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This 42.86% Catholic
Earlier in the year, Georgetown’s campus ministry sent out an email inviting its Catholic students to take a survey called the “Catholic Faith Inventory,” a creation of Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association. (PNCEA) The email included a link to the online test, and a few weeks ago, I took it. The inventory included questions such as:
Have you ever prayed to the Holy Spirit, asking for guidance in making a decision?
My Response: Yes. Survey Says: Correct!
And:
Do you believe that the Church of Jesus Christ lives on in the Catholic Church?
My Response: Unsure. Survey Says: BAD LIZ.
In total, I answered the test’s 122 questions in the areas of Scripture, prayer, spiritual awareness, conscience and morality, social justice, basic Christian doctrine, Catholic identity, Catholic Sacrament and Community Participation. In Conscience and Morality, I was “in agreement with the preferred Catholic answer” in 14/17 questions. In the 3 dissenting questions, I answered “Unsure.” That makes me 82.36% moral!
But in other important areas, such as “Catholic Identity” I answered only 6/14 “in agreement with the preferred Catholic answer,” 5/14 “not in agreement, and 3/14 unsure. That makes me 42.86% Catholic. Some days, that seems like a lot.
After I submitted my survey online, a minister from Georgetown, Sr. Patricia Parachini, SNJM, sent me an email, asking if I would like to come in and discuss my results. Boy, would I ever!
So yesterday I met with Sr. Pat. After four years of studying theology, an experience that I describe as “spiritual centrifuge,” I have many more questions than answers. An emotional hour and a half later, I emerged rejuvenated, and determined. Sr. Pat didn’t give me answers to my burning religious questions, but she did something even more important. Catholic woman to 42% Catholic woman, Sister treated me with a reverence that I do not often receive. Already sitting in my email inbox is a list, from her, of spiritual-intellectual avenues to pursue. She fielded my feminist theological energy, and gave it back to me twofold. Today, I am lighter because of the burden she shared, but invigorated by her support. Thank you Sr. Pat.
Later last night, I called the boyfriend and, feeling particularly evangelical, gave him, in his words, the “Liz Tenety inquisition.” He just loves when I find myself, filled with the Holy Spirit and several cups of Hazelnut coffee, eager to debate religion. By night’s end, I had sent him several emails, a dozen links, and practically signed him up for a silent retreat. But, he insists that if I send him out into the spiritual wilderness, he’s signing me up for the National Outdoor Leadership School.
Is that a threat?
By
Elizabeth Tenety
|
May 1, 2007; 1:13 PM ET
| Category:
Campus Catholic
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Posted by: qbilj bovfd | July 10, 2007 5:41 PM
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Posted by: qbilj bovfd | July 10, 2007 5:40 PM
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I hate to tell you this, Canyon Shearer, but "Biblical Christians" are not the only ones giving offense - although I am sure you were taught that.
Muslims certainly think that their religion is the one true religion. They think it's their destiny to conquer the world, after all.
Hinduism thinks their religion is the best one as well.
Judaism thinks it, and so does virtually every other religion.
That's what a religion is. It claims to have discovered fundamental truths about the universe. What good is a religion that says "Well, we don't quite know the answers, but we will look around and see what everyone else thinks, synthesize it, and come up with some muddle consisting of what everyone thinks" Do scientists take a poll as to what the right answers are? Or do they search after the true answer, regardless of what others may think.
Are you upset when Quantum Physicists say Quantum theory is the explanation of the universe rather than Newtonian theories? Of course not. Quantum Physics makes its truth claims, and then argues about it.
The same holds true for religion. No one knows what the truth is. So different religions contend as the source of truth for religious and moral questions. They will continue arguing about it until the end of time
Posted by: dodd | May 11, 2007 10:00 PM
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Haha, I took a quiz like this one once. Except this quiz was about all religions and about which one suits you best. According to that, I should be a Baha'i.
But don't worry, Muslim was next on the list.
Posted by: Hafsa | May 2, 2007 7:29 PM
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Dear Elizabeth,
First I'd like to say this was an extremely entertaining and well written article.
Second of all, I'm contantly amazed that certain religions are content to go with burning religious questions unanswered.
I know it is extremely offensive to the worlds religions to say that Biblical Christianity has ALL of the answers, but that's one of the questions on whether a religion is true, because true theology should agree with it.
If you've got unanswered questions, might I suggest searching for the answers in a different location?
Posted by: Canyon Shearer | May 2, 2007 3:10 AM
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