Entry 10: Church, anyone?

What experiences have you had in witnessing (in person or in the media) religious services or places where religion is practiced like churches, temples, or synagogues? Describe the place and the ceremony (if any) in as much detail as you can, using all of your senses. What aspects do you notice the most? How would you compare your experiences with what you perceive to be those of the Puritans (for example, those listening to John Edwards's sermon)? What parallel structures do you notice among different religions? How do you feel when you witness or experience religious ceremonies or events? If you go to such services regularly, describe what it means in your life and how it makes you feel.

•  I have many friends who are religious. Most of them are either Christians or Buddhists/Daoists. So, I sometimes see my friends go to religious services (especially the Christians), though I have never went with them. Around school campus, there are also many churches, since we are a major educational area with Chia-Tong University and Ching-Hua University. Even though I have never been to the services myself, I have seen them on television, especially in movies. Most of them are plain yet elaborate (yes, contradictory, but in a sense very true). For example, the benches are quite plain, but the glasses and the podium are quite elaborate, as well as the clothes of the minister/pope/etc. Most of the time the service sang songs. Compared to John Edward's sermon, it is quite different. First, singing is very different from angry, powerful, emotional sermons. However, both religions have the same sense of plainness. When I witness religious ceremonies, I respect the ceremonies, even if most of the time I do not understand what the religious is about. I also try my best to understand them, even though the religion is different from my own. I go to "services" (actually praying to Buddhas and my ancestors, etc) quite regularly, on important holidays and anniversaries. To me, it means a part of my life and a part of my family tradition.