Why do I feel nervous when addressing the topic of religion? What is it about this topic in particular that makes it so taboo in general society? Any belief system is inherently public, in that it is gained, practiced, or both through an open atmosphere of discussion and worship and yet remains relegated to a strictly private sphere. This experience does depend on the personalities involved, but in my experience it's particularly applicable.

I have been asked many times, what is your major? When are you graduating? What are you doing after graduation? In essence, what do you want to do with your life? Usually I tend to blow of the question. "Maybe grad school", "Maybe look for a job", "I don't know, I haven't thought about it" are all typical responses. In reality, I do plan on going to graduate school in theology and am in the process of becoming an ordained minister through my church. However, I am very reluctant to bring this up in conversation. Why?

Several thoughts come to mind. First is a fear of being immediately classified based on whatever opinion someone has of the church. It's a topic that everyone has an opinion on, good or bad, and by saying that is where I plan to work I see myself as immediately being grouped into that opinion and I don't feel that any of these preconceived notions are capable of representing me. I also feel that by merely mentioning the topic I am breaching an entirely different level of conversation. Bringing religion into the conversation, even if not intended to be a jumping point into deeper conversation, somehow betrays the strictly superficial level maintained up until then. Altogether, it is a complicated experience and comes down to a comfortability issue. Are these concerns real, or merely fears in interacting with others on a personal level? At this point, I feel the latter.