I'm a better (insert religious adjective here) than you.

I was going to make this a facebook post, but as I was thinking about what I wanted to say, I realized it was WAYYYY longer that would be appropriate for a status update.
        So a couple of people have brought up religion to me lately, and I've been seeing a lot of these type of posts on facebook lately.   First of all, I think this is probably something that's common to all religions but MOST of my friends are either Christian or Pagan so that's where I see it the most.   Since I don't want the Christians to think I'm picking on them I'll start with the Pagans.
    For those that don't know, Pagan is an umbrella term.  I do believe I went over this in an older post so I won't go into detail, but Paganism actually consist of many different religions in the same way Christianity consists of many different denominations.   In Paganism I hear people say, so and so isn't a real witch because...  they are Wiccan, they aren't Wiccan, they aren't Gardnerian Wiccan, they are neo pagan, they aren't family trad, they haven't had an initiation, they read Silver Ravenwolf, they don't read such and such author, they aren't in a coven, they don't follow the exact same tenets as I do, etc...  Let me say right here that I view the different paths under Paganism as religions.  Witchcraft is a practice.  You can be a Pagan (or more specific path) and a witch.  You can be Pagan but not a witch, and you can be a witch and not be Pagan.  Witchcraft is the practice of magic.  If you practice magic and cast spells, even ineffectual ones, you are a witch.  Now yes some people claim to have Charmed or The Craft or Harry Potter type powers that, well I'd have to see to believe and even then I'd be skeptical, but that's not what I'm talking about.  Also you have people wanting to define whether someone is a real Wiccan, or whatever path, or a real Pagan or not.  With the specific paths, they do have basic core tenets that don't leave much wiggle room.  I am not a Wiccan because I do not hold the belief that all gods are one god and all goddesses are one goddess to be true, and quite honestly that can be very confusing to me.  Also I do not follow a strict interpretation of the Rede or believe in the Rule of Three.  The general term of Paganism is much harder to define and I really think that's up to the individual whether they feel they are Pagan are not.  Generally Abrahamic paths are not included, but the topic of Christian Witches (yes they exist, no I don't really understand it either) tends to be a bit of a gray area for some.
            I'm going to move on to Christians now and then I'll wrap up.  With Christians it's "So and so is not a Christian because... they are a different denomination, they don't speak in tongues, they dance and sing and shout during church, they don't dance and sing and shout during church, they don't pray allowed, they don't witness their faith, they aren't baptized  they weren't baptized the way I was baptized, they believe in something that's not mentioned in the Bible and I have an opposing opinion, they use the wrong bible version, they drink, they don't take communion, they don't use wine for communion, they interpret this passage in the Bible wrong, again etc... you get the point yes?
    Here I am addressing all faiths.  Let me first state that I do understand that a few bad people can reflect negativity on a religion.  This is especially true of a minority like Paganism where there is already so much misinformation there.  Acts of terrorism are NEVER the acts of a religion.  These are the acts of bad/sick people.   That said, how does how someone else worship or practices affect your practice or your relationship with your God?   Why does it matter exactly what they believe, especially if they are following the same BASIC tenets.  If someone finds God in the song and dance, but you find him in the quiet reflective places, why is one of you right and one of you wrong?  And, who made you the judge?