Church?

[sbctwin]

I wasn't raised in a religious home. I was raised in a very dysfunctional home (watching my mom get beat by my dad on a regular basis if things didn't satisfy him or we kids made too much noise, it didn't matter...we were raised in fear). I couldn't wait to get out of the house. I held that baggage for a long time that I was to blame. I got married and my husband left me for his "first love". At that point in my life, I needed something to hold onto, to give me a reason to continue living. My sister was my best friend and helped me a lot, but she was several thousand miles away. Someone invited me to go to church with them...I went...I felt, for once "at home". I went to a Lutheran church at the time. I then attended a Catholic retreat for divorced, widowed and separated individuals. I again, felt someplace where I belonged. I soon met my DH and he was a craddle Catholic. After we were married and moved to SLC, I became a Catholic, too. We go to mass every Saturday night. I have been very lucky with the pastors & priests. Every priest or pastor I have had, has been keen on social justice and "practice" what they preach. I know there are problems with all religions. But, for me, I needed something to hold onto in my life....

[Bad JuJu]

I'm with Mimi and Grog and Tattiefritter, though I was raised in a church other than the Catholic. I was put off by the hypocrisy of a group of people who preached and espoused a philosophy of love but often didn't exercise it, and who sanctioned the inequality of women. Though I wasn't always able to articulate these dissatisfactions with the church, I think I had an inkling of them from an early age. Still, I loved my grandmother, and she loved the church, so I went, and for a while I really got into the spirit of it--I was baptized at the age of 12, being dunked by the pastor into cold, murky water and coming up feeling like everything after that would be all right. I was so trusting and took everything about church teachings so literally.

But when I got older, at some point I realized that my "close personal relationship" with the church, that I grew up learning to cultivate, was pretty much one-sided. I won't go into details--but now I ride my bike on Sunday mornings and find better things to do with my Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings. I find joy in the world and the people around me.

Sorry if I've shared too much, but this topic hits a nerve.

[mimitabby]

I'm with Mimi and Grog and Tattiefritter, though I was raised in a church other than the Catholic.
-I was baptized at the age of 12, being dunked by the pastor into cold, murky water and coming up feeling like everything after that would be all right. I was so trusting and took everything about church teachings so literally.

But when I got older, at some point I realized that my "close personal relationship" with the church, that I grew up learning to cultivate, was pretty much one-sided. I won't go into details--but now I ride my bike on Sunday mornings and find better things to do with my Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings. I find joy in the world and the people around me.

Sorry if I've shared too much, but this topic hits a nerve.

BadJuJu
I am with you. God's creation is outdoors, and inside the church mankind's poor window on the goodness of our planet just never cut it with me. I have been to other churches besides the one i was raised in (BCIPAM gets points for figuring out which one it is!)
and so far, all they ever do is make me angry and rebellious. DH and I are in awe of what we were given, the opportunity to share this planet with the birds and the bees. Being on a bike ride in an early morning sunrise, or watching an eagle soar over head, or seeing the salmon thick in the river far surpasses the inspiration that i have ever gotten from any man's interpretation of one old book.
You are right BCIPAM, I would love to find a community as can be found in some churches. But i can't stand the party line! Please forgive me, I do not mean to be offensive. But if the shoe doesn't fit, it hurts your foot.
I guess I'm a heathen too.