Do you have trouble explaining ?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2000
Do you have trouble explaining ?
15
Sun, 12-11-2005 - 6:03pm

Do you have trouble explaining your religion/faith?

Growing up RC, that was all I used to have to say. People would ask, I'd say "I'm Catholic" and that answered the question.

Now I find when I'm asked that it's very hard to explain Unitarian Universalism. Our minister was talking about it last week...unlike other religions, ours really needs to be experienced to truly understand. You can put our Principles & Purposes out there, but that really doesn't touch it. I know I went to uua.org when I was checking this religion out, saw the Principles & Purposes, and thought, "well, sheesh, YEAH! Who doesn't believe that? That's not hard!". I had no idea how much thought & effort would go into trying to live those principles every day...how much *I* would change as a result. Someone else said we're the opposite of Fundamentalists, no matter which religion they come from. That's true, but to the "outsider", is that at ALL enlightening?

Not like I want to go out & convert the world, lol, or even evangelize, but I feel I'm doing my religion a terrible disservice by not being able to explain what's so great about it, what keeps me coming back, how I believe it helps me as I strive to be the person I *want* to be....

Does this ring true for anyone else here?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 11:22am

but wish people would realize they don't need to put their whole life story in their signature.


Amen to that!



iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2004
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 12:29pm

Hmmmm...

Back in the day, when I was very involved in a church body, I was asked a lot about my faith or religion. I wouldn't ever say "I'm Baptist" (or whatever)

I would just simply say..."I am Blessed" and leave it at that.

As a whole, I think that most people just want to share what they have by way of religion or faith. I think every religion serves its purpose, so I'm not too opposed to debate, but never provoke one.

V :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 12:55pm

"I am blessed."


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-19-2003
Wed, 12-14-2005 - 1:46pm
I think it's hard for most people to explain to someone else about their religious beliefs, especially since every faith comes with a set of misconceptions or half truths twisted to look and sound very different from what the truth really is.


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"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." ~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

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Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 12-15-2005 - 9:28am

It's not that it's so much difficult for me to explain my spiritual beliefs as I just feel that it's not open for discussion.

I have one sister who is extremely Christian, borderline fundamental. I have another sister who is like me, very much Pagan with some of those Christian-like traditions and rituals thrown in that make me feel good. My other sister likes to tell people she is Pagan, but really she always falls back on the Catholic/Christian beliefs we were raised with - if asked, I would say she is definitely Christian. And lastly, my brother has always questioned his own Catholic upbringing, especially since he went to Parochial school in NYC growing up, but in recent years, his wife was drawn back to her Catholic roots and he's slowly followed her. He still questions it a little and is definitely in tune with the more Pagan aspect of Christianity, but he goes to church each week and he says it makes him feel good. I'm happy for him.

For me, my connection with my God/Goddess, of higher power if you will, is a very personal relationship. I worship in my own way, I celebrate my life and my connection with other living beings on this planet in a very personal way. When my one fundy sister questions my 'religion' I say nothing - absolutely nothing, I just don't speak and eventually she realizes that she's touched on something that I don't feel is her business and she moves on. I have a friend who has occasionally asked me my beliefs and I usually respond that I believe in my connection to the cycle of life and to goodness and purity. She's so confused by that that she also moves on but not without suggesting that I read the Bible. I've never encountered a stranger asking me about 'what I believe in', but I'm fairly certain I would counter ask them why they would ask such a personal question. I truly feel that my relationship with God/Goddess is personal and not up for discussion.

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