Friday Five (.org)

1. Were you raised in a particular religious faith? I was raised as a Baha’i My mother became a Baha’i when I was two and my father when I was 18. My mother is still a Baha’i, albeit and inactive one. My father resigned from the faith within the last year. I do not consider myself a Baha’i any longer.

2. Do you still practice that faith? Why or why not? No. I turned away from the faith in college. My two main issues are the faith’s stance on homosexuality and drugs. Being a Baha’i growing up was hard, but also great at the same time. I was more cultured that my peers, but I also spent a great deal of time defending my religion. I remember being about 10 or so and being behind the booth at some fair. I was manning the booth while my mother was singing out front. A man came up to the booth and started asking questions; I fielded them the best I could. I didn’t do very well. He was asking questions to find faults in my answers. He asked me my name; and I didn’t want to tell him, because I knew that he would comment on how biblical my name is. He said “with such a nice biblical name its a shame that you are going to go to hell for not believing that Jesus is God.” I was 10. I often felt like an outsider because of my faith. I had some great experiences with the faith. Many youth conferences, and retreats. I went to Baha’i school every Sunday morning until I was 15 (the Baha’i age of maturity.) I have fond memories, but as I have become an adult I have found that it’s not for me.

3. What do you think happens after death? I don’t know. I am still struggling with the question of “is there a god.” But I don’t think death is the end.

4. What is your favorite religious ritual (participating in or just observing)? I really like Ayyam-i-Ha (day with no dates.) There are 19 months with 19 days in the Baha’i calendar. Which mean there are 4 days left over each year. Those days are filled with presents and parties. I used to say it’s like the Baha’i Christmas but it isn’t cause it is a holiday not a Holy Day. I do think that a Christmas Mass is kinda cool. I’ve been a couple of time with my husband and his family.

5. Do you believe people are basically good? Yes. Not only that they ARE good, but that they want to be good as well