Kindness in All Things

This page is not written to condemn belief, faith, or those who find comfort in religion. It is written to explore how fear, control, and misunderstanding have shaped many belief systems over time—and how those distortions have caused real harm. To understand why kindness matters so deeply, we must be willing to look honestly at what pulled us away from it. This is not an argument against faith, but an invitation to question what was taught, to listen inwardly, and to reclaim compassion as the true measure of spiritual growth.

I was about sixteen when I began to realize there was something seriously wrong with the Bible itself. By that time, I had already developed a form of PTSD whenever I heard the name God. It is difficult to admit, but I would physically cringe at the sound of that name. This was also when I began studying the Bible more deeply. Many verses left my soul hurting. I came to understand that the God described in the Bible does not exist as written. I also know I am far from alone in feeling that something simply does not make sense when it comes to scripture, and the distortion in interpretations.

One of the first stories that deeply troubled me came from an early book of the Bible. It described servants carrying a large gold idol. What stood out was what happened when one man stumbled, fell, and died. The statue dropped to the ground, and it was written that God struck the man dead. A minister once explained that God had given strict instructions on how to carry the statue, and because the man failed to follow them perfectly, he was killed. There is no way to justify that story as the act of a loving God. Today, with the knowledge we now have, we understand that the man may have suffered a brain bleed or heart attack. In ignorance, those who witnessed his death blamed it on divine wrath.

From very early on, God was portrayed as a hateful bully in biblical writings. These words were not from any higher power; they were written by men who lived in fear, ignorance, and a desire for control. Sadly, this pattern appears in many religious texts. As societies evolved, beliefs fractured into new religions, rules, and requirements, shaped by land, culture, and power.

Throughout history, leaders have shaped, promoted, or even banned religions to control people in the name of a higher power that does not exist as written. Some religions formed from claimed visions or personal revelations. Over time, nearly all became systems of fear—tools to make people believe they needed to or had to be governed.

How did it all begin? I do not believe anyone can fully comprehend how we came to be. Even if explained, we may not yet have the capacity to understand it. What I do know is that we were not created by accident. Earth, and all that exists here, was intentionally created. We were made with divine love.

I no longer focus on how we began as much as I focus on where we are and where we are going. I have found the answers I truly needed. I do not need to know the mechanics of creation to know that we were made with love. We were given everything required to learn, grow, and understand what it means to be both human and spiritual.

There was never a forbidden Tree of Knowledge, nor a serpent born of a devil or demon. The only demons are hatred, racism, and greed—created by humanity itself. Women were not the cause of humanity’s suffering. From the beginning, we were given freedom of choice, along with pride and ego—traits we have had to learn to understand and balance.

Humanity has had to learn about greed, compassion, empathy, and responsibility. Somewhere along the way, we stopped trusting inner wisdom and began surrendering it to the words of others. Yet we were always meant to learn through experience, to learn the essence of life:

Be kind. Don’t judge. Don’t take more than you need.

These are the only truths ever asked of us—nothing more. They were never meant to be learned through fear, threats, or distorted stories.

For ages, humanity has moved in circles. We destroyed what we did not understand and invented explanations to justify our actions. Over time, this led us to where we are now. To gain deeper understanding and accountability, lifetimes became shorter, offering more perspectives and experiences. Around this time, the story of Jesus emerged.

Through human interpretation, God became a demanding ruler, burdening people with endless laws that stifled learning and freedom. Responsibility was misunderstood. The phrase “Do as I say, not as I do” became a reflection of this imbalance.

The story of Jesus became a way for many to avoid responsibility. Sin became a label. People were told they were broken and needed saving. Yet we are not born in sin, nor are we punished for mistakes or beliefs. We learn by facing the impact of our actions.

I have often heard the phrase, “I’m not perfect; only Jesus was.” Too often, it is used as an excuse rather than a call to growth. I have seen people harm others and justify it through belief alone. This narrative allowed those in power to avoid accountability.

The truth, as I understand it, is simple: whatever powers exist desire the well-being of every soul. Every person is loved, belongs here, and deserves kindness. There is no superior religion, culture, or skin color. Each of us matters.

Many of us have lived many lives, with different beliefs and paths, and many more experiences lie ahead. We must stop destroying what we do not understand and begin approaching all things with kindness. Hate breeds hate. Love does not destroy love.

Written by: Anita D Austin

10/08/2025

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Original work: aforeverlife.com