In the comments of a post this past Monday by Gadianton, the question came up about religiosity among the Glibertariat.

For many people this is a complicated, and perhaps sensitive, topic. But when have we ever shied away from THAT here at Glibs?

However, there are some parameters, please. As you all know, there have been a great many atrocities committed in the name of religion across history, and that continues today. There have also been a great many benevolent acts committed in the name of religion, also continuing today. This is not a poll about which religion is better or worse. This is specifically asking about YOU and your life.

So here we go! As always, answer all questions, none, or bits and pieces, as you see fit.

1. Are you an adherent to any particular religion? If so, which?

2. Were you “born into” a family religious tradition? If so, have you remained in that tradition?

3. Have your views on faith and religion changed at different stages in your life?

I’ll start.

My mother was Roman Catholic, so my sibs and I were all christened. None of us were confirmed. None of us has stayed in that tradition, although at one point I worked for an RC religious order. Mom stayed a member and served on the parish council and was a regular reader for Mass.

My father was United Methodist, refusing to convert when he married my mother in 1958 (which almost scuttled the whole thing). His second wife is Lutheran, going back and forth between Missouri Synod and ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), based on who are the other members of the particular church. Dad has been active at various points in whatever Lutheran church to which my stepmom happened to belong, but has never become a member. He is “quietly religious,” but especially likes the “doing good” activities, such as rebuilding homes after Katrina and helping families locally (his non-academic-year profession was electrician), running food banks and cooking for fundraising events, helping kids directly and supporting kid-centric charities and organizations.

I am an ordained non-denominational minister. I certainly value the legal ability to perform various ministerial ceremonies, but that’s not the main reason I became ordained. People tend to tell me everything, and I mean everything. I have always assumed anything someone tells me is told in confidence, unless it was explicitly stated otherwise. Ordination confers some (varying by state statute) protection against being coerced into spilling that information to representatives of the government. I can legally say, “Fuck off, slavers” in many instances and get away with it.

Your turn!