I took a break from religion for a few years after a stint at a religious high-school, then subsequently traveling to Africa. My religious studies teacher taught that our God was the only way to salvation and Heaven. Most of my fellow students were brought up only knowing about this religion and blindly believing it to be true. Yes, I suppose that is called "faith". But - when I traveled and met people from other religions who also blindly believed, whole-heartedly, in their own religion - I asked myself some questions. Is the African child who grew up being taught the Muslim faith and will likely never travel beyong his tribe or learn of other religions going to hell then? And what makes my religion so right? Because it's what I was taught from birth?

I certainly haven't since found all of the answers. I do believe that faith is a powerful tool and we each need to find our way and what is "right" for us. I personally cannot do "blind, uneducated faith" - though I don't condemn it in others.

I prefer to be spiritual and my God is the God of all that is good in each of us. I refuse to believe that a Muslim with a good heart and a kind soul is "doomed", or that a Christian who regularly attends Church and believes in Jesus Christ but has a mean spirit is going to "heaven". To me, the most important thing in the view of God is to live a principled life. In that, I have faith.

Anonymous wrote:
I am not the committed church-goer that my parent's continue to be, but having been exposed to many different religions and had easy opportunities to change religions if I wanted to, I have realized that I like being a New England Protestant. I don't think that being exposed to new ideas and other religions causes you to lose your faith. Having doubts causes you to lose your faith and you will have doubts whether or not to become an informed citizen of the world if having doubts is part of your spiritual constitution.

OP here. Important distinction - I agree that knowledge is never a bad thing; to clarify: I wonder if it is just an unnecessary componant of faith.

Anonymous wrote:If anyone is interested in learning more about different faiths, I highly recommend books by Karen Armstrong. Most are about the three Abrahamic faiths, but I think she wrote a biography about Buddha , and her "History of God" examines Hinduism and Buddhism in addition to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. I find her books to be pretty easy to read, and very respectful of different religions (she's a former nun, FWIW). They provide great cultural and historical context that help explain the birth and practice of each religion.

+1 I actually discovered her in the book section at the National Cathedral - highly recommend "History of God".

I was raised Congregationalist in New England (in a very conscientiously church-going family). My mom's extended family was Catholic, so we went to lots of Catholic events. I was confirmed as a Catholic in college in a very weird act of non-rebellious rebellion. After college I met and married a Jew, whose family was really surprised that I wouldn't convert (and who, hypocritically, would have been horrified if it had been suggested that DH become a Christian.) I also taught comparative religion at a progressive high school so I learned a lot about other world religions and took my students to mosques, buddhist retreat centers, etc. I can also understand and appreciate the spiritual side of practices like yoga and Wicca, which are other ways to strive for a peaceful connection to the larger world.

I am not the committed church-goer that my parent's continue to be, but having been exposed to many different religions and had easy opportunities to change religions if I wanted to, I have realized that I like being a New England Protestant. I don't think that being exposed to new ideas and other religions causes you to lose your faith. Having doubts causes you to lose your faith and you will have doubts whether or not to become an informed citizen of the world if having doubts is part of your spiritual constitution.