Personal Narrative: Understanding Other Religions

Before attending college here at Seattle University, I never necessarily thought that I would be interested in learning about religions other than my own. Throughout my life I was raised to follow the Christian faith. Everything that pertained to my life revolved around my faith. Although I do not regret being born and raised in a Christian home, some occasions have risen where I felt a sense of being “forced” into the religion. This caused myself to ultimately grow a disconnection from my faith. Coming to Seattle University with a sense of disconnection from my religion in actuality provided me the motivation and inspiration to possibly learn about different religions in order to compare and contrast their views from my personal ones, which

Of all the classes I have taken in college, this one is the most out of my comfort zone. I went to a public school in high school and we never talked about religion in a formal setting. The only time I have had an education in religion was when I had to go to classes once a week for church, up until I was confirmed. Although, the class I had to take only focused on Catholicism and didn’t touch on any other religions. My mom was a religious study major in college, so I was raised with the belief that all religions are important and you should try to have an understanding of all of them. Even those I find this to be true, so far in my life I have failed at getting to understand other religions.

it was late, and my ears were still ringing from the scream-fest my mother decided to have with my dad.

I was unable to attend Theology class today (Tuesday, September 6) due to waking up this morning with a very high fever. I went to the doctor's today and do have a doctor's note if necessary.

As two days ago, I join new office in kunduz one of my neighbors suddenly has seen me in office around and last evening he spread this in area that I am working with Christian people and this guy relatives have link with Taliban and others Group so I see my life in danger in future as regular office attendance ,

Entering the building frantically, I walked into the doors of the school. I glanced around searching for a familiar face, but instead all I got were looks from people I’d never seen before. Strangers were staring at me suspiciously, as if I was up to no good. Of course, being the only muslim and wearing a hijab probably had something to do with it, but I walked down the hallways fearlessly until I saw my friend.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked (Psalms 84:10 NIV).

The first time I learned about religion was in third grade. One day I came home, and started to tell my parents about how everyone at school goes to church on Sunday. Even though I had no idea what church was, I still wanted to go because I didn’t like being left out. My parents tried to explain to me what it was. I didn’t really understand it, so I decided to let it go.

“Mommy, why?” I asked as children from every century have asked. At the age of 5, I had just attended a birthday party for a friend from a Muslim family. Colorful balloons meant a fun celebration, but I did not understand colorful hijab. This is my first memory of encountering a practice of religion different from my families’ practice. Innocent observations prompted my questions. My mother explained how people of the world choose different belief systems to live by. We live in an increasingly diverse and global population. I expect these conversations occur more frequently today. Whether, in hush tones or epic monologues, their words affect the future generation’s worldview. Ancient ancestors of Sweden first told their children epic tales about many gods, until Christian themes altered their story.

My earliest memories are of my best friend, my mother, reading with her, drawing with her, sleeping on her, and cooking with her. She used to read The Cat in the Hat everyday to me- so much that she memorized it. When I got older, it became The Magic Treehouse, and then Harry Potter. She had an eternal patience, and even when I made her reread a book twenty times without letting her progress past page twenty, she would oblige. She was my sole entertainer, and she took the job seriously. My mother was the one that taught me Tamil, the language that my family spoke in India. She opened the doors of religion and culture by explaining the basis of Hinduism, what each god metaphorically stood for, and spoke to me as if I were her friend, not her child. Being the inquisitive child I was, I frequently asked questions, and amazingly enough, my mother answered all of them without giving me a senseless answer

Why ? Why,why,Why !?! I always get caught up in things but this one really takes the cake. Ha... life has a funny way of giving you what you deserve. I was given a power, a chance to play god. That chance gave me so much regret, guilt, and most importantly loss.

What does this have to do with my religion you might ask? How is that good, true, and beautiful to me? First of all, my church was always a great place to be during the week for mutual and for sacrament meeting on Sundays back in Oregon. Mostly I’m not good meeting new people, I thought it was going to be difficult in Arizona. But everyone greeted me with open arms and I started to see good in my life again. As I went to the new Gilbert temple and took place in the dedication, I felt one of the strongest feelings of peace I’ve had in a very long time. I started to realize my life wasn’t bad as I made new friends in high school and accepted who I am as a

My experience with religion is all life has consciousness. There has been a misunderstanding to me as a child when I see those who regard it as arrogance when we take our rightful place in the universe. And what is our rightful place? I grew up in a baptize church in N.C and the church of Christ in Conn. The baptize church I attended had all black members and the church of Christ I attended had 90% white. How did I know where my rightful place was in the universe? It is in gaining awareness of our true selfhood. I think you can get a better idea if you think of it in the correct sequence.

“You know I’m typically a happy-go-lucky kind of woman. I don’t give a shit what other people think of me and there’s a reason for that. I don’t talk about my past very often. When I do, I make a point to tell the good parts. We’ve been friends for several years and I’ve let little things slip here and there. Doing so never bothered me because you’re tight-lipped. You’re an intelligent woman so I’m sure you’ve pieced together some of the little things,” Megan said, wondering what thoughts might be floating through Faith’s mind now that she was opening up and revealing her dark side after years of keeping their interaction full of fun and games.

My mother told me that technically, I'm Lutheran, as her and my Father had me baptized. However, it was never really enforced, she tells me, so I have the freedom to be whatever I choose. The only religious ritual I can remember were nightly prayers. I wasnt exacty raised with them, and my Mom taught them to me more as a last ditch effort than anything else.