Comments on: Diablogging: Neylan McBaine

By: StillConfused

StillConfused — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:41:59 +0000

I love being mistaken for Jewish. I consider it a great compliment.

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:17:45 +0000

Neylan, do you remember Sumer and me from the 1st ward, ca. 1997-2006? We didn’t have kids then (neither did you, I don’t think!). But we remember you and your mom fondly.

By: Ariel and Jim

Ariel and Jim — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:07:05 +0000

Almost makes me homesick for the Upper Westside–but not quite. We’re enjoying what must be one of the most diverse stakes in the Church, right here in Salt Lake Central Stake.

Well done, Neylan!

By: Mike McBride

Mike McBride — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:23:42 +0000

But you don’t look Druish? (Maybe Elliot will catch that Space Balls reference.) Nice post, Neylan. And I enjoyed your Dialogue piece, too. I find it interesting that you identify more with the extreme groups. I hope you and the family are enjoying NYC.

By: CJ Douglass

CJ Douglass — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:32:12 +0000

doh, i mean Neylan (sorry)

By: CJ Douglass

CJ Douglass — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:29:05 +0000

Thanks for the thoughts Neyan. I’ve had these same thoughts living in one of the many African-American neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

I love walking out of our building with some of the older ladies in their beautiful hats, gigantic Bibles and big smiles.We walk past the Brooklyn Tabernacle and exchange greetings with the line of people out front.

Its sad – the closer we get to the church (in an old Italian ‘hood, slowly turning into a new hipster ‘hood) the smiles seem to fade and strange looks ensue. You can guess which neighborhood I prefer living in.

So, in spite of the land grab, I like to think that Brooklyn remains the “borough of churches”.

By: neylan

neylan — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:54:03 +0000

I’ve really enjoyed reading all the thoughtful comments. Thanks! You might be interested to know that I was raised in New York City, left for 15 years and am now back. I’ve been fascinated by how differently I perceive my religious identity in this city returning now after all these years. Growing up, I considered myself in league with the mainstream Protestant WASPs I went to school with. Now, to meems point above, I feel myself identifying more with the “extreme” groups. I’ve clearly matured and recognized how non-mainstream we really are, but this city has changed in my absence too.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:14:22 +0000

Great post, Neylan. I felt the same way when I took world religion at BYU: a kinship with all believers.

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:10:21 +0000

Neylan-
As always, it is a pleasure to read your work. I wonder, keying off Ben’s point, how this conspicuous show of religion on the street effects policy decisions and tolerance of religious beliefs. Does it help non-religious people to realize that there are religious people out there, or does it lead to marginalization of religion as a street sideshow?

By: meems

meems — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:26:33 +0000

I feel exactly the same way! I’m very reticent to voice my religion loudly, either through shyness or awkwardness or both, in most company, but for these very reasons, when I meet a devout Muslim or Catholic, I have little hesitation to talk about religion. It’s much more difficult when I’m in the presence of conservative protestants, non-religionists, or atheists, for some reason.