Have fun doing the survey

2. female

3. yes

4. Christianity. I am a youth worker on staff at a church.

2. Male

3. Not currently.

5a. Buddhism.

5b. Because I have always been interested in it. At first, I probably just like it because it was different, but then when I learned more about it in high school, and after reading Siddhartha, I became even more interested. I like the individual, peaceful, and non-judgemental nature of Buddhism. I have always believed that religion should be an individual endeavor that one participates in alone in the peace and quiet, where thoughts are not clouded. I also like that it’s not very traditional, at least in America, and there’s that element of mystique about it. I also tend to agree with a lot of what Buddhism teaches through the Four Noble Truths and such.

5c. I would like a spiritual community that I join to be more of a small group that has meetings and discussions. There would definitely be music involved as I believe music can be very spiritual. There might be elements of tradition and some reading of texts but it would be mostly discussion, just talking about issues and reflecting on events and maybe trying to guide one another. It would be both spiritual and intellectual. There would also be periods of meditation. “That which comes closest to expressing the inexpressible is silence.”

These were some very interesting questions that were actually fun to think about and answer. I enjoyed this time of self-reflecting. Thank you for the opportunity and good luck with your dissertation!!

5 a. Which brand of faith would you be more interested in learning about? I don’t feel this question applies to me, as I did not lose a faith, I just lost my religion.

c. If you were going to join a spiritual community, what would you like the gatherings to be like, i.e., a church service, a small group meeting that has discussion, spiritual practices, would there be singing or music involved? Could you describe what kind of gathering you would find interesting and how often you would want to meet? Please try to describe in detail all of the different elements you would like included in a gathering of people exploring faith and spirituality together.

I feel that my life at the moment is very close to my desire for any kind of spiritual fellowship. The only way it could get better was if it continued to look more and more like the interaction between Jesus and his disciples, as well as the interaction in the early Church, daily life together, openness between friends, love being shown to each other in real ways. This can happen in any setting, living room, public gathering place, grocery store, because it is based off of life and not a system of beliefs. Sharing your life with someone can be infinitely more difficult than meeting once a week, but also infinitely more rewarding.

2. What gender? female

3. Do you ascribe to any religion? no

4. If yes, which one? Please describe if you are an active participant in your religion and what that looks like for you.

5. If no, please answer the following:

a. If you were going to investigate spirituality which brand of faith would you be interested in learning more about?
I consider myself spiritual, but don’t ascribe to any certain religion. If I were going to learn more about any faith, it would probably be buddhism.

b. Why? Buddhism provides guidance on how to act and live, but does not condemn people who fail to follow these guidelines, the worst that can happen is that you are reborn and get another chance to get it right.

c. If you were going to join a spiritual community, what would you like the gatherings to be like, i.e., a church service, a small group meeting that has discussion, spiritual practices, would there be singing or music involved? Could you describe what kind of gathering you would find interesting and how often you would want to meet? Please try to describe in detail all of the different elements you would like included in a gathering of people exploring faith and spirituality

I find that I feel most in touch with my spirituality when I am alone, in a quiet place, and especially when looking at something of natural beauty. If I were to join a spiritual community, however, I don’t think these elements would be necessary. I suppose I would prefer a quiet space. Meeting once a week would be adequate for me. I think I would like a combination of a reading of a sacred text and a period of meditation and prayer, where people reflect on the meaning of the passage, what it means to them and how to apply any lessons or directions in their lives.

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2. What gender?

Male

3. Do you ascribe to any religion?

Catholic 50%/Tolstoyian 25%/Evangelical 25%

4. If yes, which one? Please describe if you are an active participant in your religion and what that looks like for you.

I attend a Jesuit college, I go to mass every once in awhile. I would go more often but I don’t know too many other people there. Even though I don’t go to mass often I spend a lot of time in the chapel praying. I also go to evangelical college service once a week. I work and volunteer in two different ministries one is academic and the other is with urban kids.

2. What gender? Female

3. Do you ascribe to any religion? Catholic/Buddhist influence

4. If yes, which one? Please describe if you are an active participant in your religion and what that looks like for you.

I believe in Jesus Christ but I believe in the inner peace, beauty, and wisdom Catholicism took from Buddhism.

5. If no, please answer the following:

a. If you were going to investigate spirituality which brand of faith would you be interested in learning more about?

b. Why?

c. If you were going to join a spiritual community, what would you like the gatherings to be like, i.e., a church service, a small group meeting that has discussion, spiritual practices, would there be singing or music involved? Could you describe what kind of gathering you would find interesting and how often you would want to meet? Please try to describe in detail all of the different elements you would like included in a gathering of people exploring faith and spirituality together.