"What's your religion?" "What kind of religion are you?" "Do you worship anybody?" Every time I meet someone new and talk to them for while, the conversation eventually turns to religion and, from there, to politics.

I know the basic rules of speaking to new people: start off easy with something like the weather, or work, or school. But whatever you do, don't bring up religion or politics. Unfortunately, rules have a common habit of not being followed.

So begin the questions. "What is your religion?" Answer "Christian," you're safe. Answer "Jewish," you're still safe. But anything else, from Buddhism to nothing at all, you are officially considerred dangerous or an evil satanist. And to top it all off, starting at middle school, kids get more narrow minded about thngs like religion.

I know because I am one of the lucky people who has a different religion. I follow Native American ways. I would not consider that a religion, and most people don't. "Yeah, but what kind?" they ask. Well, I truthfully don't know. My family doesn't choose one Native way of doing things and firmly follow it. We respect all Native ways (and non-Native ways) as a path to the Creator of All Things, or "God".

Upon hearing my "religion", people tend to quickly change the subject or, more often, pursue the subject. This is generally either an interrogation about my ways or a genuine curiosity about what I do. It used to be the latter. But ever since I transferred to a middle/high school(grades 7-12), people have been more insistant that their religion (and only theirs) is the "right" way to do things. This has only happened when I was talking to christians. They generally seem kind and thoughtful, merely trying to guide you to a pleasant afterlife, but occasionally I have met people who not only interrogate me, but threaten me.

"Do you go to church?" I go to a sacred gathering on Sundays, but I certainly would not consider it a church. "No." "If you don't go to church, you'll go to hell." They have their retort ready as if in court. "I don't believe in hell." At that, the interrogater is completely flabbergasted and I can hurry off someplace. But I am never treated the same. I am dangerous, a disease that they could catch, and they must stay away from me to prevent that.

But it is the attitude that matters. The fact that people will openly judge you because of your religion... it is sickening. This should never happen. I've never interrogated someone about their religion. It just doesn't matter. I don't care if the person is Christian, Wiccan, Jewish, Pagan... they're all a path to 'God'. As long as you are truly acting on your religion, "Walking your talk" as my father would say, then you are as religious as you say. You are truly seeking 'God' and/or enlightenment.

So don't judge people on their religion. Judge them by how they act upon their religion. And no, trying to convert someone to your own religion doesn't count. The person will either be spiritually healthy and whole, or they will not be. This does not necessarily mean they need your help. And this does not necessarily mean you should go to them for spiritual help. All in all, a pretty simple way to avoid confusion: when speaking in groups of people, don't bring up religion or politics.