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Wednesday, 26 September 2012
13 comments:
“I'm using my art to comment on what I see. You don't have to agree with it.” ~John Mellencamp
“Allowing an unimportant mistake to pass without comment is a wonderful social grace” ~Judith S. Marin
“I don't ever try to make a serious social comment.” ~Paul McCartney
“I'd make a comment at a meeting and nobody would even acknowledge me. Then some man would say the same thing and they'd all nod.” ~Charlotte Bunch
“Probably what my comment meant was that I don't care about the circumstances if I can tell the truth.” ~Sally Kirkland
“We're not going to pay attention to the silliness and the petty comments. And quite frankly, women have joined me in this effort, and so it's not about appearances. It's about effectiveness.” ~Katherine Harris
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I can't even imagine what kind of strength and bravery it must have taken for you to break this sort of news to the most important people in your life - your parents of course, but your friends and other loved ones as well. Great excerpt, though it's never that fun knowing that another's real life actual pain is what caused great writing. Still, I think this is an important story that, as you said up there, needs to be told.
ReplyDeleteThis must have been such a difficult book to write. The question you raise about intellectual freedom in religion is an interesting one. Organised religion attempts to make clear what is good and right but all too often ensnares its followers in meaningless ritual.
ReplyDeleteI think being religious and being spiritual are two different concepts. Being spiritual is internal while being religious is external, involving all the human rituals. I think where you worship is not as important as communing with God from within. I've never had to worry about my religious freedom because thank God I live in a country where it's not suppressed.
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to go through that journey of realization that you don't fit in with the religion of your parents. You are very brave for "coming out" to them, and although it brings back memories of my own experience, mine wasn't nearly as bad as yours. Telling my parents I couldn't be Catholic was hard, but it was harder on them to hear I wasn't even a Christian anymore. But they took it well- probably a lot better than yours from what I read of your excerpt. It's still hard for me to tell people I am not Christian, but it still feels more "right" than I ever felt growing up in the religion. It's books like this and people like you that encourage those of us struggling with a journey similar to yours. Thank you for writing it.
ReplyDeleteAdding this to my reading list.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping to spotlight this book very soon but now that I've read the exerpt, I'm seriously thinking about reading and reviewing it instead.
ReplyDeleteMany people do not realise that one can throw away a religion and retain spirituality. In the best of worlds there is spirituality in religion but it has not been the best of worlds for a very long time. Religion is in the main about fear; spirituality is about fulfillment. However, facing any fear takes courage and particularly fears sourced in eternal damnation and punishment.
ReplyDeleteOuch. I've been planning on reading this one. I need to get around to it.
ReplyDeleteVery well written, Sophia.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on religious freedom, beyond the freedom to worship who, what, when, where and how we choose:
There is no real faith that is not arrived at of one's own free will. Even as a Christian mother, I need to give my children the freedom to say, "I don't believe," as hard as that may be for me to hear. If unbelief is not an option, then how can faith be real?
Sounds like a wonderful book. When we step outside our comfort zone to expose our true feelings, it takes bravery. To stand up to our parents beliefs and say, I want to make my own decisions is a traumatic event if you've always been a 'good daughter or son' who doesn't question. I've always questioned everything. After all, those who spout such wisdom are only human.
ReplyDeleteBlack sheep who leave the fold are simply thinkers who don't like where they find themselves.
Brave of you to write it now, Sophia.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I don't follow a 'religion.' I'm a Christian who just follows the Bible.
That story was so touching. It would be a difficult situation for anyone to go through.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jessica, for having me on your blog!
ReplyDelete@Trisha, it certainly wasn't the most fun of experiences. But I also understand it was a shock for my parents. It wasn't something they expected.
@jabblog, agreed. Although, I still find comfort in ritual.
@Em-Musing, I like what you have to say about spirituality. Some of those most spiritual people I know don't even go to church.
@Abby, Don't quote me on this, but I think the US is the most Christian country in the world. I can totally see how telling other people that you're not a Christian would be hard.
@Delores, awesome!
@Creepy Query Girl, I would love that! You have a really great voice and your blog is always fun. Your reviews are top notch.
@Roslyn, It certainly isn't the best of worlds. I admit to being skeptical about if the best of worlds ever did exist, or if it ever will. Does that make me a pessimist?
@Matthew, would love to get your take on it.
@Rebecca, that is very insightful!
@D.G. Hudson, I think we need more black sheep. ;-)
@Alex, I think that's great.