How to Share Your Faith Without Imposing on Others
Sharing is important, but respecting boundaries is key
I. The Need to Share
I often feel the urge to stop writing about my faith because it is usually met with opposition, but it’s important for me to share my faith. My beliefs and values are an important part of who I am now. Without it, I don’t know who I am.
I do not belong to a church or any other spiritual group so writing about my faith is a way for me to connect with others who share my beliefs. It’s also a way for me to build relationships with like-minded passionate individuals and find community.
I find community among children. I do not feel odd among them and I learn many new things from them. I learn how to share my faith mindfully and how to share to empower and not offend or hurt. I learn to share with love as a constant — the thing that does not change.
It’s all so much — the things going on in the world but love is the greatest of them all. Whenever you feel loved, you are okay and when you can love, you are fulfilled.
From these little children, I learn to share my faith from a place of love, curiosity, and an audacious faith that teaches, educates, and guides the one who is willing and open-minded to learn.
Children are the most open-minded of all and so they are able to listen and share whatever they feel called to share and sometimes what a child is inspired to say is divine.
When I talk with my 7-year-old daughter about faith, the things she says to me sound like something a grandmother would say to her granddaughter. Some children are very wise and highly advanced souls and if you cross paths with them and embody your inner child, you will be shocked at the things you learn.
Sharing my faith with children blows my mind in a way you must experience it for yourself to know what I mean.
Sharing my faith in general is an incredible way for me to deepen my understanding of the nature of this spiritual world we’re a part of. I gain new insights and perspectives that help me grow spiritually.
It challenges me to think more deeply about my beliefs and helps me to apply them more meaningfully to my daily life.
My faith is an important part of who I am now. Without it, I don’t know who I am.
II. Respecting Boundaries
I also recognize that not everyone shares my faith and that it’s important to respect others’ boundaries and preferences when it comes to discussions of faith.
For some people, talking about faith is a deeply personal and private matter, and they may not feel comfortable discussing it with others.
Others may have had negative experiences in the past and may be wary of engaging in such discussions. In these cases, it’s important to respect their wishes and avoid imposing your beliefs on them.
When a child I'm talking to no longer seems interested in the conversation and wants to go out and play, I take it as my sign that it’s enough. And it’s the same with grown-ups.
When a person is not listening to what you are saying and it seems their attention is elsewhere, that should be a sign to give them a break.
It’s important to be mindful of others’ boundaries and preferences when it comes to discussions of faith.
III. The Common Ground
Talking about your faith is important because it allows you to express your beliefs and values, connect with others who share those beliefs, and deepen your understanding of your faith. However, it’s also important to respect others and to avoid imposing your beliefs on those who are not interested in hearing about them.
But there’s a middle ground.
One way to talk about your faith while being careful not to impose on others is to be mindful of the context in which you are discussing your faith. It may be appropriate to discuss your beliefs with those who share your faith, but it may not be appropriate to bring it up in a work setting or in other public spaces or to bring it up with someone you know who does not share your faith.
Also, when you talk to a child about faith, the insights must be child friendly and inspiring to help them to understand the world around them and also to grow spiritually as they grow.
I’m learning to be highly sensitive to others’ reactions and be willing to adjust the conversation if someone seems uncomfortable or disinterested.
Another way to be respectful of others’ boundaries is to be open and accepting of different perspectives and beliefs. Just because someone doesn’t share your faith doesn’t mean that they are wrong or that you can’t learn from them.
And just because you may be older than a child doesn't mean you know so much better than them. Children are so much closer to divine knowledge and they see things. Listen to the child so they can give you the abundant knowledge they hold within.
By being open to different perspectives, even if it’s coming from a little child, you can broaden your own understanding of the world and deepen your respect for others.
And by being mindful of the context of what you share, being sensitive to others’ reactions, and being open to different perspectives, we can create meaningful and respectful conversations about faith that can help us to grow spiritually as our bodies age.