The document discusses the author's religious upbringing as a devoted Christian and their journey to developing a more open mind towards other religions. As the author learned more about different faiths through research and interacting with people of various beliefs, they began to critically think about assumptions made in Christianity and question whether the story of God and Satan could be more complex. The author speculates on alternative possibilities for the relationship between God and Satan based on only getting one side of the story in the Bible. They have come to see value in exploring multiple religions and maintaining an open mind rather than adhering strictly to one faith.

1. An Alternate Religious Presence
Growing up in Salisbury,North Carolina you becomeexposed to a heavy
religious presence.A very religious area, a city that’sapart of thearea commonly
knownas the“biblebelt”.I grew up very religious, a devoted Christian,as well as
my grandmotherandmany other members of my family. Every Sunday I was in
churchandSunday school. Thereligious lifestylewas very good to me, it taught
me right fromwrongas a childand for themost part I behaved becauseof that.It
taught me a lot about lifeitself and my confusionof life, wheneverI felt down and
out my grandmotherprayedand shewould read thebibleand I will immediately
feel better about myself and my life. We use to stay up and study thebible every
nightbeforewe went to bed.Just off thatI had faith thata higherpower existed
that somethingelsewas out there,somethingthat’sunexplained, somethingthat
most humanswill never understand,my grandmother’sdevotion to God and
religion drove me to have a deep connection andlove for thereligion.
As I grew older I started to have more of an open mind and started to view
thingsdifferently.I started to have more of an interestin other religionsand the
way theylived life. I was more open to thefact that their was more out there,
more to learn about, a chanceto explaintheunexplained. Soas a result I started
learningmore about differentreligions(Islam, Buddhism,more Christianity etc)
as well as studyingmore historyand science.As I learned more and did more
researchI becameaware of a shockingrevelation thatI never personallythought
about beforeand I asked myself thequestion, why does everybody assume the
devil is bad?What proof do you have? As a young childI was taught to never
judgeanybodyand always know bothsides of thestory beforemakinga decision

2. and couldn’thelp but to realize that sincebirthI was taughtand informedof one
sideof thestory, theChristian, thesavior, theson of God “Jesus Christ”story.
I had always steered clear of anythingthathad to do with Satan or was
associated with thedevil or demons but I was intriguedto learn about his story,
theother sideof thestory, it was just somethingthat sparkedmy curiosity.As I
met more religious people whowere nasty,rude,and inconsiderateI becamemore
interestedto learn about theother sidebecauseI had realized that some religious
peoplecould be demons themselves,as a result I seen nothingwrongwith
learningmore and expandingmy mindset.So I startedcriticallythinkingabout
thesituationand I thoughtto myself, let's say God and Satan werebrothersand
they had a disagreementand Satan moved out of thehouse.Has anybody took the
time to read theotherside of thestory?What if Satan is really good and its God
manipulatingeverybodyintothinkinghe's good? What if thedevil tried to take
over thekingdomof heaven becauseGod was turningevil? Who's to say who's
right?Everybodyonly listensto oneside of thestory but as withevery situation in
lifethere’s3 sides to every story.
How do we really know?It’s all speculationand imagination. Thebibleonly
tells one sideof thestory writtenby people whoweren't thereto witnesssaid
events. If you start to thinkoutsidethebox, be open to learningotherways. A lot
of people I have interactedwithat times have bouts of depressionand uncertainty
of lifebut are indeedheavy prayers.OnceI suggestedto a friendthat maybeit
will beof benefitand wouldn’thurtthemind to try learningabout and
worshippingadifferentdiety.Is it possiblethat constantly worshippingthewrong
diety can result in unhappiness andconfusion?Maybeonewill finda better

3. understandingof Islamic teachingsratherthanChristianityor Buddhism
teachings. It’sa possibility.
What if Satan ruled heaven and thenJesus dethronedSatanand convinced
everybody thathe's no good and that Jesus himself is thesavoir and light of the
world. Go deeper intothesubjectyou’ll oftenfind thatGod is associated with
light and Satan with darkness.But as someone whowas raised a ChristianI
learnedthat we’reall created in God’s image, will that would explainjust about
mainly all species look similar whileinsidethewomb? If you look closely into
somebody’seyes it’s likeyou’restaringintospace, darkness.Lightis man made,
beforethelightdarknessexisted.Humans are blindedby brightlight,to say that
God is light means thoseworshippinglightareblinded,thelight is God’s Sun not
God itself.I’m in no way a devil worshipperbut ratheronewho explores all
possibilitiesof life. Thepossibilitiesareendless,you must have an open mind to
be ableto explore and learn about thingsyou wouldn’tnormally read or learn
about. It’s a big process mentallyto open your eyes to more ways of livingand
understandingviews and beliefsthat are different fromyour own. My views now
stem froma series of possibilitiesand not thatof oneset religion.An open mind
connectingwithhumansof all kinds,colors and shapes,no matter religion or
belief.I have studiedmultiplereligionsand havecome to understandnot only the
message but themessenger.Reachone, teach one, to understandhow and whya
certainperson believes what hedoes is to understandlife.