Established in 1999, the Spirituality Book Club is “an on-line global community of kindred spirits who explore spirituality through books, music, discussion, and ways to get involved in doing good things globally.” Yesterday, I was featured on their Real People, Real Lives, Real Spirituality blog. A copy of my interview follows:
Name: Greg Smith
Where you live: Naples, FL
What you do as a vocation or avocation? Research, speak and write about education, especially relating to technology and faith. Currently, I work in the Distance Education Department of a private university, serve as the Director of Adult Education in a progressive Protestant church, and write a daily blog about matters of faith that matter.
Your two favorite books: The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others (2004) by Scot McKnight and To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, & Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World by James Davison Hunter (2010)
Your two favorite songs: Somos Uno en Cristo (We’re United in Jesus) and Third Day’s Offering
Why you are interested in spirituality? I understand spiritually as a means of experiencing what it means to be human. In the words of Dr. James Fowler, “ The human calling – which we take to be universal – is to undergo and participate in the widening inclusiveness of the circle of those who count as neighbor, from the narrowness of our familial beginnings toward real solidarity with a commonwealth of being. This calling means movement from the limiting love of those who love us and on whom we are dependent toward the limitless love that comes from genuine identification with the source and center of all being (Becoming Adult, Becoming Christian, rev. 1999, p. 60).
Your favorite quote: One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 28-31, NIV)
Your favorite web sites: to read: www.patheos.com/Religion-Portals.html and www.pewforum.org/ // to interact: Facebook and Twitter
Your hero? Jesus, the one who taught and lived the way of love
A spiritual lesson you hope to learn? contentment
A place in the world where you feel spiritually “connected?” online
My daily blog about matters of faith that matter: www.sowhatfaith.com
So What?
This interview led me to offer quick responses to a variety of questions about my faith in a manner I would otherwise have not engaged in, which proved a worthwhile undertaking. My thanks to the blog’s editor, Susan Baller-Shepard, for the invitation and encouragement. I invite you to engage in a similar exercise:
- Take a few minutes (don’t allow yourself more than fifteen) to answer each of the questions I was asked as they are the same asked of each interviewee to date
- Share your answers with others and invite them to complete the questions as well (and perhaps share their responses with you)
- Browse and read the responses given by some of the 130+ respondents on the Real People, Real Lives, Real Spirituality blog showcasing the diversity of perspective, occupation and spiritual experience.