The Beauty in Religion

I find it so interesting how people always knock religion declaring that it separates people. It's funny how so many people feel that all of the various beliefs in the world have some similarities, and because of that, there should be no separation. And while it is true that different religious beliefs can provide variation, people are the ones who cause separation.
Tonight at my dad's Christian church I watched as all the people fellowshipped with one another. All the different races and ethnicities just gathered together and danced and lifted up the name of the person who they consider to be their savior. And even though they all come from different walks of life and have different struggles, they all come together to love each other and worship because they realize that they have something in common. And as I was watching them come together on common grounds, I was able to really see the beauty in religion.
Religion brings together people of similar beliefs to love one another despite other things that would typically set them apart. Religion doesn't separate anyone. People do.
One of my close friends is a pagan and I'm a Christian, but we share commonalities in our senses of humor. We're also both very honest individuals and that's why we love each other. We don't allow our differing beliefs to dictate our friendship. As long as neither one of us tries to force our beliefs upon the other, we're fine.

But from here on out, I will look at religion as something beautiful... Because it is. :)