Do you ever long for the religion you grew up with? (Harry Potter, churches)
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I grew up Catholic, but was a big questioner, even as a child, and I rejected it as a teen and for virtually all of my adult life. My kids did go to Catholic school for several years, but mostly because it was the best option in the area.
I have spent many years studying religions and always with a skeptical eye.
Recently, though, I have been thinking about the church lately. It started with the election of the new Pope, who I really like a lot. I think he could do a lot of good things in the church and maybe get it back on the path of helping and protecting people. I also recently watched a movie called "The Way" with Martin Sheen (which was very well done, btw, whatever you believe). And I just returned from a family wedding. The only time I am at a Catholic church anymore is for weddings/baptisms/funerals.
Bear in mind I don't agree with the majority of what the Catholic church teaches, I'm not a Christian, I think the scandals that have been taking place for decades are just atrocious and go against everything we were taught as kids about protecting the weak, comforting and loving our neighbors, being a light in the world, etc. But sometimes I feel a longing for the church community.
I grew up Catholic, but was a big questioner, even as a child, and I rejected it as a teen and for virtually all of my adult life. My kids did go to Catholic school for several years, but mostly because it was the best option in the area.
I have spent many years studying religions and always with a skeptical eye.
Recently, though, I have been thinking about the church lately. It started with the election of the new Pope, who I really like a lot. I think he could do a lot of good things in the church and maybe get it back on the path of helping and protecting people. I also recently watched a movie called "The Way" with Martin Sheen (which was very well done, btw, whatever you believe). And I just returned from a family wedding. The only time I am at a Catholic church anymore is for weddings/baptisms/funerals.
Bear in mind I don't agree with the majority of what the Catholic church teaches, I'm not a Christian, I think the scandals that have been taking place for decades are just atrocious and go against everything we were taught as kids about protecting the weak, comforting and loving our neighbors, being a light in the world, etc. But sometimes I feel a longing for the church community.
Have any of you experienced this?
Having a church family, as I once experienced, can be a somewhat positive attribute to religion. So, I can understand your wish to return to "the good ol' days". But, the other positive aspects that you mentioned, helping and protecting people, can better be done through secular means where these needy people aren't required to listen to a sermon to earn their food, for example.
Ni, I don't long for it.
Our Religion was a strange hodge podge of non-catholic junk. That combined with my mother's random spoutings about the bible and God. Not sure what you would classify it as.
Going to church was confusing, boring but in the end eye opening. It was hard during my late teens to stifle the snickers and laughs at the "adults" buying into the whole bit. Just all seemed kind of funny. It was just hard to watch all the authority figures walk around fearing gays, "protesting" Pokeman, railing against Harry Potter, curious about everyone's vaginal status and take it seriously.
Sorry, but it is hard to watch people do religion to themselves, it always reminds me those commercials "This is your brain, this is your brain on drugs" if you get my meaning.
I don't miss it. There was a sense of community, and belonging to an extent, but only if you keep up the facade. Keep serving, don't say no when the church "needs" you , or you will be on the outside.
I have a looser knit community now, but my friends now accept me for who I am, not who I want to be, or who I pretend to be. There are no expectations, no demands, only people enjoying each other's company, lending a hand, and watching out for each other.
I grew up Catholic, but was a big questioner, even as a child, and I rejected it as a teen and for virtually all of my adult life. My kids did go to Catholic school for several years, but mostly because it was the best option in the area.
I have spent many years studying religions and always with a skeptical eye.
Recently, though, I have been thinking about the church lately. It started with the election of the new Pope, who I really like a lot. I think he could do a lot of good things in the church and maybe get it back on the path of helping and protecting people. I also recently watched a movie called "The Way" with Martin Sheen (which was very well done, btw, whatever you believe). And I just returned from a family wedding. The only time I am at a Catholic church anymore is for weddings/baptisms/funerals.
Bear in mind I don't agree with the majority of what the Catholic church teaches, I'm not a Christian, I think the scandals that have been taking place for decades are just atrocious and go against everything we were taught as kids about protecting the weak, comforting and loving our neighbors, being a light in the world, etc. But sometimes I feel a longing for the church community.
Have any of you experienced this?
When the Catholic church starts selling off the abundant wealth that they horde and starts actually helping people...people might consider taking them seriously. Just saying...
Definitely don't miss the church community. Always thought of them as a bunch of hypocrites that just repent for their bad behavior on Sunday mornings, or by hitting up the confessional. Meh. I like my small circle of accepting friends, and spending quiet, lazy Sunday mornings with my family. However, I do enjoy the architecture of churches around the world, but that has nothing to do with the message their peddling.
Having grown up in the Catholic Church during an era when the Mass was still said in Latin and the Sunday High Mass was a Traditional Gregorian Mass. I do have a lot of fond memories.
I did enjoy and was awed over the ruffles and trimmings of the old Mass. especially since I was in basically an Old country community. There was a beauty and sense of wonder that was quite awesome.
While I cherish the memories and am glad I experienced them, I have no desire to return to the past.
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