I Believe

My boss and I discuss religion regularly but I think she gets really frustrated with me. I can tell she tries to goad me into an all-out battle-of-the-denominations but I'm not having it. (Pretty odd because I'm certainly feisty about everything else.)

See, she's a Bible-thumping, cross-wearing, Praise-the-Lord!-saying, true-blue valiant Christian. And I'm a Mormon. (Can ya tell how fun it is here? Can ya?) She loves making little passing comments about my faith and then reminding me that if I ever want to "really know Jesus" I am always welcome to her Bible study group. I nod and tell her that sounds interesting and then I change the subject. I think to a lot of people that looks like a cop-out on defending my faith and a missed missionary opportunity.

But guess what?  




(Are you ready for my big confession?)





(Really?)




I don't care who's Mormon and who's not. I don't care if you're Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist or Unitarian or whatever. (Yeah, I guess I'm not cut out to be a missionary.) I don't care if you believe in Prop 8 or global warming or that Spongebob Squarepants is real. I don't care if you believe in magic or ghosts or lolcats. I don't care what you believe.

I really love Dan Brown. One of my favorite of his books is Angels & Demons where you'll find this:

"Skepticism has become a virtue. Cynicism and demand for proof has become enlightened thought. Is it any wonder that humans now feel more depressed and defeated than they have at any point in human history?"

I hate that we've become so resistant to faith. Why is it now unfashionable to admit we actually have something to believe? Why do those of us who are religious squabble amongst ourselves about who believes the right way or the right things? Why is it more socially acceptable to scoff at an idea than to believe it?


And this all comes back to my assertion that I don't care what people believe. I just want them believe in something. And that's why I don't argue religion with my boss. Because I'm just glad she has something to believe. I wish everyone believed something as strongly as she does.

My name is Kim and I believe in something.

I believe in Jesus Christ.
I believe in being nice.
I believe that a pair of heels and a little dab of perfume can make your whole day.
I believe science-fiction is one of the greatest media of all time.
I believe in buying generic.
I believe in babies.
I believe in harsher punishments for child abuse perpetrators in the state of Utah.
I believe that good literature can change your life.
I believe that sweatpants are the finest achievement in the history of textiles.
I believe in lazy weekends.
I believe in prophesy from God.
I believe in air-conditioning.
I believe in compassion.
I believe in second chances.
I believe in modest and well-regulated social programs. 
I believe in loving yourself.
I believe that bringing chocolate-chip cookies to your new neighbors is the only way to truly welcome someone to the block.
I believe in angels.
I believe in different strokes for different folks. 
I believe in making someone's day.
I believe in buying the world a Coke. 
I believe in placebos.
I believe that someday (someday!) I will master the art of making risotto.
I believe in reflexology.
I believe that you must learn magic tricks if you wish to be labeled a "cool aunt". 
I believe in using your turn signal.
I believe in forgiveness.
I believe in human beings' capacity for good.
I believe in myself. 
I believe in you.



Tell me, friends, what do you believe?