Maggie Brindley

WRTC

Mrs. Fielding

9/13/17

Autoethnography - First Draft

Most people generally have an idea of what religion is, but would have difficulty if asked

to define it. The Oxford English Dictionary defines religion as a Belief in or acknowledgement

of some superhuman power or powers (esp. a god or gods) which is typically manifested in

obedience, reverence, and worship; such a belief as part of a system defining a code of living,

esp. as a means of achieving spiritual or material improvement (Oxford English Press). Again,

this is a definition I believe most people would agree with because it explains a persons

relationship to a higher power. Several years ago, I would have completely agreed with this

definition, but today religion means something much more to me. Through volunteering with the

Youth Ministry at my church and as an active member of Young Life, a young adult Christians

club, religion for me is largely defined by my relationship with God.

I was born and raised in a Catholic family. Catholics are, first and foremost, Christians

who believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Although Catholicism shares many common

beliefs with other Christian practices, it has unique beliefs of its own. As a Catholic, I attend

Mass on Sunday, go to Sunday school once a week, celebrate Catholic holy days, and

participate in important Catholic rituals such as Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation, and

Confirmation. Although I did not fully understand the significance of these events when

practicing in them at a younger age, I did have a sense of their importance.

 I have been a member of the Nativity Parish, which is a Roman Catholic Church in

Burke, Virginia, for 10 years. Nativity is known for Operation Starfish, a ministry that started

in 1998 to serve the poor of Haiti. The ministrys focus is awareness of the poor and action on

their plight (Wright). I was always amazed when hearing of this missions progress at the

conclusion of each Sunday Mass, but because I did not contribute in any way to the missions

success or any other program sponsored by the church, I did not feel like a true member of the

Nativity community. I felt this way until I volunteered at Nativity for a week during the

summer. I volunteered at the Vacation Bible Study and a Middle School work camp. I worked

as an aid for a group of first graders in the morning and sixth through eighth graders in the

evening. I originally volunteered for the service hours I could gain from it, but after the first day,

I was so glad I was doing it. As the first graders group leader, I spent the day with them. I took

them to different activities and got to know and love all of them. Later in the afternoon, I was

the mentor for middle school students as they participated in a work camp. I admired all of them

because the excitement they all had to help others. As a group leader, I got to work with the

leaders of Nativitys Youth Ministry, who guided me through the week. They helped me

understand the importance of a community whose purpose was to serve others and God. This

experience grew my connection to the Nativity community and shaped my understanding of

religion.

The Fall after I volunteered at the Nativity summer camp, I went to my first Young Life

Fall Weekend event. Young Life is a non-denominational, Christian organization with the

mission of introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping [them] grow in their faith

(Young Life Organization). I agreed to go to Camp Rockbride because I thought it would be a

fun weekend with my friends. After my first night at Rockbridge, my reason for being there
changed. The weekends speaker talked about God in a way that I had never heard before. I

connected with the speakers message as she explained how someone can have a positive

relationship with God and what this looks like. She also described the positive changes that

occurred in her life when she began her relationship with Christ. That weekend, I realized that I

wanted a stronger relationship with Christ. I realized that the only way I would be fully fulfilled

was through the type of relationship with God she was describing. After that event, I began to

surround myself with people who had the same desire for the same kind of relationship with

Christ. I started attending Campaingers, which is a bible study created through Young Life

with other members from my highschool. Through this I began to read the bible and explore my

religion with them, becoming best friends with people that had similar goals to me.

These two experiences gave me insight into the kind of life I wanted to live, where I had

a stronger relationship with God through the Nativity and Young Life communities. I found

comfort in being part of communities that would help me improve my faith, both as a Catholic

and a Christian. Although my understanding of religion has matured, I find that I am still

learning how to be a better Catholic and a better Christian. As I begin my first year of college, I

am excited to find a community that will help me continue to grow, and I am thankful for my

previous experiences for creating that excitement.

 The selfie above was taken here at JMU on my bed in my dorm room. In the selfie I am

holding my Bible and have my journal at the end of my bed. Reading the Bible and attending

Bible Study with CRU, which is a Christian club on campus. This is one example of how I am

continuing to explore my faith.

 Citations

Cunningham, Lawrence, and Francis Christopher Oakley. Explore Encyclopedia

Britannica. Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., 19 July 2017,

www.britannica.com/.

"Religion, n." OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2017,

www.oed.com/viewdictionaryentry/Entry/161944. Accessed 17 September 2017.

Wright, Wanda. Operation Starfish Gives a Life-Transforming Gift to Food For The

Poor. Church of the Nativity, Wordpress, June 2017, www.nativityburke.org/nativityparish/.

Young Life Creators. Mission and Values of Young Life, 2004-20017,

www.younglife.org/About/Pages/MissionandValues.aspx. Accessed 17 September 2017.