Look to challenge beliefs
COMMENTARY
Jeff Dennis

Looking for answers when it comes to religion isn’t exactly easy. Some faiths have pretty extensive rules set up to guide actions and beliefs, yet still those rules tend to come up for debate on a regular basis.

The interesting thing about looking for answers regarding such a subject is that you’re more likely to uncover more questions than answers.

For many, college may be a time to quit going to church because you’re finally free of your parents rule. No one can actually make you get up on Sunday morning, which is one of the first freedoms you realize you have upon arrival at college. It turns out mom was violating your rights as an American citizen by making you go to church all those years.

Whether you attended religious services regularly as a child, or grew up with little religious influence, college is a time where you can essentially start with a clean slate and assess for yourself what you really believe.

Some students quickly find a group that has similar religious interests, and through that group they are able to strengthen beliefs that might have been unclear in the past.

There are also those of us who don’t know exactly where we fit into everything. I’ve tried various religious groups, and whether I decide to stay with them or not, it is a good learning experience to see what is out there. I’ve been to highly traditional and dignified religious services that made me feel like I was at a funeral, and I’ve been to services that could have easily been mistaken for a fraternity or sorority mixer.

For a person like myself, who openly professes to not have all the answers, attending a religious service can provide useful insight, regardless of whether you like the style of service or believe what they are saying. I’ll have to admit I often find my mind wandering during the service thinking about the upcoming week or the past week’s events.

Sometimes I feel a little guilty when the service ends and I can’t remember a single thing that was said. Then again, sometimes clearing your mind can be just as useful to your life as the message of the service. It’s amazing how relaxing it can be to sit quietly for an hour and reflect on what’s going on in your life. Residing in a house or residence hall room where the television is on during all waking hours probably isn’t going to provide that environment for you.

At times it is frustrating to look for answers that just don’t seem to be there. It is equally disconcerting to see others who think they have it all figured. Rest assured, though, they’re probably not as sure about their beliefs as they think, so don’t be discouraged. It’s better to have the right questions than the wrong answers.

Jeff Dennis is a senior sociology major from Gail.
He can be reached at (j.a.dennis@tcu.edu).