Spreading the faith is so important in Christianity that many people presume all religions work that way.  After all, if you've found something deeply meaningful, why would you NOT share it?  In fact, most religions don't really care about non-believers.  Their beliefs and expectations are only applicable to believers, and there generally isn't any punishment expected for non-believers.  Check out more reasons why many religions do not proselytize.

The axis mundi in religion is a real world center point of the faith.  Sometimes this point has historical significance.  Often times it is a specific location, although some axis mundi are temporary, established through ritual or construction.  The axis mundi is also a connection point between the physical realm and other realms.

The Axis Mundi in Alternative Religions gives examples of the axis mundi in multiple faiths such as Vodou and Shinto.  I have already provided an article on the Axis Mundi within Judeo-Christian Religion as a comparison.

Ten days ago my 62 year old mother had a stroke. She is largely unable to communicate, and the right side of her body is paralyzed. While we are hopeful rehab will eventually correct much of her limitation, it will be taking months to accomplish it.

As such, I'm out of town helping my family get through this time, and part of that experience is dealing with my mom's church, which she is active in. I attended as a child but left in my early teens. Still, I thought it important Mom's minister be notified early. It didn't matter to me, but I know it would matter to Mom. I think people miss that point in religion too often. It's not about my belief here, it's about hers. I can see value in it from her perspective, even though mine are different.

I hear a lot of people saying that Christians are mean-spirited. They hear about people like the Westboro Baptist Church in the news and presume all Christians behave that way, particularly since Christianity does have a fairly exclusive theology. People presume I left because I found them mean, and I most certainly didn't. I just don't believe the same things as them. This church has held a prayer vigil for my mom. Relatives have informed their churches, and *those* churches are praying for her, even though their members have never even met my mom. They don't even specifically know she's a Christian, and she's certainly not the same denomination as these other churches. These people understand the concept of community and caring for those who need care. They've volunteered by the dozen to help my entire family, even though Mom is the only church member.

Religion doesn't make people horrible. People choose to be horrible and do it in the name of their religion. Or, as my mom's church has done, people can choose to be kind and decent.

Some time ago I started work on Vodou (Voodoo).  This month I've added another African Diaspora religion: Santeria.  Both religions originated in Africa and was brought to the new World by African slaves.  There the beliefs mixed with that of the natives, of Christians, and of the slave experience in general.