The group who presented Ammerman’s Sacred Stories, Spiritual Tribes handed out a few of Ammerman’s survey questions. We had briefly discussed after their presentation that these questions were quite suggestive in the way that they assume that the person answering is religious. I definitely feel that way when reading these questions; that they are specifically written for individuals who identify with a religion. I also feel like these questions follow the stereotype that people turn to religion in times of trouble, tragedy, and great change. It seems to be universally understood that individuals are either raised in a religion or they turn to religion in times of crisis. You do not often hear from groups of people who are religious simply because they felt some sort of connection or believed in a higher power because they “just do” or that is what makes sense to them. There are always these intricate and emotional conversion stories which give Nicholas Sparks a run for his money. On the other hand there are people who have stories of going to church with grandma and grandpa and all of their cousins and it is a huge tradition. Religion is part of what makes them a family. Personally, I do not have either of these stories. I go to a baptist church in which conversion stories are spoken of and celebrated often. Sometimes I wonder if I do not have some huge saving grace story or epiphany that perhaps I have not truly found God or connected with my religion. However, I remind myself that one does not necessarily have to have a tragic backstory in order to identify with a religion or subscribe to a certain belief. If it helps me to make sense of my life then that is enough.