Religious Interview Jessica Cheung
HRT3M1-02 Monday, February 19, 2007
Religious Interview: Examining the Religious Experience
I have chosen my interviewee because I have gained knowledge as a student in the past at Markville Secondary School – not just by teachings of a course but also teachings of being open-minded and conscious of my surroundings and the world’s surroundings. I found my interviewee to be of miraculous spirit and to have an overwhelming sense of calmness and awareness that was most intimidating and inspiring. I will not disclose who it is that I have interviewed because I respect the right of privacy. (The starred questions are of my own)
What do you think is the most fundamental aspect(s) of your religion? Why?
Nothing believed that isn’t experienced, because I don’t like lies from people or Holy books, particularly promises made that aren’t kept.
What do you want others to know about your religion?
Nothing, because religion is a personal thing.
What do you think is the most unique aspect of your religion?
It’s a blend based on personal experience and that it doesn’t judge or condemn others.
What makes you a strong believer in your faith?
By having seen the results and witness the presence of the creator in my life.
What are some of your religious traditions and rituals?
Daily mediation practice, the observation of the eight spiritual times in the Wiccan calendar, and chanting.
Which do you favour most?
Chanting.
How does observing or performing these rituals affect your daily life?
It helps put daily life within a larger spiritual context.
What are some of the symbols of your religion, and what do they symbolize?
The solar cross – a cross within a circle that has all equal side lengths – which represents balance, the pentagram – a star that starts from the top (the spirit), then travels to the bottom left (journey down to earth), then travels up to the right (the rise in spiritual knowledge), then to the left side (the knowledge grows and matures), then to the bottom right (the passing of age/old age), then dies and goes back to where they came from (the top of the star), and the Japanese character, which, to me, symbolizes interdependence. I think that the symbol reminds that we should be able to lean on each other, and that life requires courage to rely on others, but not all of the time. I do this [relying on others] as little as possible.
Does your religion provide a guide for your future path? If so, how?
Yes; in Wicca, there’s a clear explanation of reincarnation, that is similar to Hindu and Buddhism, but there is no heaven or hell. They all – Wicca, Hinduism, Buddhism – equal the same in that they talk about karma. Karma is not only what you do that affects the quality of life here and now, but also when you are reincarnated into the next life. If you destroy the environment in this life, you will pay for it manyfold in the next.
Does your community of faith always stand behind you in a time of need?
I practice my faith alone; although the Zen community and the Wiccan community are very supportive, as well as Hindu.
How does your faith handle societal issues such as premarital sex, intermarriage, teen pregnancy and divorce?
The Wiccan philosophy, which is eight words, “and thou harm none do what thou wilt”. Also in Buddhism, it’s the same in terms of karma that there’s a belief of interconnection of life with you. You are everything, and everything is you, therefore, when you harm something, you are harming yourself. Both Wicca and Buddhism believe that you should take greater before and think the consequence thoroughly and carefully before you take action. Once you take action, you take responsibility.
What do you believe about deity/deities?
I believe that the human finite mind can no more conceive of what God is no more than what a mouse conceives of what a human is. That to think you believe a lot about God only proves to be arrogant. The thoughts about deities are limited. I think that deity is benevolent in that it serves a positive purpose, and that we are loved by deity and that madness and terror is the purpose of passing into the next world.
Describe your feelings about your relationship with deity/deities.
It’s a constant ongoing daily attempt to be mindful of deity, to be imminent that God is as present in Iraq as he/she is in church, and is within us to our subatomic particles. The more we remember this, the better it is, but we forget because of the millions of distractions called life.
Do you have any type of scripture or literature that you read and follow?
No.
Do you pray? If so, how do you pray?
Yes, I pray. Chants are prayers (talking to God). I speak directly to God/Goddess multiple times throughout every day. I believe that prayers are not for asking for things, but more of thanking for things, to request for teaching and not to pray for money, to win or to be better than someone else.
How does your religion react or provide understanding for violence in society (past and present)?
Wicca and Buddhism (mostly Wicca) believe that violence occurs due to ignorance to one’s nature and identity. There would be no violence if one would observe one’s surroundings and understand it.
**How do you feel about other religions other than the one you choose to follow?
Sad, because they seem to judge other religions; this is to be arrogant.
**What do you think are the misconceptions that people often mistake your religion to be apart of?
That witches believe in a devil, when the devil was created as concept by Christianity. That Buddhists are pacifists, when Buddhism is the opposite of pacifists; it’s about taking action rather than just talking about things.
**How old were you when you decided that this religion suited you? Were there any influences or was it independent discovery?
Where I have arrived of my combinations of religions took a lifelong evolution. My first talks with God was when I probably 3 years old. My influence was my observance of life through nature, through watching people’s actions.
Religious Interview Analysis
According to what the interviewee had to say about their religion, the problem for humans is the amount of bias and untruthful misconceptions that they feel towards numerous things such as a certain religion. Humans – those who take part in being receptive to what is popular and adhering unwisely to solely popular ideas – will be unable to acknowledge their own opinion of what a situation’s outcome should be, and if it is right or wrong. This close-minded confinement of ignorance can be led to different degrees of negative concepts and actions such as war and riots, or even verbal forms such as offensive criticism to someone’s culture, thoughts, race, etc. It cannot be said for the entire race of humans, but ignorance and its resulting actions – the problem of humans – is created by individuals who have a shallow mind with no intention of being different. The superficial, unknowledgeable minds build on false interpretations and assumptions that create unreasonable problems, which were initially started by the conveying of a powerful group or a powerful individual.
The ideal objectives for individuals, according to my interviewee’s religion, are to live a life that maintains both an inner and an outer peace, to acknowledge individual opinions without being critical of them, to be able to rely on others while not using them in a wrongful manner, and to always keep in mind that something said or done harmfully to others will come back to you just as harsh or even harsher. Achieving these ideal objectives for individuals require an understanding of what the benefits of peace is by having an open mind, knowing what is wrong and what is right, and observing the calmness of nature and an understanding of the human condition.
I personally was very timid in asking about my interviewee’s religion, because I have never had any personal conversations with my interviewee. What I liked about the interview was that it was very genuine; the answers were said and then elaborated on in an eloquent, self-assured manner, which gave an inspiring overall feeling to the interview. From what I gather, my interviewee’s religious experience is quite successful, because it was a lifelong search for what best suited my interviewee’s opinions and at this point in time my interviewee is quite knowledgeable and confident in the choices made throughout the current span of life. The combination of Wiccan, Buddhist and Hindu elements really complemented my interviewee’s character.
I agree on several beliefs on life that my interviewee had said such as karma, the Wiccan philosophy (“and thou harm none do what thou wilt”), and that in life, if you are ignorant to your own identity and nature, violence in some manner will occur. I do not believe entirely in any religion, so I cannot say that I agree with the statements my interviewee has said about deities and the results of life due to believing in deities. However, I do greatly respect the beliefs of my interviewee.