Earlier this school year, while discussing faith with someone, they asked me, “Do you think you’d be religious if you weren’t raised in the church?” This is not the first time I’ve been asked this question, nor do I believe I’m the only one who’s ever been asked this before. However, this was the first time I honestly thought about my answer. Coming from a family whose faith is very important to them, it’s very hard to imagine not being raised in the church. Thinking carefully through what I have experienced outside of the church, I found my answer. I told this person, “I think I would have found my faith later in life, and maybe it would be a different one than I have now, but yes.” Extracting myself from my upbringing in the church helped me realize a lot of things about my personal journey with my faith.
My first thought was of the people I have surrounded myself with. Sophomore year alone I have had many friends invite me to various religious services, which has really meant a great deal. To me, it meant that they wanted to share this personal part of their lives with me, which is an amazing bond to experience. Experiencing these services with my friends, and seeing how much it means to them has only helped strengthen the faith I already have. Even if I hadn’t been raised in the church, I believe I still would have felt something in these services with my friends that would spark curiosity inside of me. This was the major reasoning behind my answer "yes"; I would have found faith eventually.
This question also made me think of the ways my faith has grown over the last few years, and what has made it grow. I realized that again, it has a lot to do with the people I have surrounded myself with and the opportunities I’ve taken advantage of. This semester I have participated in an educational Shabbat service, gone to a Catholic mass, various Lutheran services, and of course my own home church. Exposing myself to so many different views and beliefs has given me insight, and helped me shaped my own views. I am very fortunate that I did not grow up with my parents’ beliefs forced on me; they have simply given me the tools I need to form my own beliefs. Given how my parents are supportive of everything, and allow me to choose my own paths in life, I believe they would be supportive of whatever decisions I made if I had not grown up in the church.
I was asked this question four months ago, and I can honestly say I think about it at least once a week. It has affected me in ways I never thought a basic question would. It has been a question I reflect upon when I’m sitting in church services, or discussing religion with my friends. I believe it is important to constantly evaluate your beliefs, and ask yourself "why" questions. Over the course of these four months, I have felt myself grow deeper in my faith, and have become more comfortable asking myself questions that make me pause and reflect what I believe.
