My Interfaith Journey

I was raised and baptized as an ECLA Lutheran. I have always been attracted to the pragmatic and historical aspects of my faith and admired the commitment and intelligence of Martin Luther. Luther’s questioning of the Catholic faith and translation of the Bible into German led to a worldwide revolution in Christianity and the birth of a multitude of Protestant faiths. In this spirit, before my confirmation I visited the temples, synagogues, prayer circles, and churches of my friends. I quickly discovered that many other religions were as special, unique, and important as my own. After ultimately returning to Lutheranism for my confirmation, I realized that there are many paths to goodness, piety, and faith, an understanding that I cherish to this day.

My exploration of many faiths taught me to respect anyone who lives an examined life. As I became more involved in secular academia during my undergraduate and graduate studies, I found it increasingly difficult to openly discuss my spirituality with friends, many of whom were atheistic or agnostic. Too many held the perception that Christians were merely ‘intolerant Bible thumpers’. I firmly believe that open and grounded conversations on faith would lead many to more accepting worldviews. To this end, I continually seek to strengthen my own faith through self-examination.

In 2009 I traveled to Iceland, and as I toured the land of my Nordic ancestors I experienced a personal spiritual revival. The Icelanders in 1000 CE found a way to peacefully reconcile the old Northern Gods with the singular God of Christianity without bloodshed, a phenomenon that resonated strongly with my own inclusive perspective. I have since channeled my inspiration into a fully researched book on Scandinavian traditions, runes, and culture, and continue to explore my ancestry to this day.