Laura, the author of our second entry on chapters 16 and 17, had this to say about her photo: "This is a picture of my parents, my brother, and me in
Enjoy Laura's take on these latest chapters.
The topic of chapter sixteen is a much discussed class topic. We have frequently conversed on several ideas and concepts throughout the course and how they are located on one spot of a spectrum. The chapter talks about the extremities of religious belief and practice. For example, Ranya would probably consider herself to be a liberal Muslim. She expressed her worry that other Muslims do not think she is Muslim enough. Priscilla felt that those who are not Jewish do not understand the severity of the injustices and discrimination that Jews have been dealing with for quite some time. Suzanne expresses enjoyment that other members of her church support The Faith Club’s interfaith message.
I think that no matter what religion or culture(s) you belong to, there can be those who think you are not enough. Not girly enough or Christian enough or whatever the case may be. I was not raised going to church on a regular basis, and I’ve had struggles with this same issue. I know now though that everyone has their own individual struggles and challenges with their faith and spirituality. No one is perfect and no one should be expected to be. It is always important to stand strong, stay true to your beliefs, and just be yourself.
The title of chapter seventeen is “Awakenings” and it was just that. What I took from the chapter is that while the three women in the book feel strongly and believe deeply in their individual faiths, they have a mutual understanding about showing consideration for one another. If and when they have disagreements, they maintain respect for each other. They ask questions instead of making assumptions. They find a way to focus on positive similarities instead of negative differences.
All three ladies express in chapter seventeen how essential it is for people to view as equal all religions of the world. Suzanne talked about how all three of the religions these women believe in should be viewed as pleasing to God. However, she finds it a challenge to view the churches as separate but equal. Although you may not practice other religions, you may find values or beliefs that you admire or agree with, and that is okay. Mold your religion and beliefs for yourself, your own individual morals.
I have been enjoying the book and its many messages. I did not disagree with anything in these chapters I was assigned. I think that the different opinions of all three women in the book are refreshing. It is important to strive for all types of cultural competence whether it is different races or religions or whatever. You must be willing to tolerate and respect other cultures and hopefully have interest in educating yourself. It is essential to pass this mentality onto children. This is just another way to teach children to respect each other’s differences. Support what makes individuals special and unique. As parents, educators, and teachers, it is our job to also be advocates of acceptance and tolerance of others. We should teach children to have peers in their lives that support and make them feel good about themselves.
While you've thoughtfully discussed a number of chapter topics, I especially like the way you described how the women are with each other when you talk about the "Awakenings" chapter. This is a fascinating part of their story for me...how they manage to hold strongly and confidently to their own faith systems, yet have ample room for and comfort with accepting each other's religious differences - with what really seems to be true acceptance and respect. We can all learn from this in so many ways, I think.
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