Call it OCD, but I have a thing for 2's.  Heck, I eat M & M's in groups of 2's (same color, one in each cheek).  This is partly why the year 2010 seems like such a good year to try something new. It's an even number!  Also, I'm finally finished with college and ready to move on into the big, bad real world.  It's about time I get my own cell phone plan, pay for my car insurance, and start repaying that $30,000 I owe the United States government.   

I've been living and student teaching in Mexico for the past month and a half, which has been absolutely wonderful!  However, a week and a half ago I received a phone call from my brother: "Dad had a stroke."  I was alone at my host house and I couldn't breathe.  I couldn't think.  All I could do was hyperventilate and cry uncontrollably.  I thought my Dad was going to die, and I spent the night watching mindless tv in Spanish on the couch, pleading with a higher power to let my Dad live.  So far, so good.  He has been moved into a rehabiliation wing at the hospital and is learning how to walk again.  Well, learning how to do EVERYTHING again. 

The point is, my family and friends have been wonderful.  They've been calling and praying like crazy, which we all appreciate.  I was raised Catholic, but my beliefs were no longer aligned with those of the church by the time I left for college.  I've been athiest for about five years, and proud of it.  However, with my Dad fighting to regain his old life and my Mom insisting that her god had a purpose when Dad had his stroke, I've begun to doubt myself and my non-beliefs.  How can I not believe in a god when my Dad is making such fantastic (yet small) improvements every day?

I've decided to use 2010 as the year I explore religion and its importance and purpose in life.  It would take lifetimes to fully understand religion and its impact in human existence.  I don't have that kind of time.  Instead, I'm going to focus my energies on twelve religions, split evenly between the twelve months of 2010.  I am going to explore:

January: Islam
February: Judaism
March: Buddhism
April: Hinduism
May: Paganism
June: Shinto
July: Taoism
August: Mormanism
September: Sikhism
October: Spiritualism/Spiritism
November: Jainism
December: Christianity

I think the biggest challenge for me will to remain objective.  I am going to keep a journal, where I will compile facts, figures, opinions, news articles, and my changing beliefs.  I am going to tackle such tomes as the Bible,the Quran, the Torah, etc.  I am going to read, research, and learn as much as possible.  I will be journaling in my blog.  My two central goals are:

1) Learn in order to cultivate tolerance
2) Develop a set of beliefs for myself.

The kickoff begins January 1, 2010!