Would you participate in the festivities of another religion?

The confluence of Western and Eastern Easter and Passover this year got me thinking about this question. Have you participated in the religious festivities of another Christian confession or another religion? What was your experience? If not, would you be willing if you had the opportunity? Are there any religions whose festivities you would not participate in?

I'll give some personal examples. When I lived in Kazakhstan, I went to the Russian Orthodox Easter celebration at the Zenkovskii Cathedral in Almaty with an acquaintance. I watched the priest bless the Easter breads with holy water, bought a candle, and listened to the beautiful a capella choir in the cathedral. It was all rather strange to me because those attending did not sit down in pews, sing congregational songs, or listen to a sermon. Instead, they wandered around the cathedral and talked and eventually left. At least that was my impression. If you're Orthodox, you may feel that I got it all wrong. But I felt it was a different way of celebrating the resurrection of the same Jesus whom I worship.

I went to a folk Islam shrine of Aristanbab near the ancient ruins of Otrar, Kazakhstan, with an American friend who spoke fluent Kazak. The imam invited us into the room where Aristanbab and his disciples were buried. We each gave seven tenge (seven is a lucky number for Kazaks), and the imam prayed and performed some rituals with a knife and whip, both non-Islamic symbols of shamanism. My friend and I knelt and prayed along with the imam, but we prayed to Jesus. We had a brief discussion with the imam about his and our religious beliefs. I enjoyed the

cultural experience, yet felt I had stayed true to my beliefs since I prayed to Jesus.

After I moved back to the States, I went to the mosque in Wichita with some Kazakh friends and attended Islamic prayers. The imam immediately recognized me as an outsider, but he was very friendly. (He assumed the Kazakhs were Muslims, although they were actually Christians.) We washed our hands and feet, joined in the prayers (again I prayed to Jesus), and listened to the imam's sermon. He publicly welcomed me to the mosque during his sermon, even though I would have rather stayed anonymous. It was quite an experience to kneel and pray with the lines of men. The women were segregated behind a screen off to one side. It was another interesting cultural experience.

I've gone to Catholic Mass with friends in college and with my cousin who converted to Catholicism when she married a Catholic. My cousin has felt kind of ostracized by our extended family after converting, so she appreciated that I joined her for Mass. I watched her and tried to follow the rituals before and during the service. However, I didn't go forward for the Eucharist, even though the priest invited non-Catholics to come forward to receive a blessing. I would have been glad to receive a blessing, but again, I preferred to stay in the pew and remain anonymous.

My last example is when I attended an Amish communion and foot-washing. Some Amish acquaintances invited us to visit their church service and then stay for the potluck dinner. Because we were not members of that Amish congregation, we were not allowed to participate in communion or foot-washing, so it felt awkward. (I am Mennonite, and my church allows anyone in good relationship with God and fellow man to participate in communion.) The men and women sat on different sides of the church. I was impressed by the seriousness with which the Amish took their service. There was a time for people to stand and confess sins or to go to another member to resolve a relationship problem. Our church theoretically does the same thing, but no one ever does. I loved the four-part a cappella congregational singing, and I enjoyed harmonizing my voice with the men around me, even though I am not much of a singer. Amish are known for their good food, and the potluck dinner was fantastic. I would have a hard time worshiping in an Amish church regularly, but I felt we were worshiping the same God.

I've never participated in a Jewish seder, although I would like to do it because the roots of Christianity are in the Jewish faith.

Are there any religious festivities that I would not participate in? I would have a hard time going to a Buddhist ceremony because the golden Buddha statue gives me the creeps. I would feel the same way about a Hindu ceremony.

What are your experiences?