Sonya Schryer Norris

The role of duty and obligation in religion

I’ve been thinking about the role of obligation in religion. Of submitting one’s will to God through belief and action. Obeying objective rules such as daily prayer and dietary restrictions and fasting plays a large part in what religion currently means for me. It’s what I believe in. It’s the path I know to reachContinueContinue reading “The role of duty and obligation in religion “

Unitarian Universalism I

I’ve started some reading about the UU church and I’ve decided to attend a service a week from tomorrow. I have some friends and friends-of-friends who are UU and they’re willing (indeed excited) to show me the ropes. There are several attractive points about UU. For one thing, they don’t believe in the trinity. They don’tContinueContinue reading “Unitarian Universalism I”

On Religious Education

I’ve been thinking lately about vouchers for religious education. My views are mixed. First, charter schools in general. It concerns me when public educational institutions fail the public. I believe strongly that parents have the right to strike out on their own to do better for their children and their local communities. And as taxpayers,ContinueContinue reading “On Religious Education”

Thinking about religion

When I was 16 I converted to Islam. I was devout and observant for several years, let it fade it my 20s, and returned to it quietly in my 30s. By quietly I mean privately. Many people who know me don’t know I’m Muslim. It was an outright secret at work until this past year.ContinueContinue reading “Thinking about religion”

Chapter Nine: Reflections (page 512)

…so in short, like everyone else, I’m complicated. I don’t define myself by one thing. I’m a feminist and a librarian and a fatty and rarely more or less of any one thing on any given day. I enjoy the diversity of my world view. I don’t want to have all of my eggs inContinueContinue reading “Chapter Nine: Reflections (page 512)”

Chapter Seven: Fat (page 358)

I weigh precisely double what is recommended for my height. I weigh in at nearly 300 pounds. It’s taken me a long time to be able to say that. Being overweight is not a character flaw. I repeat. There is nothing wrong with me because I’m fat. My life will not begin when I becomeContinueContinue reading “Chapter Seven: Fat (page 358)”

Chapter Six: Marriage (page 311)

…met at a book club for two that we formed while working together in the Braille and Talking Book Library. The first book we read together was Rabbit, Run by John Updike. We’re still reading books together including everything that comes out by John Sandford, John Grisham and Robert Crais. That’s our fluff reading. WeContinueContinue reading “Chapter Six: Marriage (page 311)”