The depth of thought and effort you’ve invested shines through. Reading it felt like accompanying you on a profound journey, delving into the intricate layers of identity, language, and spirituality.
Great choice of images. They suit the tone of the essay so well!
Kudos for putting so much effort into bringing this to life.
This was beautiful, Aaliyah. You manage to make prose feel like poetry. Seems like we've had some similar experiences with religion. I, too, lost it in college and had to bring it back paradoxically, as you said, which was so well put.
"As my social world expanded, religion quickly lost its ability to integrate the diversity of human experience I was now encountering. I couldn’t reconcile the religious teachings that had me judging other people’s beliefs as punishable wrong when so many of them seemed so earnest and rigorously curious."
This was my issue. In a multicultural society, religion becomes the most challenging thing to hang on to because its tenets usually can't hold in the face of true diversity. I'm unsure what else can be done other than taking what makes sense and leaving the rest.
I love this piece so much. Thank you for writing it Aaliah, and so happy to have reconnected 🩷
Thanks so much, Vidhika! Your encouragement means a lot. 🩷
...unbelievable essay...dah dah dah...
Thank you! I really appreciate the support and challenge you offered me on the rough draft :)
…your incredible lived in memoir is so so so many parts…i love the final outcome…
I really appreciate the encouragement 🥹
The depth of thought and effort you’ve invested shines through. Reading it felt like accompanying you on a profound journey, delving into the intricate layers of identity, language, and spirituality.
Great choice of images. They suit the tone of the essay so well!
Kudos for putting so much effort into bringing this to life.
Thanks so much, Tahsin! This means a lot coming from someone with a deep appreciation for craft.
This was beautiful, Aaliyah. You manage to make prose feel like poetry. Seems like we've had some similar experiences with religion. I, too, lost it in college and had to bring it back paradoxically, as you said, which was so well put.
"As my social world expanded, religion quickly lost its ability to integrate the diversity of human experience I was now encountering. I couldn’t reconcile the religious teachings that had me judging other people’s beliefs as punishable wrong when so many of them seemed so earnest and rigorously curious."
This was my issue. In a multicultural society, religion becomes the most challenging thing to hang on to because its tenets usually can't hold in the face of true diversity. I'm unsure what else can be done other than taking what makes sense and leaving the rest.
I'm looking forward to reading more from you!