Having recently become an ordained minister, I was faced with a denominational decision… I chose not to align myself with a specific organized religion. Instead, I went with Humanism, an age-old philosophy which isn't steeped in theocracy. Recognizing and embracing the existence of a higher power is perfectly acceptable, but Humanism is free from inherently restrictive deity-specific dogma.
Eliminating from one's relationship with their chosen deity all the rites and rituals, along with the competing... and often oppositional to the point of violence ideologies and orthodoxy, is liberating, Humanists are free from all the limitations against religious expression placed upon followers of organized religions, limitations imposed by... organized religions!
Speaking of which, there are an estimated 4,200 different religions worldwide. Most are subsets of the top 5... Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism, the latter representing a tiny fraction of organized religion's total adherents. Sadly, the number of Jews has been whittled down over the millennia; talk about systemic racism and oppression!
But I digress. Represented amongst the world's organized religion community is a dizzyingly diverse collection of canon, principle, and doctrine, but there are a few universally held beliefs. Each religion considers followers of the other to be apostates. Some religions are accepting of those who chose a different path, even though non-believers will still be going to hell. But others prescribe death as punishment for heretics.
And there will come a time for everyone, regardless of the religious path they've chosen, when the final judgment will arrive. To be a Christian, for instance, and find yourself facing a guy wearing a kufi, would not only be a surprise, but a serious problem.... no 72 virgins for you!
Humanism, however, provides plenty of wiggle room on judgment day. That's because its message is universal: "Humanism is rooted in the idea that people have an ethical responsibility to lead lives that are personally fulfilling while at the same time contributing to the greater good for all people." It's the "Golden Rule," but without all the requisite psalm-reciting, Hail Mary-saying, prayer rug-kneeling, and Torah-chanting. It's pretty easy to be a Humanist... just Love Thy Neighbor.
And so, as members of organized religions head off to separate and distinctly segregated places of worship to attend and participate in prescribed rites and rituals, humanists are busy communing with their fellow human beings, unfettered by prohibitions against embracing everyone for who they are, not who or what they worship.
Besides, being a humanist cuts down on clutter in the closet... there's no need to have a precautionary miter, turban, yarmulka, or kufi. Just come as you are, no apologies... or excuses, necessary.
Amen.