Faith Shaped by Experience
- Maia Vashti
- Apr 4
- 1 min read
Even between those in the same religious community. While learning and sharing similar doctrines, Scripture, and base beliefs can draw people together, everyone is going to interpret things slightly differently.
People come to faith at different points in life, which shapes their maturity, understanding, and experiences of Christianity.
Some grew up deeply involved in church. Sunday school, youth events, even community concerts. I, however, wasn’t very active in church life as a child. My mother, a single parent, wasn't always feel welcomed by churches, so faith in our home looked different. We prayed, worshiped, and learned together, just not always within a larger church community.
Even so, my faith was strong. I sometimes longed for a church community, but I also knew God was with me whether I worshiped in a sanctuary or around the dinner table. Others I know feel the opposite, that faith must include regular church attendance and activity.
What I’ve realized is that many of us share similar experiences, struggles, doubts, spiritual battles, even miracles, yet we don’t often talk about them. Sharing our stories, whether within a congregation or just among family and friends, helps us grow in faith and encourages others along the way.
That’s why conversation matters.
To truly understand a faith, we need more than general guidelines, we need to listen to the lived experiences of those who practice it.
2nd Year Anthology Student at SNHU
Reference:
Brodd, J., Little, L., Nystrom, B., Platzner, R., Shek, R., & Stiles, E. (2021). Invitation to World Religions (4th ed., pp. 475, 492, 494). Oxford University Press Academic US.
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