I was raised in the church, the Baptist Church. I attended children’s church and sag Father Abraham then went to preschool in the Presbyterian Church. Attended youth group at the Methodist Church, Young Life in high school, and the Episcopal Church on Christmas Eve. Growing up I attended Vacation Bible School each summer and went to numerous lock-ins in the Family Life Center, hand bells each week and summer camp involved Vespers and Chapel. Basically, until I was 13 or so, I was at church Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday nights, and maybe once on the weekend. In high school, Young Life took the place of much of that, but I was still going to church most Sunday mornings.
I have not regularly attended church on probably 20 years. Now I attend Christmas services and when my niece and nephews are doing church related events. I am not sure where I fall on my beliefs. I know that I still speak to a higher power when some one passes away or in times of crisis, but I am praying daily. I wouldn’t check “none” on the Census, but I am not sure that is just out of habit or a sense of obligation. My biggest question is not does God exist, it is how can what we know as organized religion be what God hoped would materialize? I have strong feelings, and not good ones, towards people that use religion to spread hate and discriminate.
My church is CBS Sunday Morning and my relationship with God is not one rooted in church membership and participation. So, I guess, I believe in a higher power and would call that power God, but that doesn’t mean I am not open to other perspectives on religion and spirituality.
I am fine with the direction of the class. I worry about our timeline and what we hope to accomplish, but I think we are progressing. I would love for us to leave here with a basic primer for how we can support staff and students. I would also like to finish the course with future research planned and in the works. I might be good for us to revisit the purpose of our work regularly in the class to keep it at the forefront of our efforts.
