From Membership to Relationship

My view of religion has certainly changed over time. As a young child, my view was formed primarily by family participation in a particular religious community. This led to a view of religion that was primarily based on membership in a group. 

As I continued to grow, my view of religion was primarily focused on the worship experience as well as religious rituals and practices. However, my understanding of worship was primarily focused on what I was doing (posture, participatory responses, and so forth) rather than what was really happening on a deeper spiritual level. 

During my high school and college years, I began to pay more attention to the ethical and moral teachings of my religion.

It was during my young adult years as a seminarian that I began to view religion primarily in terms of relationship with God and how that relationship carries over into relationship with neighbors.