Belief
Believe it or not, this blog post began as an explanation of eating habits. I started writing about discipline, and found my thoughts on belief and religion really merited its own post. So here you go…
First, Some Background
My dad is Catholic and my mom is Methodist. Growing up, we had a deal: we were brought up in the Catholic church until we attended our first holy communion – long enough to ensure to my father that we would get into heaven. Then at the wise old age of 8, we were allowed to choose. We had to go somewhere on Sunday morning, but they didn’t particularly care which parent we went with.
From a very early age, I felt empowered to make choices about religion. I recognized that there were differences in denominations and that there wasn’t wrong or right, just different. We would discuss what we learned at church over Sunday lunch, and I remember being amazed at how often the bible verses discussed were the same in both sermons (looking back it’s not that surprising, there are a standard set for holy days such as Pentecost, Palm Sunday, Advent etc. which take up much of the year). Also, I spent my early elementary years attending a Lutheran private school. So add that to the mix.
Catholicism
I have always had reverence for Catholic tradition. I think it’s extremely poetic that in Catholic mass, we’re often speaking the same words that were spoken by biblical ancients, Renaissance monks, etc. Part of me loves the comfort that it is the same as it has always been. This is the same part of me who decided to go to Texas A&M University after attending one tradition-entrenched football game and studied Latin for six years knowing I would never speak it to anyone. I have sung in the two largest cathedrals in the world – St. Peter’s in Vatican City and St. Paul’s in London. Hearing your voice echo off structures that beautiful is enough to stir emotion in even the most doubtful of us.
St. Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican, 2005
Methodism
And then there’s part of me that lives my life every day. The part that lives with a man she’s not married to and likes to sleep late on Sunday morning and drinks boxed wine (pretty sure Jesus drank from a jug). This is the part of me that thinks that it doesn’t matter if Jonah was really swallowed by a whale or if Mary was really a virgin or any of that – what matters is the message. That’s the part of me I listen to most of the time.
I like what John Wesley says about morality – that you can’t follow the bible or religion blindly. He says we need to take into account REST – Reason, Experience, Scripture, & Tradition. I love that Reason and Experience are half of the equation – and that Tradition made the cut. It’s up to each of us to make our own way, using the tools we have.
Youth Group Board Retreat, 2003
Now
I spent my childhood at the First United Methodist Church of Coppell and I wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s where I learned to sing, got to act in musicals, and met some of my very best friends. But nowadays I’m not plugged in to one congregation like in the past. I spend more time reading books (recently The Year of Living Biblically, my favorite is still Blue Like Jazz) and things I come across (recommend my mom’s pastor’s blog When EF Talks) and soaking in all I can.
What I Believe
No matter where I am in my life, there are a few things I find truth in all the time:
It’s not by chance. The events that have led up to life as I know it – the fact that the world came into being, humans evolved, my ancestors survived, my mom met my dad, and I grew up healthy and now live the life I’m living… cannot be by chance. Something greater than me had to set it all in motion. I call that thing “God” spelled G-O-D but some people may call it something else. I think this is empowering and puts responsibility on me to do something with my life to make it all count.
I am thankful. I am blessed for more reasons than I can hope to count. Even on my worst days, I am alive and healthy and loved and safe. And it just doesn’t make sense to take any of that for granted.
It’s better to do the right thing. Whether you believe the “right thing” means eating kosher food or praying three times a day or going to church on Sunday morning, we all have a moral compass that tells us to treat people and the world around us with respect. It all comes down to love, and it’s just better to love.
Love!
No related posts.
test Filed under Inspiration, Musings | Tags: belief, relationships, spirituality | Comments (23)23 Responses to “Belief”
Leave a Reply
Great post Caitlin, very insightful. I really enjoyed reading it.
(P.S. Is that Adam Visconti front and center? Presh! He's one of my besties!)
Thanks Kelsey! And yes, that is Adam Visconti :)
love indeedy!
Great post. It is a very good representation of our generation and religion. I feel very much the same way. Kudos to you for posting on religion.
Refreshing! Though as you already know, it does not matter what I think.
DF6_Jlb_3fk.. Tiptop :)
4242301 beers on the wall.
Thank you very much for this article. Waiting for next one.
You…are…my…hero!!! I cant believe something like this exists on the internet! Its so true, so honest, and more than that you dont sound like an idiot! Finally, someone who knows how to talk about a subject without sounding like a kid who didnt get that bike he wanted for Christmas.
Awseome article, I am a big believer in placing comments on blogs and forums to help the blog writers know that they’ve added some thing advantageous to the world wide web!
One of the best articles we have ever read on the internet! I recommend it for sure all your friends, so you may want to look you think that the Internet should be more people writing such a wonderful message. If you can recommend me more such articles on these topics, please have some information.
cheers for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your website with more info? as it is extremely useful for me.
Took me awhile to read all of the comments, but I certainly enjoyed the write-up. It proved to be especially useful to me and I am positive to all the commenters here! It is often nice when you can not only be informed, but also engaged! I’m positive you had fun writing this write-up. http://ejmbail.com/
Desperately been searching everywhere on information about this. Really thanks a lot.
Spot on with this write-up, I actually assume this website needs way more consideration. I’ll probably be again to learn rather more, thanks for that info.
Comfortably, the news post is during truthfulness a hottest on this subject well known subject matter. I agree with ones conclusions and often will desperately look ahead to your updaters. Saying thanks a lot will not just be sufficient, for ones wonderful ability in your producing. I will immediately grab ones own feed to stay knowledgeable from any sort of update versions. Amazing get the Work done and much success with yourbusiness results!
strong register you lock up
Very nice post, I surely love this site, keep it up.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
This is a message to the website owner. Please check out my friends website, he is offering a very good service that you may be intrested in. Does your website not get hardly any visitors or not rank for keywords with Google? Well he can help! He can provide you with tens of thousands of backlinks to your site! This will help your rankings in the search engines and make your website more visible to your target audience. Take a quick look as im sure you will be intrested. http://www.horsepowerfever.com/backlinkhorsepower.html
Certainly understand that you simply pointed out. The best validation seemed to be over the internet the easiest point to be aware of. I say to you, I absolutely get irked while many people examine issues which they obviously have no clue about. You were able to hit the nail upon the top as well as , explained out the overall matter with no complication , the public could take a signal. Might be return to get more. Appreciation
you are soooo gifted on paper. Lord is really utilizing a person within tremendous ways. You’re doing a superb job! It was a wonderful blog!
my father started a calorie restriction diet and all i can say is that it helped him to reduce body fats`