Comments on: Have you converted?

by: kim radpour

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 02:30:15 +0000

I did convert. I was raised an Episcoalian, but always belived that all religions were fundamentally connected. In my mid-twenties I was introduced to some The Baha’i Faith. Bahai’s believe that revelation is progressive. We believe in the essential oneness of mankind, the unity of all religions, the equality of all races, the equality of men and woman, and that science and religion are always in harmony. Independent investigation of truth is also a main tenant.
I was so drawn to the ideas of this faith that I began going to the local Baha’i Center and reading Baha’i Books.
I love the faith club-because it confirms what I hold true in my heart!

by: Ravenwerks

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 08:08:07 +0000

Mac -

I read that you are a “practising Christian, Buddhist, Unitarian, and Jew,” am I understanding correctly that you are a member of each of these congregations? (I assume that Unitarian is the Christian sect you have chosen. . . )

I find this fascinating. One of the things I like most about the Hindu faith is the acceptance of God in any form; and the belief that all religions are a path to oneness with God. Some representations of God are easier for some people to identify with, and therefore God reveals himself in various ways to accommodate our limited understanding.

Question for you - do you find theological contradictions in these faiths? Do your coreligionists (or members of the congregations you belong to) know about your “extracurricular activities?” Are they supportive of them?

by: Mac

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 16:18:25 +0000

Interesting question. As a practising Christian, Buddhist, Unitarian, and Jew, I rather prefer the word “accrete” to “convert”. How do we shed who we are when we start a new practise? I don’t think it’s possible. And at the same time, I find that all these practises enrich my life in its totality. I love studying parsha with our havarah. I acolyte for our church’s Christmas service. And I sit in the deep silence of the meditation hall - always listening for that voice.
And when I meet someone, I don’t find the question of one’s faith to be very revealing. But rather I’m interested in how that person practises it and what effect that practise has on the world.

by: Cytocop

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 22:13:30 +0000

In confirming Suzanne’s gender issues with Roman Catholicism, I’d like to add that I have the same issues. Gender issues and because I do not interpret the Bible literally are why I am Reform Jewish and not Orthodox. In Jewish Orthodoxy, women aren’t allowed to be rabbis. They can’t even be on the bimah (pulpit) nor can they read from Torah. I can accept these things as minhag (tradition) but not as halacha (law).

by: Cytocop

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 19:38:12 +0000

I certainly can sympathize with Suzanne. I was raised United Methodist, left that to become Episcopalian, and left that to become Jewish!

I realize that abandoning Christianity for something else is an extremely sensitive issue, bordering on insult, to most Christians so I prefer to keep my reasons private. I’m not here for scriptural or theological arguments but - in the spirit of the Faith Club - for reconciliation with all the Abrahamic faiths.

Suffice to say (and I think Edward put it very well): we all have our own ways of experiencing God. Judaism resonates with me the best, and for me is the most effective “vehicle” in which to connect with God. But I’m not here to suggest it is the only way or that it should be everyone’s way because that obviously is not true.

Judaism welcomes converts but does not seek them.

by: Ravenwerks

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 00:57:42 +0000

I am coming from the same place- I was raised as a Catholic, but find some deep issues with the heirarchy and the role of priests. I understand the logic that celibacy is a sacrifice that allows some people to give their entire lives to Christ rather than having to divide their devotion between the Church and their family; that makes sense to me intellectually but emotionally and experientially I find that logic lacking.

I believe that God intends for each person to be fulfilled by a human relationship, and that leaders of a church should not be so different (and so separated) from the community they serve. How can a priest be expected to give marriage counseling and speak with any kind of experiential empathy?

We attend a Methodist congregation and are involved with many of their activities. We haven’t formally joined their church or “converted.” per se, mostly because the Methodists don’t require it. We are able to participate fully in their community (a Methodist pastor performed our marriage) without renouncing any other faith. There are Baptists and others in our congregation, the inclusiveness is one of the reasons we chose this faith.

Everyone should be welcome at the table. I don’t think it is the place of any human being to judge the worthiness of any other.

by: AlNakba

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:49:28 +0000

I am a Muslim, but not a convert, but I agree with Suzanne’s decision.
Now in Islam, women cannot be preists or shiekhs, for the simple fact that for them to be speakers in a Mosque, would be more of a distraction than anything else, because men were created that way. And other than that, it’s because it’s forbidden. But of course, women are encouraged to be teachers, and to be involved in a community. The Prophet Muhammads (peace be upon him) wife Aisha, was the cornerstone to all our teachings. Much of what we know about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) we have learned through her.
But as for preists being able to marry, yes that I believe should even be a requirement. Whether we are talking about shiekhs, priests, or rabbis, they are all human just like the rest of us, and humans have their needs. These needs can and will get in the way of a persons concentration and goals.
Thanks everyone.

by: Edward

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:47:55 +0000

I agree with Suzanne, as long as she can still remain respectful to Catholics.

I have had several friends who, when first leaving Christianity (usually to Paganism), they held very hostile emotions to Christianity. Thankfully, they have thus grown significantly from that.

The problem with God and the Divine is that God isn’t objective. We all experience God from our own perspective, and our own understanding. When we mature and investigate more, we come to realize more. We are no longer children.

Some things may not seem right. The non-ordination of women within Catholicism, for example, may not have seemed to be right to Suzanne. Does that make Catholicism wrong? For her, yes. For Catholics, no. The Catholic interpretation seems to fit for a number of people, but it won’t for everyone.

As long as their isn’t any significant deviancy, leading to extremism, I don’t see a problem. We all have spiritual stages we have to go through. Suzanne started with Catholicism, but grew to Episopalian. For her, she matured to that. Others may be different. As long as we don’t hold hostile feelings, there is nothing wrong with conversion.

I believe, anyways.