I was raised in the Catholic faith, attending church diligently every Sunday, reciting rosaries, and maintaining a daily prayer routine for many years.

My connection with Catholicism extended beyond familial traditions; it was intricately interwoven with the rich tapestry of Filipino culture in which I was born.

The Catholic identity became an indelible part of who I was, a legacy I expected to pass down through generations.

During my university years, I continued to actively engage with my faith, attending mass regularly and forming close bonds with priests, even sharing recreational activities such as playing soccer on weekends.

The Catholic ethos seemed like an unshakeable aspect of my identity, and I never questioned its significance. Until one day, I did.

As my beliefs evolved, family and friends grew concerned when they perceived a deviation from the path of traditional Catholicism.

The assumption was that my faith had waned, and I had distanced myself from God, jeopardising my salvation.

However, the reality was quite the opposite; my connection with God had deepened, and my faith had become more resilient.

Some attempted to classify my transformed beliefs as belonging to the "New Age Spiritual" category, assuming I perceived myself as God. (Yet in the Bible, Psalms 82:6: "You are "gods"; which Jesus quotes in John 10:34 "It is written in your own Law that God said, 'You are gods').

What truly changed was my understanding of God and the nature of my relationship with the divine.

In my exploration, I discovered that today, approximately 4,300 religions are practiced worldwide, each offering beautiful messages and inspiring stories.

However, the prevailing theme often revolves around conditional love, with the consequence of eternal damnation for choosing a different path.

The idea that God judges, condemns, and punishes, supposedly motivated by love, has led humanity to adopt similar attitudes toward one another.

The state of the world, spanning centuries, reflects this cycle of judgment and conflict.

This prompts a crucial question: could there be an aspect of God that remains misunderstood?

What if God's love is genuinely unconditional?

What if attending a gay friend's wedding or straying from weekly mass attendance does not offend God?

What if God communicates with everyone, not just those within the confines of traditional religious practices?

Perhaps a redefinition of God is necessary to address the chaos in the world.

What if our understanding of God transcends mere love to encompass pure love— a revolutionary concept where individuals can express their true selves without fear of judgment?

In this paradigm, we would recognise the divinity in every person, fostering a world where grace prevails.

It would mean every single person is able to express the highest expression of who they really are.

We would be able to see the divinity not just in Jesus or Buddha or Muhammad but in every single person’s eyes so we can treat each other with grace.

For pure love is the type of love that needs, expects or demands nothing in return.

That is the God I believe in.