Q: I come from a background of atheists and I want to
embrace a religious faith. What faith should I choose and what should be
the basis of my decision?
What has led you to this search? What do you expect to get from being
part of a faith or a faith community? What faiths intrigue you and why?
I have many questions for you so that I can learn about what you are
looking for.
Churches offer caring networks that support spiritual and ethical
growth and teach a tradition to children and adults. To be fair, I must
add that churches can have as much grumbling as caring, as much doubt as
faith, as much institutional work as time to reflect.
I know atheists who call themselves Buddhists, Humanists,
Confucianists, Unitarians and Jews. Other groups have atheists, I am
sure. Religious groups bring special challenges to an atheist.
Every religion was born of a particular way of viewing humankind's
relationship to the cosmos. Some needed a loving God, others a God with
a stern nature, others still a Goddess. While some require the threats
and rewards of heaven and hell, others thrive with a loving heaven or
nothing after death.
Ethical relationships are important in religious groups. Some stress
faith over action and reason, dogma over openness. Some groups eschew
political action, for others it is the essence of their religious being.
Some talk a lot, others are active. Some dwell on salvation and heaven
in another world while others believe salvation only comes through
creating heaven here. For many, salvation is not important. Some dwell
on tenets of faith and literal understandings of sacred writings, others
take them with a grain of salt. People may find sustenance in music,
ritual, and prayer.
The type of government - hierarchical, synod, congregational - may
make a difference for you. Are clergy and their training important? What
type of ministry is important to you? What religious prejudices and
preconceptions do you have? This is only a small sampling of issues that
might affect which religious institution would best fit your needs.
It is also important that you like the people enough to want to see
them regularly. It would be unusual to stay for long in any group where
you don't make friends.
Take time in your quest for a religious home. Learn about different
traditions. You may find you like parts of many religions. Since there
are no absolutely right answers in religion, you can craft your own
response to the cosmos. Once we talk and reflect on your answers to
these questions, I can offer direction, but in the end, the quest is
yours.
Index of Questions asked
by the Citizen and Readers . . .
Q: I am 16 years old and I'm pregnant. Should I have an
abortion?
Q: We are a couple in love, but are from different religious
faiths. Will this be an obstacle to our getting married in a
religious ceremony?
Q: I come from a background of athiests and I want to
embrace a religious faith. What faith should I choose and what
should be the basis of my decision?
Q: My sister tells me that her husband is physically abusing
her. Should I recommend that she see her minister?
Q: How much political commentary during a religious service
is considered ok?
Q: An openly gay member of our congregation has volunteered
to teach children in our church school. How should we proceed
with this request.
Q: My son came home from school with a Christmas gift wish
list as long as his arm. I tried to explain that the spirit of
Christmas is giving, but I fear he may be getting caught up in
the crass materialism that detracts from the way our family
traditionally celebrates Christ's birthday. Without breaking his
heart, how can I keep him focused on the true meaning of
Christmas?
Q: My fiancé wants to have a religious outdoor wedding
ceremony. But as a non-religious, non-baptized person, I feel
uncomfortable with the thought of it. What kind of options do we
have?
Q: Robert Latimer's killing of his severely disabled
daughter tracy and Dr. Jack Kevorkian's first-degree murder
charge for giving a lethal dose of potassium chloride to a man
with Lou Gehrig's disease leave me feeling that there's
something right about what both men have done, yet uneasy
because this could open the floodgates to abuse. What do
religious traditions have to say on this?
Q: I want to go back to religion after many years of not
attending. I am attracted to a conservative religion because of
the sense of spirituality I get at their services. I cannot
practice this orthodox religion because I am gay and have other
theological differences. Is it proper to attend their services
when I do not embrace all of their theological law?
Q: Stanley Faulder's death-sentence in Texas for the 1975
murder of a 75-year-old woman has revived my own struggles with
the death penalty. I understand how some people, particularly
family members of murder victims, might feel justice can only be
served by taking an "eye-for-an-eye" approach to those
that kill in cold blood. But what happens if the wrong person is
convicted and an innocent person is executed? How has your
religious tradition approached this question?
Q: What Difference does it make if I choose not to believe
in God or follow any religion? Why is going to church so
important?
Q: I constantly remind my grandchildren of the importance of
tolerance of people and their beliefs, causes and opinions.
However, I recently found myself at a bit of a loss when asked
to explain the violence during the Kurdish demonstration outside
the Turkish embassy last month, during which some police
officers were injured. My grandchildren don't understand why
something that doesn't involve Canada should place our notions
of peace under attack.
Q: Next week marks Holy week and Passover, when Jews and
Christians will ponder notions of salvation and redemption.
Given the approaching new millenium, some may have apocalyptic
thoughts. A few might plan for the end of the world, the Second
Coming, or the arrival of the Messiah. But should next week hold
any added significance beyond the events themselves?
Q: Tomorrow, I like Christians around the world, will mark
Easter. Did Jesus really rise from the dead and can His
resurrection be proven historically?
Q: Church groups often champion the plight of poor people
and denounce vast accumulations of wealth, Yet many have
considerable bank accounts. Isn't this failing to practise what
they preach?
Q: Is there a Hell? If so, can you explain where it is?
Q: I havve been pondering the contrition offered by U.S.
President Bill Clinton for misleading Americans about his
relationship with Monica Lewinski and by Prime Minister Jean Crétien
for failing to attend King Hussein's funeral. In some quarters,
the apologies have fallen on deaf ears and have generate highly
partisan aattacks on both men. While weset higher standards for
those who lead us, are we becoming too self-righteous and
overlooking the fact that they are only human?
Q: In the past few years, several church groups have
apologized for historical misdeeds. Is saying "sorry"
enough?
Q: As a parent of four, I am outraged by the recent B.C.
Supreme Court ruling that struck down a section of the Criminal
Code that makes it illegal to possess child pornography. have
freedom of expression and the right of privacy guaranteed under
the Charter of rights and Freedoms taken presecedence over basic
morals?
Q: My father is terminally ill and in constant pain.
He is talking about "ending it all," either in a
manner practised by Dr. Jack Kevorkian or by himself. Is
this morally right?
Q: I have never understood salvation. What does it mean to
you?
Q: We recently experienced the terrible horror of the OC
Transpo killings.What is there to say to the family and what
message is there in it for everyone else?
Q: The tragedy that has befallen Kosovo,
particularly its cruel effect on ethnic Albanians, gives me
proof that evil exists in the world and Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic is doing the devil s work. To stop the
carnage and Milosevic, could one morally justify increasing NATO
s military operation, which could result in a global war and
claim more lives?
Q: Why should we keep the reference to God in the
Constitution?
Q: American Baptist minister Rev. Fred Phelps has
threatened to bring his anti-gay message to Ottawa this weekend.
How far should we go to protect free speech, particularly when
it carries a religious context?
Q: Does secularism qualify as a belief system and how would
your religion look upon secualrism?
