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The only sin passion can commit is to be joyless - Dorothy L. Sayers
How Do You Imagine God?
God in America and USA WEEKEND Magazine are partnering to explore Americans' images of God.
How do you imagine God?
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The personification of divinity in any culture is simply our own way of creating a face to relate to, to explain the presence of forces in this world that we cannot understand but long to know. The faces of the gods we imagine are so limited by the cultures that create them that they are all flawed, shallow representations of the real thing. We are small and insignificant, so how could we possibly envision the completeness of the power in this and all other universes. These limitations are challenging but I recognize that the belief in a divine presence can provide humans with comfort and ways to reach beyond themselves. Living without some divine, some mystery in our lives just makes us cold. So I study and learn about the many gods and goddesses and religions and faiths and sciences and I listen to my own heart and mind, defining a divine that seems as true as I can understand perceive. A power beyond us in so many ways that our squabbles over this world are meaningless. Present in the mysteries of life and the wonder of life. Understanding the science that allows for the changing seasons does not steal away the wonder at new life and the cycle of death and rebirth all around us and that wonder is, to me, divine.
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My Faith History
I was raised as ...
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Irish Catholic. A beautiful, misguided religion. I tried hard to fit in, but so much stands in the way now, not the least that I think I got too strong an independent streak from the German Protestant side of my family. I can't agree with them, and they leave no room for disagreement or independence these days. But I miss the candlelight, the hush, the smell of wax and incense, forgiveness and belonging, of history and the feeling of presence.
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How I Practice My Faith
Does your family practice more than one religion or faith? If so, how do you blend the traditions?
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The holiday question: I respect the Christian background that both my husband and I come from, so we celebrate Easter and Christmas with our larger family. But my real spiritual home is with my friends and we celebrate the natural holidays, or pagan holidays, throughout the year. We always gather at Yule at my friend's home for lots of food and time with our friends. We touch base with each other at solstices and equinoxes and I can imagine building a future for any children we have around the pagan calendar, more than I can accept the Christian overlay.
Traditions: I feel that many of the Catholic traditions blend nicely with the pagan lifestyle and I'm happy to include them in our life, as long as my children understand where they came from. I'm not opposed to our children being exposed to the Catholic tradition, but they will understand why we don't practice it. As adults, they can chose their own way.
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How easy or difficult is it to live your faith? Why?
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Difficult. Community belief makes practice and adherence to rules part of the social contract. By abandoning the social aspect of organized religion, I'm responsible to myself, alone. So if I fail to live up to who I want to be or if I hurt someone else, I have only myself to blame. If I succeed in standing up for my beliefs or if I have a moment of insight or peace, I have only myself to share my joy. So I surround myself with people who I admire and who are living their lives in a similar way, but its not quite the same as having a true religious community. Its a solitary, difficult path with moments of joy and communion. This makes faith sound rather hard, but the challenge is worthwhile. I'm comfortable now with what I believe, I accept that it will change as I grow. But I realize that not sharing makes it difficult to live.
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Religion & the Public Square
Should the Bible, Torah, Quran or other religious texts be taught as works of literature in public schools? Why or why not?
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Yes. That is what they are. Written words expressing the beliefs of one set of people, no more special than any other mythology. They tell you a lot about the people who wrote them and are fascinating historical documents.
Do you feel comfortable discussing your faith with others? Why/why not?
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Most people feel uncomfortable with me. And talking with people from organized religions usually pushes me further to the edge than I like to go. Having spent
Its best not to discuss it too much.
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