Everyone has a story. The woman you pass on the street. The man waiting at a bus stop. The woman in a laundromat. This department features people who were approached at random and asked about their spiritual interests.
Name: Amy
Age: 27
Favorite TV show: Grey’s Anatomy
Last book you read: The Young, the Broke, and the Fabulous
Hobbies: Playing sand volleyball
Relationship status: In a relationship
Children: No
Home life growing up: Leave it to Beaver might be a little exaggerated, but it was very normal. I was the youngest of four girls, so my parents had it down by the time it got to me. It was a normal, easy, happy life.
Years in Des Moines: 3.5
Hometown: Indianola, Iowa
Do you believe in God? Why? Yes. It is better to believe than not believe. I don’t have a reason not to. It is probably just the way I was raised.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how spiritually interested are you? 5—I’m interested, but I don’t take the time or effort to do anything about it.
Do you believe in an afterlife? Yes
Do you believe in heaven? Yes
Do you believe in hell? Yes
What’s the criteria for getting to heaven? I don’t believe in Catholicism and the whole Last Rights thing. If someone truly has evil in them, they shouldn’t go to heaven. But unless you are an evildoer, you can go to heaven. I live with my boyfriend, but I think I could still go to heaven.
Are people basically good or basically bad? Basically good. It comes from living in the Midwest. Everyone has a good side.
Do you pray? How often? I pray, but not often. I should pray more. I feel like I don’t have a lot to pray about. I think about sick people, but even then I don’t usually pray for them. Maybe once a year.
Do you believe that your truth is the only truth? No, definitely not. This is another reason I don’t believe in Catholicism. My dad wasn’t a practicing Catholic when he died a few years ago. A priest came in and read him his last rights and then he was supposedly going to heaven. I think he was going to heaven before that.
Do you go to church? No
What’s your impression of churches in America? It’s boring. People go to make themselves feel better. I’d like to find one with people my age.
If you could ask God one question, what would it be? Is there an afterlife?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how afraid of death are you? 1—I’m not. I’ve lost a lot of people in my life. I’m looking forward to seeing them.
What’s the purpose of life? Find out who we are and why we’re here. To make a difference in some small little way in the little time we’re here.
Do you consider yourself happy? I’m happy. I’d change some things if I could, but I’m not unhappy.
If you had one day to live, what would do? I’d gather all my friends and family and throw a huge party.
