Church?

[CR400]

I go to church almost every Sunday morning and evenings as well. Plus the mid week service on Thursday. I have gone to church all my life. I go not because I feel that I have to out of some religous duty but because I want to.

When I do ride on Sunday it is usually between services, or I will plan my rest days for Sunday and Thursday. We actually have a small group along with a race team at my church so we get in our road time it just isn't usually on Sunday. In fact my pastor is one of the biggest hammerheads I know, he does quite well in the races we do, for him 12+ races in a season is average. I'm still new so I don't race as often as the others. Usually we race on Saturday only but about two to three times a year we will all go to a sunday race or TT. We also host our own charity rides and one day tours.

Besides everytime I have missed church to ride my bike I have got into an accident, mostly small over the handle bar stuff, but still.

[Grog]

Besides everytime I have missed church to ride my bike I have got into an accident, mostly small over the handle bar stuff, but still.

Wow! Then it's probably better you don't loose faith!!!

[tygab]

Interesting topic indeed. I'm with Robyn, well indirectly anyway.
I was raised Jewish in central Illinois, so even though I was part of a thriving synogogue in town, I remember always being the only Jewish kid in the class, and almost yearly being asked to do a little talk on the Jewish holidays & customs. As a kid, I felt at once honored but also a bit burdened by this. Now I am thankful the teachers wanted me to share.

I have always felt more spiritual outside among natural settings and in truth do most of my deep thinking/praying there, but I do think the community of a religion has a purpose and as I'm getting older, I've come to appreciate that a bit more.

One of the things I love about Judaism, at least the way I interact with it, is kind of like what Robyn said - I have to think my own way through the journey. The temple I go to is not affiliated formally, having people from the 'big 3' backgrounds, and a reconstructionist bent.

My dad was Catholic growing up (I mean his childhood, not mine). I think he found more of a home in Judaism though and was/is active in my hometown congregation and I think of him as Jewish in practice if not in name... My husband is Catholic, and from an observant and religious family. They have always been very welcoming and when Christmas falls during Hanukkah, as it often has these last several years, we observe both, even at their home.

Most of my angst about formal religion comes from the ways I see it used to divide and make one group feel superior to others, or worse... I just don't get that and never will. But in the grand scheme of things I still think and hope, that is the exception & not the norm of religious institutions. After all, they too evolve...