I once had a colleague who became seriously ill, and we all came together to contribute money to support his treatment. While the donation was still ongoing, we received the news that he had refused a blood transfusion because it was against his religious beliefs. The moment I heard this, I immediately requested a refund of my contribution. Sadly, he passed away a few days later, and I didn't attend his burial (Don't ask me why). To this day, I struggle to understand that decision. From my personal perspective, refusing a potentially life-saving medical intervention solely because of religious beliefs raises serious questions about the balance between faith, reasoning, and the value of human life. This experience shaped the way I view religion. I believe faith should guide people toward compassion, wisdom, and the preservation of life, not prevent them from considering solutions that could save them. I also struggle to understand the argument that some religious people use to avoid participating in elections because they believe they are citizens of God's kingdom and should not involve themselves in worldly affairs. What I find difficult to reconcile is that we all live in this world, use its money, wear its clothes, live in its houses, and depend on its systems to survive. Yet, when it comes to participating in a democratic process that could help improve those same living conditions, some people choose to stay away because of their religious convictions. I believe we can have faith and still be responsible citizens. We can serve God and also care about the society we live in. For me, humanity comes before religious differences. I would rather focus on preserving human life, showing compassion, helping people in need, and contributing to a better society than allow religious beliefs to prevent me from doing what I believe is right. This is my personal perspective, shaped by my experiences. I respect people's right to practice their faith, but I also believe that faith should never stop us from thinking critically, showing compassion, and valuing human life. Shalom 🙏