I do not think that you should be disappointed with coming to a new conclusion. It could always make you happier. Imagine that you were communicating through speech but found out that you could convey your exact feelings through telepathy, if you chose. Or what if you were satisfied with eating your favourite food but there was another food that you would like more if you tried it.
It's as though apples were your favourite food (Christianity, your religion) but you would like oranges (Deism) more if you tried them. Keeping your faith far from the class is like actively choosing to avoid oranges. If you try the orange and you don't like it, you can keep eating apples. Or, better still, you could combine the two!!
It could very well be worth giving up your favourite food for something you enjoy even more. You do not, of course, need to change your beliefs of course but it could be very beneficial to do more than say 'oh that's nice for other people, but not for me; I was raised into Christian Orthodoxy."
If someone chooses to change their religion because of this class, that is fine; if they choose to keep their religion, that is equally fine. It is neither my intention nor Matt's to convert anyone to any spiritual belief system.
ReplyDeleteWhat's important to us is that students learn how see the world from the lens of a different religion, and that they gain respect for the people who adhere to these religions.
I agree with all of that. Was my view on this unclearly? I think that people have a right to choose whatever religion they want. Whether or not they change is their business; I just wanted to express the possible advantages of getting seriously involved and open minded about other religions. I have been hearing talk of "listen to the history and beliefs of these religions but never consider changing my religion." I, personally, view that decision unfavorably.
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