Belief, Diversity, and Respect: Navigating Differences

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I think I've been so focused on learning Orthodox Christianity and studying psychology/counseling that I failed to realize how many people I know actually do not believe in God or have little understanding about the nature of the psyche. In fact, I was stunned by a few conversations I've had recently pertaining to beliefs and ideology. One conversation I knew was brought about from pain and disappointment in the conception of God that this individual had held for so long, but because of life struggles and unprecedented loss, this person was completely over believing in a God who cares. I understood their position and respect their beliefs, but I don't share them.  

Respect for Different Beliefs

I want to make it plain: I am not attempting to convert anyone to believe as I believe. I think one of the strongest forms of belief is when one comes to believe something for themselves.  Also, I believe that if someone WANTS to believe based on my example, then that's great! But I have spent much precious time debating and trying to be right, and I am not doing it moving forward--to the best of my ability.  I have never walked away from a debate with a totally new perspective. I usually walk away with an understanding that the other person and I just approach life differently. And to me, what is wrong with that? Nothing. I don't need anyone to believe as I believe. I do think respect is the bare minimum that is required for another person who may not share the same convictions as someone else. But some disagree with that, and I don't debate with that either.

Does that make me a pacifist? Maybe. Does that make me a coward? I'm sure to someone. But my true goal is to be at peace with all men and women, regardless of their beliefs.

Importance of Respect

We don't have to share the same convictions, but it is important that we respect one another, or we will continue to do as we have done for ages: hate and kill each other because of our different beliefs. This is something I pray future generations avoid. Previous generations did not do a good job at this, and current generations do not do a good job with this either.
I accepted a long time ago that beliefs will divide people. I have lost plenty of friends for talking about Christ. I have offended many people by changing up some of my habits, and still, others I offended because my professed beliefs didn't match with what I was professing to believe. Another way of putting it is that people knew I followed Christ, but if they caught me in sin or remembered a fault of mine, they just wrote me off as a hypocrite.

Faith as a Psychological Tool

I also want to say this: for me, faith is not only what it claims to be, but also a psychological tool that can be used to help us endure hard times. Why anyone would want to argue that away from another person is beyond me. There is nothing wrong with having a tool or a belief system that helps you live your life. Everyone has one, even if it is one of their own making or cherry-picked from different philosophies or religions. I find it interesting that, in my experience, most people will argue and convince you out of believing in Christ and God and substitute it for something else but be perfectly fine with you holding another belief system. I've always found this strange. Is it the connotations that come with Christ and the Bible? Is it the content that many today disagree with? What is it? I often hear that it is based on race, that as a black man in America, I should not be believing in the religion, but why not? They say it was forced on my ancestors, as if they didn't have the ability to think for themselves, and I find that to be a more degrading take.

Regardless, I will continue to investigate this phenomenon and offer my thoughts as long as I am able.