Purpose: To reflect on what you hold important and shapes your values in life. To develop your skills in communication on matters related to...
Purpose: To reflect on what you hold important and shapes your values in life. To develop your skills in communication on matters related to interfaith and secular identity.
Due Date: October 12
1. In Sacred Ground Eboo Patel calls America his ‘sacred ground’ and often refers to various writers, thinkers, and leaders that inspire him. Similarly, in Faitheist Chris Steadman recalls a classroom assignment that challenged him to think about his canon, or collection of writings and influences that were sacred to him. Consider the following questions as you think about what your ‘sacred ground’ is and what your ‘canon’ might include:
Have you inherited any religious or secular identities from your family?
Are there multiple religious or secular influences in your family that have influenced your own identity?
Is your religious or secular identity formed in reaction in agreement, adaption, or rejection of the influences of your family?
What moments in life stand out as important to your understanding of who you are?
What stories inspire you? Why do they inspire you? These might be sacred scriptures, popular books, inspirational literature, movies that moved you, TV series that captured your imagination, etc.
What people inspire you? Why do they inspire you? They might be famous people, everyday people, people from the past, people who are still alive, people you know, people you don’t know, etc.
If you could have lunch with any three people, past or present, who would you invite? Why? (Note: this question is a bit different than the one before it, these folks may not inspire you but just be interesting people you’d want to ask questions and talk with.)
What ideals and values do you hold most important in your life? Why are they important?
Is there a ‘rule’ you try to follow in your life everyday? Sayings like “Practice acts of random kindness” or “Pay it forward” or “Do to others what I would want them to do to me” often reveal a person’s values.
2. Once you’ve thought through these things, type up to any pages of essay that communicates your religious and/or secular identity today. What are you? What makes you who you are? What is your sacred ground and what is your canon?
