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Maddi - Project Interfaith Video #2
Reflection questions this week:
Tell us a little about your service experience this week?
When you were growing up, what did your belief system, faith, family and/or culture teach you about serving others? Do you agree with this? Why or why not?
What reactions have you gotten so far to your post? How has it been for you to have to share something as personal as your beliefs and identities in such a public way?
So Maddi, what first sparked your interest in Judaism? Why are you converting?
Sierra, I really became interested in Judaism this past year with my World religions class and after a trip to a reform synagogue here in town. I'm converting because I feel as though I have never been Catholic and that the way I think, feel and treat religion compares and is more Jewish. I also want to a have a faith that is very strong and deeply rooted. I don't want my secular life and religious life to be separate, Judaism gives me that. It is hard to explain my conversion.
~Maddi
Hi Maddi. I really enjoy your blogs. I am also pretty quiet about religions other than with really close friends. Its not even something I talk about with my family anymore because my mother always says that I am not an atheist and that I will change my mind about religion when I get older. It seems that many people turn to religion before they die as a way to "save themself," but I really criticize that because people are ust using religion. It's not something they truely believe in. It's difficult to talk to people when they don't listen or hear what you are saying. Service is extremely important to me, too.
Do you think people agree with the concept of fixing the world TOGETHER? Many people from different religions refuse to work alongside others. Not just religions but people of different cultures and backgrounds hold feelings of hatred and disgust. How easy is it for you to go into the world with that concept? Will you falter if someone disagrees with you or offends you or will you push on through the good and the bad?
Ethan,
I do think we should fix the world together because that's the only things can get fixed. To me people focus too much on the facts that cultures and religions or whatever, they don't see the people. Religion doesn't always define a person and that doesn't stop me from talking to them, being friends with them or anything for that matter. It's is relatively easy for me to go into the world with that concept, because I believe in universalism that each religion, belief, faith or whatever has some form of truth in it. No one religion is 100% correct or has the perfect way to reach an after life. God made different religions because he wants diversity, in the world. Yes I understand that people come from different places, so I am not easily offended if someone disagrees with me.
~Maddi
Hey Maddi, I like the concept of fixing the world collectively. Do you think that organized religion helps or hinders that process? I tend to think that we focus so much on what makes us different that it makes it very difficult to even come up with a consensus about what fixing the world means. Maybe organized religion has something to do with our inability to build cohesion. Just a thought. Really like your posts.
Maddi, I'm really inspired by your commitment. I've always been interested in converting, but have always found the task daunting. I'm look forward to talking to you all about it.
Hey Harold,
I think organized religion does both. I think it helps for some but at the same time people ca use it as a way to not work together. That does tend to be something i see too. That people focus on differences, they don't see the similarities too, and work past the differences to try and help. I think by understanding each other we can figure out how to fix the world.
~Maddi
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