Respect my religion and I'll do the same

Last week, millions of people adorned in brightly colored beads celebrated Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday, the holiday that precedes Ash Wednesday, is the start of Lent. A predominately Christian practice, many spend Lent forgoing some indulgence like peanut butter, chocolate, or certain leisure activities.

While driving on the highway, I heard a radio show announcer making fun of the "smudges of dirt on foreheads" and the "pointless tradition of a failing attempt to better themselves" by giving something up for Lent. I was extremely offended, being Catholic myself, and being one of those with "smudges" on my forehead.

The reality of the situation is that many religions, not just denominations of Christianity, practice traditions of fasting or giving up something for a certain time period -- like what occurs during this pre-Easter season.

During the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims observe Ramadan. During this religious observance, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. They don't eat or drink anything during this time. The purpose of fasting is to teach an individual patience, sacrifice and humility. During Ramadan, they also pray more often throughout the day.

Buddhists abstain from eating meat at certain times of the month or for an entire lifetime, depending on the school of Buddhism. The Mahayana Buddhists are generally vegetarian and choose this as a lifestyle. The Theravada and Vajrayanda Buddhists do not always refrain from eating meat but have rules dealing with how the animal is killed and whether or not it is specifically slaughtered for them. Modern Buddhists vary on their diet regionally. Buddhists in countries in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka must eat almost anything offered to them while other Buddhists in Taiwan cannot eat fetid vegetables like garlic or shallots.

Similar to the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, some Buddhists in China and Singapore do not eat meat on every first and 15th day of the month.

For as long as human civilization has existed, religion has been a founding element in shaping societies. Religion can be so embedded in one's life that it controls their actions, giving them a moral code or Catholic guilt -- or effecting their diets, like the Buddhist vegetarianism.

Even the lack of religion affects one's life. This radio show host that claims to be an atheist has certain practices and boundaries that are influenced by his lack of religion. He does not have a weekly ritual, may not hold certain viewpoints and certainly does not refrain from voicing his opinion of other religions. However, just as he is not like the next atheist, neither is one Christian exactly like the other.

A mutual respect should be held for all religious because the issue boils down to one solid fact: Religion is a personal choice and, therefore, personal business.

This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.