Voices

People answering the Times Orange County Poll and others interviewed for the stories in this series were asked to elaborate on their feelings about God, worship and spirituality.

Karen Fisher, 42, is a former schoolteacher living in Laguna Niguel.

She is Jewish and attends Temple Beth El in Laguna Niguel.

“It’s always been a part of my life to be Jewish. It doesn’t pervade my life. It’s just a part of me.

“My husband and I did not know each other as children, but we both lived in (Los Angeles). And in both our families, we grew up with the same emphasis on education, and values and beliefs--as far as honoring the Ten Commandments and our God. . . .

“I’ve gone to my religion heavily when I needed to. It definitely has helped to ease whatever we were going through at the time. We’ve had some bad things happen with deaths, losses of children. I just felt I needed to go to the synagogue, hear what the rabbi was saying. It made me possibly feel closer momentarily to the person who was no longer there. . . .

“I always go (to temple) on High Holy Days. Occasionally I go to Friday night services. I should go more. But things get in the way. I will always go on our holidays to synagogue. I know I will go as long as I live.

“I am concerned (that) my children grow up with the same beliefs and same observances and same traditions, that they understand their culture and are proud of where they came from. That’s the most important thing. That’s what it’s all about.”

Dave Claudon, 40, of Irvine is a Sunday school teacher at South Coast Community Church, a Bible-based Christian church in Irvine.

“I accepted Christ in 1980. I was a moral kind of guy, single, self-employed, making a tremendous amount of money. And I was still wondering: ‘Is this all there is?’ I came to the realization that what I had attained in my young life wasn’t cutting it.

“Frankly, I hate religion. I have a personal relationship with God. . . . I define religion as something man has made up or created, so many (religious practices) are not in the Bible.

“Romans 8:28 states that all things work together for good, for those who love the Lord. Since I love the Lord, whatever happens to me is going to work out for the best. . . . It’s easy for me to confront calamity and disasters which I’ve had and have the knowledge that everything is going to be just fine.

“The unique aspect of Christianity is that, as Christians, we are saved by His grace and His mercy. His faithfulness to us does not depend on our faithfulness to him. . . . I know if I confess what I’ve done wrong, I’m cleansed again.”

Eileen Bruchman, 36, of Mission Viejo is director of development for the Coalition of Children, Adolescents and Parents.

A former Catholic, Bruchman no longer attends church.

“I went through 12 years of Catholic school. When I was a senior in high school, I gave it up. It was obvious to me it was very man-made, artificial, tailored to those who were at the helm of this religion. . . .

“I’m struggling now. I don’t know what I want to do. I believe people can be spiritual, but they don’t have to be religious. If they can be both, great. I just don’t know any religions I would subscribe to.

“When I made a conscious decision to leave the Catholic Church, I listened to anything that came along: Buddhism, Judaism, other Christian religions. Was there something out there for me?

“If I pray (now), I don’t borrow words. I hate to admit this, but I pray when I don’t know if there are any options left, when I’m faced with insurmountable problems. Maybe I feared for a loved one’s life. Maybe my daughter or husband was in danger. (Or) when I felt out of control.

“Maybe that’s when most of us resort to praying. I don’t know of anything else to do.”