Going into this project, I hoped to come to some sort of universal conclusion. Looking at the background of a person's faith and where they believe their faith is going, I hoped to find some sort of consensus. Yet, people are different. People respond to events differently.
I wanted to tell whether a hands-on approach created a positive or negative effect. Raised in a hands-off background but taught in a religiously hands-on classroom, I was curious which could be more influential. Albert and Nicolas, however, each benefited from their own backgrounds. Nicolas took advantage of his independence to help others and look for spiritual experiences, while Albert flourished in a close community through his church and parents. Furthermore, their communities encouraged opposite behaviors. I believe that they grew not because of their community but how they adapted to it. Despite their differences in background, both of these people seem to be at a similar place in their faith: they are curious and ready to explore. Ready to look beyond what they know, these people are students in a new environment. They are ready to treat their religion like college level classes; there are going to be new aspects that they've never even considered. And that is the most exciting part. |