In a recent Interfaith Fellows meeting, we explored an essay by Sherman Alexie titled Theology 101. The piece prompted me to think deeply about my own relationship with religion, reflecting on how my upbringing in a religious household shaped my sense of values and personal identity, even though I no longer identify with a specific religion. Alexie writes: “I don’t believe in God but I believe in many people who do believe in God.”
This line resonated with me, as it captures the complex feelings of moving away from formalized religion while still feeling its impact. Even though I no longer practice, I still feel deeply faithful, and a profound connection to the meaningful purpose and shared community that my upbringing emphasized. The values that were central to my religious upbringing continue to shape both how I relate to others and understand the world around me.
The essay by Alexie highlights this connection when he writes “Faith is symbiotic. No prayer is solitary even when we’re praying in solitude.” In that, I see how religion, through formal practice or not, effectively links individual reflection to collective meaning. Personally, I find deep meaning in the way humans are interconnected, the way in which our actions and intentions continue on in our communities. Even outside of formal religious practice, I am guided by the principle that our lives gain purpose through empathy and collective understanding.
Reflecting on this, I think that my religious upbringing gave me a basis on which to contemplate and develop my identity as I have grown. The doubts and questions that continually find me have become a space for reflection, shaping how I interpret everything around me. They remind me that faith, whether religious or not, can still exist in the way that we interact and engage with one another within our communities.