[amartin623]

what did everyone put down for a religion when they filed paperwork? I actually listed myself as Unitarian(which is the closest thing to an organized religion I've been involved with since high school). I felt like I didn't want to "explain" myself, but I didn't want to list "no religion" or something like that. At the time I didn't consider myself Buddhist, but I was leaning that way.

Just curious...not judging anyone either way...

Angie

PS If you did list your religion as Wiccan, Pagan, etc., did anyone have a problem with their agency? Just curious...I actually had a religious based org. refuse to help me due to the Unitarian thing. They wanted me to say I was "Christian", which would have been a no go.

[tinktink]

Hi,
I plan on putting down Unitarian as well. I attend a nice Unitarian church now and again when the services are particularly pagan. People have some funny notions about paganism and I don't want to feel as though I need to explain my beliefs either.

Wish you well!

[Tiggysgirl]

We just ignored the question and it never came up in the homestudy. We specifically chose an agency that wasn't faith-based and no one has ever even mentioned it. I have always taken the word "religious" to mean participation in an organization rather than something connotating a spiritual life. I know many people who consider themselves very religious, though their actions don't seem to a spiritual connection with anything. So, I think of myself as highly spiritual.

Good luck to you both and I'm sure you'll find a good way to describe your faith!

[anilorak13ska]

We have the benefit of having the choice to "hide" behind our officially sanctioned religion, which we maintain for cultural reasons (Catholic).

However, I also found that with the Christian agencies they ask for a statement of faith, and when I read it, I disagree with most of their theology (duh, to be expected!), so I cannot sign it.

Now, if there wasn't a secular option that was actually less expensive (who knew a religious agencies would actually charge more for the same services?), I'd do what had to be done to bring my children home.

But thankfully, I am not being forced to do so, so we will go with a secular agency, and if a question does arise, we have the benefit of the "official" religion to fall back on.

If we decide to go with a domestic adoption (not sure yet), I have a draft of the Dear Birthmother letter in which I do mention faith. I say that while we are Catholic, we will also teach our children a variety of approaches to faith. It may seem like a copout, but I am not going to complicate the already complicated procedure that is adoption with trying to explain my personal theology or issues of spiritual faith.

That's my 2 cents. I'm so glad to have found you all, btw! :~)