America and the Crisis of Religion: #1 in the Series

Today I’ve decided to begin a series called “America and the Crisis of Religion” which will be an ongoing discussion of the threat many religious groups pose to the United States and the world. This first entry, however, is dedicated to providing a background on my own religious experiences. This will give a better view on my personal stances and will provide a solid foundation for future entries.

I was raised a Methodist, but my family was never very devout; when I was growing up, we were the ones who went to church twice a year…it was a chore to us. Eventually we just stopped going altogether. I’m not even sure if my parents believe in God, but I suppose it’s just what families are expected to do. Beyond our infrequent pilgrimages to the local megachurch, I never really thought too deeply about God, his purpose, the meaning of life, etc. In fact, until I was around 14, I didn’t even know that other religions even existed—much less even questioned the validity of my own. When I entered high school, however, my spiritual life changed drastically.

I became increasingly involved with an organization known as “Student Venture”—an Evangelical youth group devoted to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Essentially, the organization seeks to introduce young people to the word of God, and send them out to convert the world. Their official mission is:

… to give every teenager the opportunity to hear the truth and love of Jesus Christ, to grow in their faith relationship with Him, and to reach others with the message of Christ. We call it Win – Build – Send.

Weekly Bible Study meetings became a regular part of my schedule; I went on the enticing Christian ski trip—aptly titled “Fast Break!”—and even to the Myrtle Beach conference in the summer. I considered myself a messenger for Christ, though I never felt comfortable propagating on the beach and in local communities (door-to-door), and I never relented in my faith in science and reason (i.e., I constantly debated in favor of the theory of Evolution). I made great friends and I felt really good about myself—I was high on the Holy Spirit!

But something happened during my senior year, and I don’t really know what it was. I think that in that last year, I really challenged myself intellectually—my faith, my political views, and my general outlook on life made a complete u-turn. I suppose it wasn’t one specific event, but it was the influence of my teachers and my closest friends. I went from being one of the most adamant supporters of the War in Iraq, to an outspoken critic of it. I went from Conservative to Liberal, and from Evangelical to Agnostic. I realized that faith is just another way of saying “belief in that which has absolutely no evidence.”

More later.