Questions about reliion, not mine...yours
Oct. 21st, 2001 12:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
taerowynOK, so I'm taking a continuing ed class in writing feature articles. I'm trying to get my journalism side of science journalism beefed up a bit so next time I apply to BU I can get off the f$&#ing waiting list and actually get accepted.
ANYWAY, on to the point, for the class I am writing an article on religion and "the youth of America" or however you want to phrase it. Basically just how religion for young people has branched way beyond Judeo-Christian roots of the past. So I am interviewing some people face to face, but I figure the best way to get a really broad sampling would be to write my questions here as well.
Now, before I begin, there is a chance that this story could, beyond being a class assignment, get published in a local monthly paper so fair warning. If you want you can tell me to change your name...the little disclaimer "some pepole's named changed for their protection" etc.
First the basics:
Name?
Location (At least state, city would be prefered)?
Age?
Do you want your name changed for the article?
And now the real questions:
1. What faith were you raised with?
2. How did you feel about it at the time?
3. How do you feel about it now?
4. What is your current faith?
5. Why did you stay or change?
6. If you changed, what did you look for when choosing your new
faith?
7. What does your current faith hold for you? What does it mean to you? Why is it important in your life?
8. What does it entail? What are the common practices/beliefs of your religion?
9. How devout would you consider yourself?
10. How does it relate to your daily life?
11. How does religion affect your relationships? Does it affect
your choice in partners and if so, how?
12. How do you view religion in America (i.e. Freedom of...,
Separation of Church and State etc.)
So if you are interested in helping out here (please, please help out here), then you can either answer in the comments, or if you would like it to reamin private you can email me at taerowyn@hotmail.com.
Thanks a bunch!!
ANYWAY, on to the point, for the class I am writing an article on religion and "the youth of America" or however you want to phrase it. Basically just how religion for young people has branched way beyond Judeo-Christian roots of the past. So I am interviewing some people face to face, but I figure the best way to get a really broad sampling would be to write my questions here as well.
Now, before I begin, there is a chance that this story could, beyond being a class assignment, get published in a local monthly paper so fair warning. If you want you can tell me to change your name...the little disclaimer "some pepole's named changed for their protection" etc.
First the basics:
Name?
Location (At least state, city would be prefered)?
Age?
Do you want your name changed for the article?
And now the real questions:
1. What faith were you raised with?
2. How did you feel about it at the time?
3. How do you feel about it now?
4. What is your current faith?
5. Why did you stay or change?
6. If you changed, what did you look for when choosing your new
faith?
7. What does your current faith hold for you? What does it mean to you? Why is it important in your life?
8. What does it entail? What are the common practices/beliefs of your religion?
9. How devout would you consider yourself?
10. How does it relate to your daily life?
11. How does religion affect your relationships? Does it affect
your choice in partners and if so, how?
12. How do you view religion in America (i.e. Freedom of...,
Separation of Church and State etc.)
So if you are interested in helping out here (please, please help out here), then you can either answer in the comments, or if you would like it to reamin private you can email me at taerowyn@hotmail.com.
Thanks a bunch!!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-22 08:50 am (UTC)-- Schwa ---
Updated
Date: 2001-10-22 11:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-22 04:55 pm (UTC)1. What faith were you raised with?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but lukewarm Christianity mixed with a bit of the new age.
2. How did you feel about it at the time?
Most of the books and blather at church I tried my hardest to get into, but then decided was horseshit for the most part as the hypocrisy drove me nuts. The last straw with the church we went to was hearing how they tried to convince Esther's (a student in my junior high) grandmother that the reason she was dying from cancer was because she wanted to be dying from cancer... I do believe in mind over matter to some extent, but that is not exactly the most tactful way to impress your beliefs on someone. Fears of eternal torture in hell still burn in my subconscious from time to time.
As for parents, I thought dad had a bit of an optimistic view on spirituality (which I do as well off and on), though a bit new agey for my tastes. I really don't know what mom's beliefs are exactly... sort of a "if your good you'll go to heaven" way of looking at things. It's odd that dad took us to church while mom slept, yet she was more worried about whether we believed in God (or a god or "God") or not. They also raised us to be a bit empirical... don't believe something without evidence (which none of the four of us do 100%... well, maybe you).
3. How do you feel about it now?
I think they gave us a bit of leeway with our beliefs, but at the same time, since there's nothing solid (IMHO) with regards to any spiritual/religious upbringing, I kind of have to make up the rules as I go along when times are tough, which can be a very hard thing to do. Do I lack a foundation that many others have even if I think their beliefs are questionable? Perhaps I do.
4. What is your current faith?
I don't know. I have faith there is a creator of the universe, that things have a certain balance (positive/negative, nothing/infinity), but beyond that, I question everything. If I could choose my faith (which really goes against what faith is), I would choose to believe in reincarnation, since that seems to be the best belief-system to promote improving the planet. You don't want to pollute when in your next life you could be a duck choking in sewage, know what I mean? A bit of a selfish approach, I'll admit, but a selfish approach that has beneficial results for others. But for beliefs on whether or not we have souls, what happens when we die, if you are judged for your deeds or sins, does the Creator have anything to do with the Universe after the Creator built it... I don't know. I toy with many ideas, but honestly have no clue.
I usually think there's more to life than this, I just don't know what.
5. Why did you stay or change?
Hmm... I don't know. I would say beliefs are somewhat different from my parents, as for why... couldn't tell you. I basically tried to forget as much as possible that was a belief I held as a child because it was Someone Else's Belief, and start from a blank slate. Of course, it's not possible to do that fully, but I tried anyway. Start with as close to nothing as possible, and build what you can from your own experiences. Unfortunately, I haven't built that much.
-- Schwa ---
PART II
Date: 2001-10-22 04:56 pm (UTC)Something that made sense to me as close to a logical fashion as possible (and I still wonder whether or not faith and logic are mutually exclusive, as they often times seem to be). The Universe has laws (laws of thermodynamics, physics, biology, etc.) and wherever there is laws, I believe there is someone to write those laws. Pretty hokey, but it works for me.
7. What does your current faith hold for you? What does it mean to you? Why is it important in your life?
Unfortunately, it is of little comfort when thoughts of death creep in my brain. I really have no idea what's next. I've heard countless versions of what will happen to me when I die by people with various diehard conflicting beliefs, but since no diehard belief exactly matches anyone else's, I have to question what was potential "spiritual revelation" and what was just concocted in their own mind. I know I could never honestly turn to any faith if I were to be completely down on my luck (say, Jesus comes to me in a dream when I am dying of cancer while living in a cardboard box and says to accept him and everything will be dandy), because I would always question if fear or pain overtook my mind and that I made the whole thing up in my head to comfort myself... if that makes any sense. I also wouldn't trust it because don't think that any loving god should have to force you to love it back. If so, fuck'em.
8. What does it entail? What are the common practices/beliefs of your religion?
Well none really, since I really don't prescribe to any religions. I like the whole pagan idea of "do what thou wilt as long as it harms none" (or however it goes), though I don't consider myself a pagan. In going along with my whole "balance of the Universe" concept, I do believe in karma somewhat. Usually.
9. How devout would you consider yourself?
Not something I really need to concern myself with. My beliefs are my own, and it's between me and whatever invisible friends may or may not exist in the cosmos to sort it out.
10. How does it relate to your daily life?
Not at all really, although I generally like to let my actions towards people at least be kind and decent. Not necessarily words, but actions.
11. How does religion affect your relationships? Does it affect
your choice in partners and if so, how?
It doesn't, unless you count me sitting awake at night once every couple of months or so annoying my girlfriend for an hour worrying about Something Bad happening when I die. Something Bad is basically eternal suffering in Hell, or getting reincarnated into a real shitty life next time around. Something Bad does not include nonexistence: this is it, there's no soul, you only go around once and nothing afterwards. If my awareness ceases when I die, then I won't be around to care, so that doesn't worry me.
-- Schwa ---
Part III
Date: 2001-10-22 04:56 pm (UTC)There is only somewhat of a Separation of Church and State in this country. If there really was a separation, I could buy a damned sixpack on Sunday and marriage would have no relevance to tax status. Some of the lack of separation really isn't the government's fault, just the will of the voting public. All presidents have been christian and at least pretend to go to church on a regular basis. I think we're still a long way off from having a jewish/atheist/buddhist/taoist/pick-one president. Why? Because people care about identifying with those they put in charge, and for a lot of christians (who maek up a good chunk of voters) faith is an important thing to identify with. Personally, I don't care what the president's faith is (barring him/her being a member of a cult) because a) it shouldn't affect how they do their job if they approach their job responsibly, and b) they usually don't approach their job responsibly anyways, in which case I consider them to be an asshole and therefore it's still irrelevant what their faith is because an asshole is an asshole is an asshole.
Do I need to rewrite that whole thing to make it more coherent? Please let me know.
-- Schwa ---
(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-22 05:25 pm (UTC)Location (At least state, city would be prefered)? Glendale, AZ
Age? 26
Do you want your name changed for the article? No, that's ok
And now the real questions:
1. What faith were you raised with? Several. We started out in a fundamentalist Christian church, then went into New Age stuff, then Catholic.
2. How did you feel about it at the time? I believed everything the authorities told me, but I resisted converting to Catholicism because I didn't like mass. I felt it was too phony and mystical (I was 14).
3. How do you feel about it now? I wish we had been raised to think our problems through instead of relying on a religion to answer what was right or wrong for us.
4. What is your current faith? None.
5. Why did you stay or change? I stopped believing in the supernatural because I see no evidence for it.
6. If you changed, what did you look for when choosing your new faith? No answer, my belief system is not a "faith."
7. What does your current faith hold for you? What does it mean to you? Why is it important in your life?
My current belief system is open-minded. I don't know that there is a diety, though I will not completely discount the possibility. It has made me believe that each moment is precious, for once we die, that's it.
8. What does it entail? What are the common practices/beliefs of your religion?
I believe in no afterlife, and no mystical retribution or reward for what we do on Earth. I pray sometimes because it's comforting. I've witnessed coincidences that are too bizarre to have any rational meaning, but I can't explain them one way or another. I hold out judgement on a lot of things.
9. How devout would you consider yourself?
Not devout at all.
10. How does it relate to your daily life?
I don't think about religion or spirituality much. It seems more like a hobby to me.
11. How does religion affect your relationships? Does it affect
your choice in partners and if so, how?
Yes. I will not date the ultra-religious, because they often want to change or "save" me and have different values than I do (most want children, I do not). I won't date anyone who is unmoving in their ideas, or sees anything in black-or-white.
12. How do you view religion in America (i.e. Freedom of...,
Separation of Church and State etc.)
I think it gives our churches much more power than you see in the churches in other First World countries. Usually it works to protect churches from the state rather than the other way around. I do not like churches funding politicians and would make that illegal.
name changed only for LiveJournal privacy
Date: 2001-10-22 09:47 pm (UTC)part the second
Date: 2001-10-22 09:48 pm (UTC)Re: part the second
Date: 2001-10-23 07:35 am (UTC)Partially. It's also to protect the people from the imposition of the church.
It's entirely appropriate for the religious beliefs of the electorate to guide the policies of the state. What's inappropriate is for the policies of the state to dictate religious belief and practice for the people.
That's a bit of a contradiction. If the religious beliefs of "the people" (meaning some majority) are that "no one else should be allowed to be of another religion" or "women are subhuman" or "gays should be stoned" the polices put into effect by these beliefs will of course dictate belief and practice for others. And I find it entirely inappropriate for those beliefs to guide state policies.
sent by schwa
Date: 2001-10-22 11:53 pm (UTC)Detroit, Michigan
20
I couldn't care less
1. Baptist
2. through my childhood of going to church many sundays and going to a baptist summer camp at times I got REALLY REALLY into it. but I fell out every so often, but generally kept the faith.
3. Organized religion is a brainwashing tool
4. Back-pocket buddhism
5. I thought that buddhism made more sense and took science into account rather than disregard it. Also, the religion is themed in debate and logical thought, rather than dogmatic law. and an altruistic god wouldn't let a hell exist.
6. A religion that didn't spend time trying to get other members by any form of bullying or knocking on doors, or passing out flowers in airports.
7. Although I have been trying to spend more time studying Tibetan Buddhism, I think its an important framework for helping people be more compassionate toward each other while still not forcing anything upon anyone
8. I'd say that the focus of all forms of buddhism is compassion and tolerance of all forms of life.
9. I'm devout enough to suggest it to anyone, and incorporate it into my thought, but have yet read through all the beliefs
10. basicly I'm genuinely try to be nice to everyone, not hold grudges or make/have enemies, I know that we are all just people.
11. I don't date christians. my fiance doesn't mind getting married by a buddhist monk, although she's generally athiest/agnostic (buddhists aren't athiest to say there is no god but rather that each individual is god) but finds buddhism interesting. I don't preach and she knows if she wants to learn more about it I'm here.
12. I think there needs to be more of a seperation of church and state. The Right Wing is pulling down the standard of living by trying to stop progress. people should be allowed to have any faith freely and without opposition.
(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-23 05:33 am (UTC)Ft C, CO
27
don't care
1. Evangelical Free Christian (Protestant)
2. I Considered it a second school. people treated me the same, acted the same. no one really was enthusiastic about the faith enough to inspire me.
3. It's good for people who find that it speaks to them. For me, it was a good foundation to build upon.
4. Protestant Christian, although recently i've been researching Orthodox Christianity and have seriously been thinking of converting
5. I stayed due to the things that made sense to me - the things that have just "clicked" in my heart. I've changed because of the things that didn't "click" - the things that portrayed God to be a non-loving God.
6. things that "clicked". things that felt right to me, spiritually. i don't know how to explain it any other way.
7. my faith reminds me to let go of the idea of "self". it's important to me because it helps in my quest for being the ideal person. guidelines, you might say.
8. giving up the idea of self. PC: accepting Jesus as the Son of God and that He was/is the Ultimate Sacrifice therefor being saved from damnation. OC: God is Love and Love is God, Live as Loving as Christ did, then be judged later. No guarantees, just good advice.
9. EXTREMELY devout in spirituality. VERY devout in Christianity.
10. it relates very well now that I linked the relationships of the beliefs to my philosophies/morals
11. it doesn't affect them as long as "religion" is talked about in "philosophy" or "opinion" terms. I find that as soon as "religion" is mentioned, people start to become defensive and reserved. It only affects my choice in partners when i see the obvious - loving, or non-loving. Selfish or selfless? People are easy to read when it boils down to those terms.
12. Religion and spirituality are very personal and unique things. It's so rare to find 2 people who agree on EVERYTHING regarding religion/spirituality. Therefor, a govt cannot be strong unless it gives the freedom to believe what you will AND does not promote any single religion. having said that, i don't think it's bad when a govt makes laws based upon the philosophies/morals of a specific religion - as long as the govt doesn't tout the religion. bills should be argued based upon philosophy, not religion.
(no subject)
Date: 2001-10-23 07:50 am (UTC)Rochester NY
23
1. What faith were you raised with? Conservative Judaism
2. How did you feel about it at the time? I thought it was a lot of work, but interesting/different
3. How do you feel about it now? I identify with it, with reservations based on my humanist leanings
4. What is your current faith? Conservative Judaism
5. Why did you stay or change? it's closest to what I believe; I can reconcile it with my independant beliefs. I also can take the services seriously
6. If you changed, what did you look for when choosing your new faith? n/a
7. What does your current faith hold for you? What does it mean to you? Why is it important in your life? The Jewish culture is deep and beautiful. It touches me. I just feel in tune with the values and practices involved. Every ritual has a story, a meaning, gone over by hundreds of rabbis over the centuries in efforts of understanding and explanation.
8. What does it entail? What are the common practices/beliefs of your religion? These questions are far too broad. You'd have to do serious study on Judaism.
Rochester NY
23
<i> 1. What faith were you raised with? </i> Conservative Judaism
<i> 2. How did you feel about it at the time?</i> I thought it was a lot of work, but interesting/different
<i>3. How do you feel about it now?</i> I identify with it, with reservations based on my humanist leanings
<i> 4. What is your current faith?</i> Conservative Judaism
<i>5. Why did you stay or change?</i> it's closest to what I believe; I can reconcile it with my independant beliefs. I also can take the services seriously
<i>6. If you changed, what did you look for when choosing your new faith?</i> n/a
<i>7. What does your current faith hold for you? What does it mean to you? Why is it important in your life?</i> The Jewish culture is deep and beautiful. It touches me. I just feel in tune with the values and practices involved. Every ritual has a story, a meaning, gone over by hundreds of rabbis over the centuries in efforts of understanding and explanation.
<i>8. What does it entail? What are the common practices/beliefs of your religion? </i> These questions are far too broad. You'd have to do serious study on Judaism. <a href="http://www.jewfaq.com>Here's a place to start.</a>. VERY broadly: Judaism is a monotheistic religion based on the Jewish Bible (Tanach) and the Oral Law (Talmud-- now written down). Conservative Judaism believes in some more recent additions to/interpretations of the Bible/Oral Law than Orthodox Judaism.
<a href="http://www.eyelidisland.com/beliefs/beliefs.html>More on my specific beliefs here</a>
<i> 9. How devout would you consider yourself?</i> Fairly devout.
<i> 10. How does it relate to your daily life?</i> It's part of who I am. Practice-wise: I try to go to services on Saturdays and I observe the holidays.
<i>11. How does religion affect your relationships? Does it affect your choice in partners and if so, how?</i> I definately need a partner who respects/appreciates my religion and is comfortable with helping me to raise Jewish children/keep a Jewish household to the level I want. I have had difficulties with this in the past.
<i>12. How do you view religion in America (i.e. Freedom of..., Separation of Church and State etc.)</i>
I don't think we have nearly the seperation of church and state that we need. The majority here is belligerently in favor of imposing their religion on others in various ways. Gays are not respected, women are categorized, constant efforts are made to put the Christian religion into schools. It's very sad. The worst part is that they often justify it under the umbrella of "values". Read Var's post above for a classic example of doubletalk. "We're not imposing our religion... just putting our religious values into law."
i posted this before, but it evaporated...
Date: 2001-10-23 03:47 pm (UTC)tyngsborough, ma
seventeen years old
And now the real questions:
1. i was not raised to any faith. my parents don't really believe in god, or anything for that matter, but they didn't teach me one way or the other.
2. i remember being mystified that they didn't believe in anything, when it was so plain to me.
3. i still feel more or less the same way
4. i don't really believe in organized religions, because i think that religion should be a personal experience, that one should discover throughout their lives who god is to them, what the nature of the universe and existence are and such. it shouldn't be a doctrine. i think that all religions contain some degree of truth, but none are truth in and of themselves. i'd say that my religion is close to that of the polytheistic, animistic religions of the world, but i can't tie it down to one.
5. i don't even remember picking up my religion anywhere...i was never taught anything religious or spiritual in any way. i remember being very young, and jsut having a...sense of the forces around me. it's really difficult to explain. but when i was old enough to read, some of the first things i read were books on the paranormal, the occult, and religions of the world, and i began to find pieces of what i believed, only different people called them different things than i had.
7. my faith is not a separate part of my life...it's the way that i think and i feel. the gods are all around me. they are in everything that i see and hear.
8. there are forces in the universe that humans cannot possibly understand...it is so far beyond comprehension that we can't even begin to try to udnerstand, but throughout the ages, we have discovered pieces of it. the reason we have gods is becasue it's the easiest way to refer to these forces, to abridge them enough to understand them a little. the different names people have for gods describe the same gods. the force is in everything: in people, in the earth, in animals, plants...it's everywhere. spirits of many types exist. the soul is immortal. i don't differentiate between sacred and mundane-everyhting is sacred.
9. it's not a question of devotion. it's just something that is a part of me.
10. i celebrate all the holidays that mean anything to me; i celebrate christmas but also rosh hashana and samhain. i practice magic. i feel moments of communnion with the universe, but i can't really talk about this at length without feeling like a flake.
11. it doesn't affect my relationships with people that much. i don't talk about my religion very much right now. it's hard to find people who would have any idea what i'm talking about. however, i don't have a list of criteria related to my religion that i use to judge people.
12. i don't know what i could say about this that hasn't been said already by other people. politics make my head hurt anyway.
thank you. good night.
(no subject)
Date: 2001-11-04 06:42 pm (UTC)that probably shouldn't make me feel as weird as it does...