Religious vs. Secular

Has it always been this way? Has there always been such a stark contrast between the religious and secular? Now, I understand that there is an inherent contrast in the very definitions of these words, but that is not to what I'm referring. I refer to the seemingly-necessary division between religious and secular thought- religious and secular life, if you will. It becomes almost a survival mechanism, to create such a seperation. But why is it so politically incorrect to believe in something? Is it not better to believe in something than to believe in nothing at all?

If you're reading this, you know I'm very religious. I always have been, and I always will be. But I do not consider this to be a weakness- if anything, I consider it a strength. However, that isn't how the rest of the world perceives it. To the rest of the world, my beliefs are a weakness that must be tolerated, but not accepted or respected. I don't understand this, but it seems to be the way it is. It's almost like there's a stigma associated with being openly religious.

This, I think, is what creates the illusion of the necessity for such a stark division between religious and secular life. If one is to be religious, he must keep what he believes to himself, act in a way that is in no way different from one who is not at all religious, lest the one without religion feel "pressured", as if the very presence of religion offends him. If he can't see it or hear it, it is acceptable for another to believe as another wishes. But if he can sense it in any way, it's "pushing an unwanted belief" on him. To be accepted, therefore, by, if you will, an unreligious society, one cannot openly display his religion. This is where the line comes. He can be religious on Sunday, among those who believe as he does, but around those who do not, he must not show it. Why? When did our supposedly "tolerant" society become so intolerant?

I find this to be particularly challenging. It is so easy to believe wholeheartedly on Sunday, surrounded by people who believe as I do, who have the same ideals and goals as I do. But come Monday, when surrounded by those who do not, I forget what I'm supposed to be standing for, what exactly I'm supposed to be exemplifying. Is it my fault that I forget? Yes, absolutely. But is there a difficulty in trying to hide it? Again, yes, absolutely. Could this be where the perceived hypocrisy of the religious comes from? How are they to "practice what they preach", if they are expected to hide "what they preach"?