Bryan Stone, an Associate Dean of Boston University School of Theology, is leading a national research project called “Finding Faith Today.” His team is conducting basic research on how people come to faith as adults in the United States. The project has an interfaith component that will include people who have become adherents of all major faith traditions in the U.S. Members of PVCC who have made a new declaration of faith since January 1, 2011 are being asked to participate in this study, even if it happens to be a “return” to faith from an earlier commitment. According to our records that includes 18 adults over 18 years of age. Some of these members have moved and others are no longer active, but they will be included in the survey.
Each of us will find it valuable to think about how we would answer the questions Dean Stone is asking: “Is the faith you adopt a journey or a sudden conversion? Are friends and relatives most important in the process? Do clergy matter? What are the significant factors—books, movies, letters to the editor, television, other? What values, practices and lifestyle changes have you experienced because you are a member of a faith community?”
These questions could be the basis for a good discussion in the coming months. Let me know if you would like to have a Seekers Class in the month of June to discuss these and related questions.
Peace,
David