the same. It all goes back to that famous golden rule that we were all taught in kindergarten on the first day...treat others who you would like to be treated.