Interviews?

[sigerson]

As a budding religion student, who's still trying to figure out her own faith...

I would like to start interviewing people about their views on religion, spirituality, and faith. I'll be tape-recording these interviews, and they'd probably last around an hour, hour-and-a-half, or till I run out of tape. I don't want to debate or have you 'prove' your beliefs; I want to know what you believe, perhaps why you believe it, what you think of others' beliefs, and what you find valuable or horrible in your own or others' ideas.

I want to speak with everyone. Old, young, devout, secular, pagan, Presbyterian, lapsed, everyone. I'm new to this, and I don't have a set use for these interviews. I just want to start collecting stories and viewpoints. I want to start getting a better picture of the ways we think about faith today, and I need more than the inside of my head.

If you are interested, and you either live in the Greater Boston area or one of my usual haunts (hallo, Berkshires), post a comment and I'll contact you about scheduling a time. You can also reach me at ooblet at gmail dot com, in case you don't want to comment. The interviews might take place at my home, or your place, or some neutral ground (without too much ambient noise).

I don't have a standard 'bribe' to offer as well--I'll buy you coffee, or come with cookies, or fix you dinner, for the honor of hearing your story.

Any takers?

ETA: Sending scheduling emails will have to wait till this evening, after work and my first summer-school class. So don't panic if I can't reply till then...

Comments

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Um. Me. Obviously. :-)

*hug*

From Balsamic Dragon

[(Anonymous)]

Sure! As a frame of reference, I am a Jew (converted) who was raised by atheists, educated in Christian schools and majored in philosophy ;)

[cycon.livejournal.com]

Sure.

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Can't find your email; I think it's in the dead laptop. Send a line to ooblet at gmail?

[ethicsgradient.livejournal.com]

I'm willing....though I may be afraid of causing offense

[cmprince.livejournal.com]

I'm a bit far away, but next time I'm visiting feel free to interrogate.

You might be interested in an NPR segment that's been running for about a month, titled "This I Believe." (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4538138) Instead of interviews, it's just people talking not so much about religion, but more about their beliefs and moral codes.

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Sounds cool. Drop me a line next time you're coming up here.
Things like this make me wish I could listen to NPR all day like I could in the costume shop!

[nadyezhda.livejournal.com]

wish I could help, but the distance could be problematic... Good luck!

[winterborne.livejournal.com]

If a little atheism would be interesting, then sure! Might also have something to offer on the challenges of helping to bring up a child when each of her primary caregivers has different beliefs.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

I'd actually love to natter with you sometime about the challenges of rearing a child when her primary caregivers have different beliefs. That's a subject of some fascination for me, and I'm interested in hearing about what it's like for you at this point...

[winterborne.livejournal.com]

You betcha!

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Absolutely interesting! I don't think I have an email for you (another victim of the dead laptop), so can you drop a line to ooblet at gmail?

[sylvantechie.livejournal.com]

Sounds like fun - count me in

[sanj.livejournal.com]

What's your timeframe on this? I'd love to get up there and talk to you....

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Ongoing. Months, probably. I don't really have a finished project in mind; I just want to start listening. You coming up this way anytime soonish, beautiful?

[cybersattva.livejournal.com]

You're welcome to bring your tape recorder when you come down to visit to practice on me as well. :)

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Yay! Spoo and chat!

[wavyarms.livejournal.com]

I'd love to when I'm back in town.

[shideem.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

[g-me.livejournal.com]

sure. but it'll have to wait until after my wedding and my birthday, respectively...which means if you can wait until the second half of july, I'm all for it!

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, this is a long term project--months, likely. Send me an email to ooblet at gmail? And may the next few weeks be calmer than you imagined, more beautiful than you dreamed, and just as exciting as you want.

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

You know you can count me in!

[minyan.livejournal.com]

Glad to, any time.
I hear I may run into you in a couple of weekends in the mountains...

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Great! I think the email I have for you is dead...I need your mailing address for a couple of books, and then we can talk when and how for the interview!

[traglar.livejournal.com]

I'm in, if you've still got a slot for an agnostic.

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Huh. All I have is the wso address, and I'm loath to trust those. I would love to interview you--and I do indeed have lots of interest in agnostics, atheists, people who've never really considered it, humanists...well, honestly, I'm interested in Everyone.

[2h2o.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in Everyone
I can offer only me, and you'd have to wait until I visit in August, but it would be interesting to do. Besides, I'm massively in favor of helping cool people do cool things.

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

I can wait. We'll set aside a few hours--because I want to spend the first half just catching up--and then turn on the recorder.

Mmmm....massively in favor...

[traglar.livejournal.com]

carinij at gmail

[ellinor.livejournal.com]

I'd love to, if this is a continuing project and can wait until the next visit time.
:)

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Yup--ongoing, continuing, as time goes by. Just beginning to a) learn how to interview and b) stuff my head with what others have experienced.

And you should get a package soon! :D

[bayleaf.livejournal.com]

I'd really like to participate, too, although I'm moving to DC at the end of the week. If you're still conducting interviews at, say, New Year's in the Berkshires, then count me in.

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Yes, this is a longterm project, so I'll see you when I see you next...good luck with the move!

[silvarwyrm.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to help, too, but I'm out of town at the moment. I don't imagine this all happen right away, though. Just let me know if you need me in July or after...

I have been thinking about this sort of think lately, actually. I'm in perhaps a weird position - essentially an atheist, but highly attached to the protestant church in which I grew up.

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Cool. Let me know when you might be free in the next month or so?

[shellaby.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I am interested too. Have room for one more?

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Absolutely, and we can combine it with some quality hanging-out time. Looks like I'll be doing this for months, so there's no rush...

[iresprite.livejournal.com]

Psst. We already discussed this, so you know my answer, but it's yes in case you forgot. :)

*hugs*

[haak0n.livejournal.com]

I'm in if you end up continuing this project long enough for my willingness to matter... Good luck!

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

With luck, I'll be continuing these for months. Depends on my stamina and what being schooled (poor choice of words) does for my schedule.

"Guess what? I'm going to get schooled this fall!"

[meranthi.livejournal.com]

Uh. Hi. I didn't know you were on LJ. And my world just shrank since you know people I know, but I didn't know you knew...

And, hey, doing an interview would be cool. It might help me figure out what my beliefs actually are. Email eeeeka at gmail, if you are interested.