tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19060161.post113440082664560779..comments2023-10-09T08:01:29.924-05:00Comments on Sorting The Pieces: Churches through my yearsCynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641264346663533706noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19060161.post-1134693790495626522005-12-15T18:43:00.000-06:002005-12-15T18:43:00.000-06:00I can relate. I've heard it called a crisis of fai...I can relate. I've heard it called a crisis of faith. But that's not entirely accurate. My faith never waivered. It was my complete disgust with oranized religion and the judgemental and narrow minded attitudes of your average church goer that made me leave the religion I was raised with. I searched, like you. But I'm still in research mode. I think Unitarian Universalist would be a good fit. Or Quaker. But neither has a church near me. So I'll just hold my own beliefs until I can find a place that welcomes my unique point of view.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16689649366003513145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19060161.post-1134607555058434892005-12-14T18:45:00.000-06:002005-12-14T18:45:00.000-06:00Wow!You write so well, but more than that I could ...Wow!<BR/><BR/>You write so well, but more than that I could relate to about 99% of what you've said here, with the exception of finding an online spiritual group.<BR/><BR/>I would call myself a recovering evangelical, because I too, left a church that was judgemental and had a pastor who handed out pamphlets to his congregation regarding whom to vote for based on abortion rather than caring for the poor.<BR/><BR/>I miss the community aspect in my spiritual life but I do try to remain spiritual.<BR/><BR/>Thank-you so much for this entry, and I intend to read more. It is so nice to know that I am not alone in wanting Christ in my life without a church filled with people who judge you if you dance or have a case of beer in your pantry.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://journals.aol.com/globetrotter2u/Myfeelingsarereal/" REL="nofollow">My feelings are real</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://insidethegildedcage.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Inside the Gilded Cage</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://journals.aol.co.uk/globetrotter2u/DarkSideoftheMoon/" REL="nofollow">Dark Side of the Moon</A>Globetrotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07079682652900127410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19060161.post-1134581663863636752005-12-14T11:34:00.000-06:002005-12-14T11:34:00.000-06:00Very interesting post, Cynthia. It gave me some i...Very interesting post, Cynthia. It gave me some insight into your views on this subject that I had not had before. I had to laugh in the begining of the essay, where you were describing this church with its own library, bowling alley, and skating rink, and "from there it grew into a mega-church." I had no idea churches like this existed. A bizarre mixture of ostentation and bible-thumping...<BR/><BR/>The litte church you are now attending sounds like the first pentecostal church we were in. We met in a rented grade-school classroom (the ACLU would have a field day with that now, I'm sure...) The problem with those little store-front churches is that they often self-destruct, leaving behind a mine-field of hurt feelings and disillusionment. Not saying this will happen to yours, but it's something to keep in the back of your mind...Lisa :-]https://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19060161.post-1134573503979737742005-12-14T09:18:00.000-06:002005-12-14T09:18:00.000-06:00What a fascinating and beautifully written entry. ...What a fascinating and beautifully written entry. <BR/><BR/>Although I've been involved in a variety of religious coimmunities, I've never had to endure the inerrantist fundamentalist variety, except online -- where I found the people to be gracious and loving as long as you didn't say anything that turned them into judgmental, vindictive, and threatened. I would imagine that in-person relationships would be quite difficult, and it's not surprising to me that you would find a Wiccan more loving and Christ-like than certain members of the SBC.<BR/><BR/>Your new church experience sounds fascinating; it will be interesting to see it unfold.Gannet Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16374279595560691174noreply@blogger.com