Have you ever been so passionate about something that no matter the consequences, you just couldn’t let yourself back down? My dad, Brandon Taylor, was born on July 3, 1946. He grew up in upstate South Carolina. This was a hard state to live in because back then, most of the people living there were very conservative. Although this state is still conservative, there has been some change.
       My dad states that one of the most meaningful events in his life happened during the time period of the Vietnam War. The idea of this war was very disturbing to him and he knew the US was going into this war for all the wrong reasons. He first tried to help prevent this war from happening by participating in a march that took place by the famous Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Everyone who marched that day, including him, was tear gassed by authorities. When he was later scheduled to get drafted for this war, he faced a tough decision. Going against his spiritual beliefs or going to jail. However, he knew right away that he would rather go to jail. 
      What different kinds of religious services have you been to?
I’ve been to Buddhist meditation centers. I think the Buddha was a very wise man who taught a very practical way of training the mind to deal with all the painful things that happen in life and all the things that go wrong.
      Have you ever been to a Mosque?
I went to a very old mosque in Turkey called the “Blue Mosque”. It was very beautiful and I had the feeling that I was standing in a very sacred place.
Have you been to a Jewish temple or service?
Yes. I have been to a few Jewish services. I enjoy learning about different religions. I find that they can have very deep, spiritual insights.
       What has been your religious history?
I grew up as a Presbyterian (a Presbyterian church is a very conservative church that is part of a protestant denomination), however I was very different from most people in my church.
       How were your experiences with this church/ what did you enjoy most?
“When I went to church, the best part was the quiet period before the service began. They played wonderful pieces by Bach on the organ”. My dad stated that this is when he felt the most in touch with God. He also felt close to God when walking through the woods or the fields. “When I was walking out in nature, everything around me felt beautiful and sacred”.
What major things happened with your religious life when you got older? At least 2 things.
For one, I grew terrified and depressed of the idea of going to Hell. It made me disturbed almost everyday. Another thing is that I took things in the Bible more seriously and the other adults around me didn’t.
What is the most important Commandment in your opinion and how have you used this in your life?
“Thou shall not kill” is one of the most important Commandments. During the ages 12 and 13, I hunted a lot...usually birds. I was a better shot than my dad. Later, the idea grew on me that killing animals for sport was completely wrong. It was killing something “sacred”. I quit hunting because of this, but this disturbed my father because he like hunting with me. He thought it was what guys were “supposed to do”. I still tagged along with my dad when he hunted. I didn’t have to worry about him killing animals because he “almost never actually dropped a bird”.
         What was another way that you carried out the Commandment “Thou Shall Not Kill”?
In my late teens in college, the Vietnam War was going on. Everyone my age was being drafted into the army. I was totally opposed to the war. It was a religious issue to me. This specific Commandment says “Thou Shall Not Kill”, period, with no exceptions. I couldn’t believe so many Christians that I had grown up with didn’t take this seriously. I was scheduled to be drafted, but I refused to go because of religious reasons. “I wasn’t afraid of getting killed, It was that I knew I couldn’t live with myself if I killed somebody. I would never get over it”. I put myself on the line and refused to join the army. I went before the draft board. I knew if they didn’t decide my religious beliefs were genuine, I would go to jail. I felt that God was with me through this process. South Carolina was a very “pro war” state, so no one in South Carolina had done what I was doing.
        What happened during this process?
The first draft board couldn’t decide. The second didn’t think this specific Commandment applied to war and therefore, I should go to jail. Half of the people in this board went to my church. This was very surprising. However, I didn’t back down. Finally, I got the chance to argue my case in front of the state board in Massachusetts. This board agreed that there were other ways that I could serve my country besides war.
      In conclusion, there are many challenging decisions that we have to face in life, however if we stand firm to our beliefs, we may be surprised with what we can accomplish.