MB Meets World

My sister jokingly referred to my trip as my “eat, pray, love” trip. I figured it was more about eating, art and culture. I found myself surprised and moved by how much I cared about religion on the trip, though. It is hard for me to capture all my thoughts, so this might ramble a bit.

Some personal history. I used to be very religious. Born into a devout Irish-Scottish Catholic immigrant family (grandparents were immigrants), the church and its teachings were very important to me. I even considered being a nun.

I love the ethical and moral grounding I received through my religious upbringing. I love ritual. I love community, the sense that we help others in every way we can, and there are people on whom we can rely.

On the other hand, I don’t love patriarchy. I don’t love the sense that we do good works because we receive a benefit, whether heaven or good karma. I don’t love the ways religion segregates people and pits them against each other, whether at the time of the crusades or now. And I don’t love when money or offerings contribute to the wealth of the church rather than lifting up people in need.

As a citizen of the USA, I also believe in separation of church and state in the US. (I don’t feel like I get to opine for other countries.). I don’t think we maintain the separation in the US, with the overturning of access to abortion being a critical example (Christian lobbyists contributed significantly to overturning Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision, July 2022).

With this lens, I left the Catholic church after Dobbs was decided. Quietly, without really telling anyone, because I was already not practicing. It feels different, though, to be a former Catholic rather than a lazy Catholic. I experienced both grief and relief; it was a long time coming; Dobbs was just the last straw. I still believe in God, but really not the tenets of Christianity. I now identify as “spiritual, but not religious.” It is the perfect place for me.

Embarking on my trip as a spiritual, but not religious person felt normal. This was part of my evolution that developed so gradually and the transition felt very easy. It provided a great backdrop for me to learn more about other faith traditions.

I loved visiting mosques, Hindu temples, a Sikh temple and Buddhist temples. I loved learning more about these faiths, although I know it is just a fraction of the depth and history of each faith. I want to learn more, both about the religions, but also the impact on the history, culture and people in each country. More to study, for sure.

This is an excerpt from a note I sent a friend during my visit. “I was visiting a bunch of Buddhist temples in the last few days. They are breath taking. At the same time, a cousin has been posting pictures of cathedrals in Italy where he is traveling. I am so humbled… Seeing the ways humans create beauty to praise and thank their deity moves me.”