Over the last year, since I began attending services at UUCP, I have expressed surprise to myself and others about joining a religious community. But how surprising is it, really? Let’s review the evidence.
About fifteen years passed between the last time I attended church and my first service at UUCP. During that time, one of the most significant changes in my life was becoming a vegetarian. I have followed a vegetarian diet since November 2011, motivated by several reasons. I was aware of my deep, lifelong love of animals (ask anyone who knows me how obsessed I am with my dog). In college, I took an ethics course focused on the ethics of eating; this gave me the opportunity, philosophical framework, and analytical tools to dive into a topic that already interested me. Over time, I have come to recognize how my choices are intertwined with larger issues: animal welfare, climate change, and environmental justice. Being a vegetarian is not just a series of choices about what to eat for dinner; it’s a commitment, and it’s important to my understanding of myself. That understanding is rooted in love, justice, and the interdependence of all living things.
When I was in graduate school, I decided to write my doctoral dissertation on the topic of devils in eighteenth-century British literature. Thus, I spent several years of my life reading, researching, and writing about literary and religious history. The eighteenth century is often called the Age of Enlightenment—the period of rationality, empiricism, and significant shifts in social and political thought. This is also when the literary marketplace exploded in England. I was interested in how writers used the medium of fiction to negotiate theological and philosophical questions. For someone who would have denied having a personal interest in religion, I found that I was highly invested in how religious concepts evolve over time, adapting to social and historical contexts and individuals’ own interests. (Also, devils are fun to read about!)
These are just two examples, but I think the evidence is clear. As my partner (now husband) and I have joined UUCP as members, I have found a place that shares my values, challenges me to reflect on and deepen them, and allows me to engage with other like-minded people. As it turns out, it’s not so surprising that I’ve joined this community after all.
~ Daniel Froid
Editor’s Note:
Our regularly scheduled column, Notes From Your Dance Partner, will be on pause during Reverend Christine’s sabbatical. In its place, we’re excited to have a series of guest speakers who will be sharing their experiences at UUCP. NFYDP will return in August.