Slideshow image

During my second semester of seminary, we were required to attend a church service outside of our religious tradition. While many of my colleagues chose to visit a synagogue, I wanted to take the opportunity to step even further outside my comfort zone. With the guidance of my professor, the esteemed theologian Dr. Julia Speller—who had assigned us this task as part of our course—I chose to visit a spiritualist church.

Walking into the sanctuary, I was immediately struck by a large sunflower mural adorning the front wall, starkly contrasting the familiar red drapes of our congregation. A unique part of their service involved mediums offering to "read" the attendees. Though skeptical, I embraced the experience fully and agreed, along with Jacob, to participate. My reading consisted of general insights—easily dismissed by a skeptic—but Jacob's experience differed. The specificity of what was shared with him left him thinking twice.

To this day, I am grateful to Dr. Speller for encouraging us to step beyond our own traditions and experience the faith of others firsthand. This experience taught me the value of curiosity and open-mindedness in my spiritual journey. I share this story because we welcomed the Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation's confirmation class on the last Sunday of January. As part of their confirmation program, they visited different faith communities to witness and experience how others practice their beliefs. Interestingly, they even hold some of their own services in a Unitarian church, giving them another perspective on spirituality.

Why do I share this with you? The journey of faith is about what we believe and how we learn from and grow with others. Even as adults, we should remain curious—seeking to understand how our human siblings "do church" and exploring how their practices might enrich our spiritual lives. Instead of focusing on differences that divide us, we should aim to embrace the shared humanity that unites us. The Divine calls us to journey together, listen, learn, and grow in community.

Reflecting on this visit, I encourage you to approach future opportunities with an open heart and mind. Let us continue to embrace the beauty of diversity in faith and discover how it can deepen our journey with God.

First appeared in The Beacon - February 2025.