Why is it that talking about your own personal religious beliefs in a public fashion is scarier than talking about, oh I don’t know, your bodily functions or your yearly income?
I’m trying to do a religious study which involves people sharing what religion they belong to and practice, what they believe and how they feel about it. Ideally, they get their family to send in the information as well so we can compare how everyone feels about things. Or not. And it can all be done anonymously. But you would think that I was asking them to strip down naked and run a few laps in front of everyone at the office. Well, maybe I am in a way. But I really had no idea that it would be so hard for people to be a part of it.
My interest is finding out what it is that people believe in and why and what happens when part of the family believes something different.
Anyone interested in taking part?
(crickets chirping…….)
Is it possible that many people aren’t entirely exactly sure what they believe in?
I would run naked laps, and would also participate in your study. As the music director, I am very involved in my church. And since it’s no secret to anyone, perhaps that’s why I wouldn’t mind sharing (I can also think of many family members who would willingly be involved, too).
Good luck, with finding participants.
I may want to get involved in this, as an Atheist living in Utah, and many of my family members being quite religious, it would be interesting to see the many differences in opinion and beliefs.
Sure! I’d be happy to participate and might even be able to lasso in the sibs and parents. We seem to have “one of each,” it seems.
have you ever seen dave chappelle’s comedy show where he notes that people would rather discuss their sex lives than who they voted for in the last election? it seems like a similar dynamic. i don’t understand it, but i can see that religion is a highly private and personal matter for some, but… i don’t know. i’d be interested in taking part, although you don’t know me and i’m really just a blog lurker.
I would LOVE to participate and I could probably get a big portion of family (divorced, steps, etc… KACHING!) and friends as well. It is something we talk about all the time. How one family spawned off so many different beliefs and religious customs.
recovering catholic here! i’d volunteer.
I’ll do it. Not so sure about the family, but I can give it a try. It’s odd that folks would be so shy about things when its anonymous.
I’d do it–can’t speak for my family, though. I can give you my version of their version, but they’re all kinda computer-phobic.
I’ll do it as well!
I’d gladly participate as well. This is something I often wonder about myself. I grew up in a pretty religous family, and while I no longer participate in any organized religion, I consider myself very spiritual. I wonder about how other people really view religion/spirituality.
Thinking about some of my own experiences lately, it is a shame that religion seems not to be something that people want to discuss rationally. It seems to be all or nothing – either people looking to impose ideas on others or no discussion at all, for fear of coming off as trying to impose their ideas. Or that’s what it seems to be.
Sure. I would participate.
thanks everyone! i’ll be emailing you soon with a link where you can participate. thank you so much! and feel free to pass the info along to anyone else.
xo
I’ll participate too, if you still need people.
the more the merrier!
Oh, Me too me too…..
I was a Religious studies minor in college and have a trippy family religious history, you will love it if you love this stuff.
Count me in! Always happy to add another atheist to the pool. I’ll try to recruit my brother who’s a Gideon Baptist.
Here’s the skinny on our religious stuff:
Me: Raised strictly Catholic by a Catholic father and Luteran mother. Mother converted to Catholicism and instantly conceived my youngest sister when I was 15. The horror of that alone made me question my staying power in the Catholic church.
I am now devoutly anti-organized religion. I think most ministers, priests etc., crave attention. And frequently use their position of power to do nasty things to people.
Husband: Raised Methodist by Methodist father and Jewish mother. He feels the same way I do about religion.
My parents: Still go to Mass every week, donate tons of money to the pedophile-supporting Catholic church, and still think I will ‘come back’ at some point.
My husband’s parents: Gave up going to church 10 years ago.
My children: Believe in a higher power, but have no idea who Jesus is.
My siblings: Avid Anti Catholics, like me.
Most of my friends: Buddhist, Reformed Christian something or other (I call them the Feel Good Jesus Freaks) or Episcopalian. The Mormons I know treat their womenfolk like second-class citizens.
I don’t care what religion anyone is. Until they try to make a convert out of me. Then buzz off, numbnuts! Not interested.
I will if I can wait a week or two and whatever I say is anonymous. The whole story is kind of complicated. My parents wouldn’t be in to it. I’m not sure my siblings would be, probably not but I’ll ask them.
Religion is something that I’ve been struggling with as of late. Count me in on the email list to participate!
Happy to participate. Sounds like a fascinating project!
Still looking? I’ll participate.