Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sunday Reflection: Who you are
When you describe yourself to a stranger, do you include your faith as part of that description? I find that most people don't. I often do, and I have gotten some strange reactions-- as if that isn't supposed to be relevant to one's public persona.
It is surprising how an open admission of faith makes people uncomfortable, whether that proclamation takes the form of what you say, what you do (pray before a meal) or what you wear (a headscarf, for example).
Where does that discomfort come from? Sometimes I think it comes from a fear of being evangelized to, or from being rejected or harmed by the faith asserted.
How public are you with your faith? And how public do you think I should be?
It is surprising how an open admission of faith makes people uncomfortable, whether that proclamation takes the form of what you say, what you do (pray before a meal) or what you wear (a headscarf, for example).
Where does that discomfort come from? Sometimes I think it comes from a fear of being evangelized to, or from being rejected or harmed by the faith asserted.
How public are you with your faith? And how public do you think I should be?
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I think you know the answer to your first question. Secondly, you need to be true to yourself. The Savior and religion are central to your life. If someone were to ask you to describe yourself and you were to leave out the fact that you are a devoted Christian, it would be like asking Mozart to describe himself and he were to leave out music.
My Dad's older brother had a saying that my Dad always quotes:
"If you don't like sitting on my apple boxes, you don't have to eat in my kitchen."
My Dad's older brother had a saying that my Dad always quotes:
"If you don't like sitting on my apple boxes, you don't have to eat in my kitchen."
I do not discuss my religious views outside of the anonymity of the Internet at all. I learned early on that if you're not with the faith of the majority, it's best to keep a low profile or be the first against the wall when angry mob time comes out... mostly by my being first against the wall when the angry mob appeared.
I don't think anyone at work knows my religious beliefs, even though others aren't shy about theirs (nor, I say, should they be). I have no problem with personal displays of faith; I even find most of them interesting from an anthropological viewpoint. But then again, I'm not insecure. I think most people's hostility toward opposing religious viewpoints stems from their own insecurity about what they believe.
Other times, it's probably a learned social aversion to talking about "private" matters, like how you're not supposed to discuss religion or politics in polite company (faugh!).
I see no problem with people being public with their faith, including you. Especially given your profile as an author, scholar and professor.
I don't think anyone at work knows my religious beliefs, even though others aren't shy about theirs (nor, I say, should they be). I have no problem with personal displays of faith; I even find most of them interesting from an anthropological viewpoint. But then again, I'm not insecure. I think most people's hostility toward opposing religious viewpoints stems from their own insecurity about what they believe.
Other times, it's probably a learned social aversion to talking about "private" matters, like how you're not supposed to discuss religion or politics in polite company (faugh!).
I see no problem with people being public with their faith, including you. Especially given your profile as an author, scholar and professor.
Faith or lack there of is a personal thing. If I am meeting someone new and they immediately tell me their faith, I am immediately on guard that I might say or do something to offend them.
Does it really matter in the great scheme of things whether I am Chris the Jew, the Muslim, The Christian, the Scientologist, the Agnostic? Not to me.
Does it really matter in the great scheme of things whether I am Chris the Jew, the Muslim, The Christian, the Scientologist, the Agnostic? Not to me.
I agree with Christine. For most people it's a very personal thing, and I would feel no more comfortable sharing my faith with a stranger (or having someone share theirs) than I would sharing medical information. I have a scar on the back of my neck from a surgery I had a few years ago, and while I'm ok with talking about it, I am very reluctant to share information about it when people ask. Some things are personal, and different people have different views on how open they are comfortable with being.
Of course, that's not to say that you shouldn't share your faith with others, only that it's understandable how it makes some people uneasy.
Of course, that's not to say that you shouldn't share your faith with others, only that it's understandable how it makes some people uneasy.
I think that public displays of faith are totally fine. The fact is that if a person is willing and has enough courage to make such a display, then it is probably a huge part of that person's life and really influences who they are.
I know that every time I go out to dinner with my family, we pray before we eat. I have never really thought about what anyone might think of it. I hope to one day pass that down to my kids.
I usually don't mention my faith upon first meeting someone. But very soon, I've been told, it becomes apparent in what I say and what I do. I can't imagine a better compliment.
Somehow, somewhere along the way, being public about one's faith became politically incorrect. And the problem with settling for and doing what has become publicly acceptable is that those of us that know better risk losing track of who we are and ultimately what our children will be.
This above all: to thine own self be true!
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I know that every time I go out to dinner with my family, we pray before we eat. I have never really thought about what anyone might think of it. I hope to one day pass that down to my kids.
I usually don't mention my faith upon first meeting someone. But very soon, I've been told, it becomes apparent in what I say and what I do. I can't imagine a better compliment.
Somehow, somewhere along the way, being public about one's faith became politically incorrect. And the problem with settling for and doing what has become publicly acceptable is that those of us that know better risk losing track of who we are and ultimately what our children will be.
This above all: to thine own self be true!
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