From WORDS-L

[sylvar]

Since I'm not a regular participant in the lives of my words-l family, my questions about tithing surprised one friend, who said:

I must have missed something or assumed something, I thought you were Jewish.

Here follows my response.

Forgive a spiritual inventory:

My parents are a Christmas Catholic and a Hanukkah Jew, although their parents are/were more observant. I think my mother does the work of a saint (social work with high school students who are most at risk of dropping out, being kicked out, or getting themselves jailed or shot) and my dad is a non-denominational Good Person who, if he thinks about it, would probably conclude that there may or may not be a God, but either way we'd better help other people down here.

I went to Temple Israel (reform) occasionally, never had any coming-of-age ceremonies, and went to a Presbyterian high school youth group for boxball, snacks and the fun of arguing religion with a minister; I declared myself Christian in high school, and didn't stop seeking other true things. I don't value logical consistency per se in my religious beliefs: to paraphrase Bro. Walt, very well then, I contradict myself, God is large, God contains multitudes.

I know I feel at home among reform Jews, Unitarian-Universalists, Quakers, Presbyterians, and agnostics. There are probably other traditions that would seem right to me, too.

Comments

[fizzgig-bites.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it is truly scary how similar we are sometimes. Throw in some Buddhist and you've got me and my mom.

[sylvar.livejournal.com]

I'd have thrown it in except that I don't think I understand enough about Buddhism to claim that affiliation. What I've heard so far seems right, though. :)