I've not posted in this group before - but wanted to share a snippet of my journey....
I grew up in Rhode Island in a town where I was nearly the only non-catholic in my elementary school - so even early on, remember being told "you aren't catholic, so you are going to hell" (on Wednesday mornings, when the rest of the kids were on released time at church, I helped the teachers clean the art room and other things to keep me busy).
My family went to church so I was "raised" in the church - we were protestant (UCC) and the church was laid back. I liked the music most of all, tolerated Sunday school, eventually sang in the choir (the music!), ended up running the youth fellowship for a few years after a young, new minister persuaded me to. I've never read the bible except on Sundays as a hunt and peck activity and certain of the "greatest hits" passages. I bought the whole faith thing in that things like religion, based on faith, need no proof. When I got older and worked in a grocery store, Sunday mornings were softball time - so bye bye church.
Got married, my wife was catholic, me protestant, so we confounded both our families and became Episcopalian (they had the best music) and we went to church semi-regularly - esp. when our two girls were little (they only just tolerated Sunday School as well, just like me). Then we moved to NC, tested some churches - way too over the top holy roller for us - found Duke Chapel and a wonderful very liberal preacher that was there a few years ago - Will Willimon - we went mostly for his very left wing based sermons (and the music).
We've stopped attending church over the last - say, 10 years or so. My wife and I have seen far too much harm done in the name of religion - way too much hypocrisy. So you would probably now describe us as spiritual - though I am a PhD scientist, I still have a feeling that there is much we don't know or understand - God? Perhaps - so we believe in some greater power or designer, but not like it is described in the bible - or any book. But some days - I don't know. I do accept evolution and the scientific method and science, in general (if it is objective and not polluted by funds to drive a particular outcome).
But it is interesting to be 56 and still on a spiritual journey - to be not sure. And I actually delight in the journey and the not being certain. I love surprises - and unexpected outcomes.
I guess what prompted me to post this is cbayer's post about the 33 year old anniversary of the hard core religious right. Because I remember hard core religious right stuff going on long before that - watching the Billy Graham crusades with my family, and wondering why he was always asking people to give money at the end of the show. I think that religion has been "putting people on" for a long time - often a weapon wielded by those who couldn't possibly believe what they preach - for their own devices, power and greed.
So....I just don't know!
And that's what I felt like sharing here today.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I knew some of this about you, but not the full picture.
Your essay is a testament to how personal and individual all of this is. One of the up sides of participating in this group is the chance to hear stories like your own. Another is the opportunity to think about our own stories, where we are and how we got here.
I know that the hard core religious right has been around for more than 33 years, but their political power really does seem to have begun around them. Fortunately, I think they are losing their power and, to some degree, losing it because of people like you and your wife.
While I've got you, I just have to brag that my tomatoes are doing great (despite having been repeatedly blown over by the wind).
earth shattering in their excitement!
We really enjoyed Willimon's sermons - always found something pertinent and current and useful to take away from them.
to each their own!
