Comments on: Fear of life

By: Calah

Calah — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 03:52:57 +0000

Oh, Jen, this is beautiful. As usual, so insightful. But the last paragraph broke my heart. So many people I know claim to have faith in God, and yet the idea of an unplanned child, of no birth control, of taking in an aging relative instead of sending them to the nursing home, is horrifying. Literally horrific. It breaks my heart every time I see it. It’s such a lack of faith in God.

Also, hats off for a brilliant post in the post-partum period. You continue to astound. Best wishes to you, little Pamela, your husband and other children! I hope y’all are adjusting well.

By: Atheism. (Imagine that bloody Rocky Horror font here.) | Crystal Decadenz

Atheism. (Imagine that bloody Rocky Horror font here.) | Crystal Decadenz — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:41:40 +0000

[...] 2.) This describes exactly what I never even thought about until I read it: One of the most obvious differences I’ve seen since I’ve gone from running in mostly nonreligious to mostly religious social circles is how much more life you see among religious groups of people. When I think back on the almost thirty years I spent in secular social networks, I’m struck by how comparatively quiet and sterile everything seemed. In religious circles I see so much more marriage, more adoption, more biological children, more people letting friends or relatives live with them — more crazy, messy, loud life. [Conversion Diary] [...]

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By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:24:25 +0000

I think this is the most beautiful article I've ever read. Thank you for sharing it. I am loving your blog.

By: Baba Yaga

Baba Yaga — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:05:14 +0000

Having been allowed into a (Christian) life in a messy inextricable way, and found that the ultimate extrication was not only messy but corrosive to all concerned, I'd urge that people at least consider the "what if it goes wrong" before the commitment is made. I remain very grateful for the kindness and love, and have tried to learn from it… but /cautious/ kindness and love would have served all concerned much better.

There is, I think, a balance between fear and rashness.

By: Hicham

Hicham — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 03:55:06 +0000

Jennifer, I agree with your insightful post and the ending of it.

I respect everybody's choice to be whatever he/she want to believe in, however it seems that since religous people do believe in something so therefore they can cross that line bravely than others.

By: Ginkgo100

Ginkgo100 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:28:42 +0000

Jen,

That thought about "being fair" to non-Christians was more of a random ADD thought than anything else. =) It certainly was not meant as a criticism!

By: Lerin

Lerin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:26:53 +0000

What an amazing post.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:59:23 +0000

After wandering through secularism for most of my young adult life, I am only recently coming to a place of trust in God. Even though I was a regular church-goer as a youngster and teenager, I don't think the concept of trust in God's plan for MY life ever really sunk in with me. It's a shame, because I'm constantly wondering if I've missed out on some wonderful things that God may have had in store for me because I was so long in coming to this realization. However, God always welcomes the prodigal child with open arms, and I am trusting in His plans for my future.

As always, I love reading your thoughts!

Jen G

By: Jennifer @ Conversion Diary

Jennifer @ Conversion Diary — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:05:13 +0000

Ginkgo -

"I was thinking, to be fair, I also want to add that when we first moved to our current city, the people who helped us most—lending us a cooler and air mattresses that first night, inviting us over because they knew we might be feeling lonely, volunteering to babysit so we could have a date night—was a college friend and her husband. Their faith status? He's a thoroughly lapsed Catholic, and she's a practicing Hindu. He's pretty much secular, and she's not Christian."

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I would never suggest that nonbelievers aren't helpful and friendly. What I was referring to here was that there is a whole lot less getting involved in people's lives in messy, inextricable ways such as adoption, letting people live with you for the long term, etc. I was tired when I wrote the post so that might not have been clear.

Anon -

"The most devout Christians I know, born-again Evangelicals who are my in-laws by marriage, seem like the most fearful of contamination of anyone in my life."

I've seen this sort of thing as well. I have no idea what's going on with your in-laws (maybe they're just shy?), but one thing I will note is that the differences I've observed are among people who have a deep, sincere relationship with God. Unfortunately, that is not the case with everyone who labels themselves as religious.