Returning to church
By eden32
@eden32 (3973)
United States
March 1, 2008 11:35pm CST
I was raised in the Catholic church. We went to church every weekend. I attended Catholic schools for most of my school years, and overall enjoyed it. Yet as a young adult I found that I didn't truly believe what Catholics believed and I couldn't identify with that religion anymore. I left the church when I was about 15, and aside from a couple weddings, funerals & baptisms; never attended a church service again. I identify as a pagan now.I believe God has many names, and that there are many paths to finding one's 'truth' or spirituality. Over the years I contemplated returning to church. There were definitely aspects I missed, but it didn't feel right to go back to a Catholic church. A few months ago my partner & I started talking about attending services to expose our children to the concept & perhaps have an experience we enjoyed too. We started attending a local "UU" (Unitarian Universalist) church back in January and I have to say I am really happy we decided to try it. It felt a little odd at first, the church we attend is so much smaller than the churched I attended as a child. But once I got comfortable with the differences, it's a really nice & accepting church.
So on to the question- have you gone back to church after a long absence? Did you change faiths or return to your childhood religion? And what was the experience like?
3 people like this
6 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
2 Mar 08
I wasn't any religion when I was young. My mom was an agnostic, my father was a baptist but neither went to church. When I was old enough what a true Christian Had to do, I knew I couldn't. I feel for the music and the freedom to question of Judaism when I was in my early teens and I have been practicing ever since.Return to Church? It is hard to return when you never been.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
15 Mar 08
You taught your kids to spiritual? If so, then they will find the right path for themselves.I wouldn't be so hard on yourself about not taking them to church.If they are interested, they will find the right church it is not too late. I think being forced to go to a church that you either don't like or don't really understand is worse than not going at all. If you are bored or just going through the motions then church is a waste of time for you.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Fantastic.They are searching for the path that will work for them. That is fantastic.
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
19 Mar 08
'You taught your kids to spiritual?'
I think I've done a fair job of exposing them to spiritual ideas. My eldest seems drawn to Buddhism, he's read some books, understands the basic ideas etc. My daughter went through a very brief Catholic phase, I had forgotten about that, but she went to Mass with her aunt for about a year. So I guess they have both been more exposed to religions than I was thinking at first. I'm sure they will find the path that's right for them as the grow.
1 person likes this
@shamis (2)
• Panama
2 Mar 08
hi
i'm new,and couldn't believe when i saw this message. i'm 65 and through most of my life ihave not been attending church,but always believed in god.when one of my younger brothers got married at a unitarian church i told my wife how i really like this church. now that i'm retired one of the things i want to do is read the bible but i find it very difficult because i don't read well and it is very hard reading. you sound just like me,kinda like a lost sheperd. i want to thank you for your very timely letter its time i change my life.
1 person likes this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I don't want to sound as if I am recruiting, but check out another UU service if you have a chance. I'm really happy with what we've found so far. The services and sermons are current, and apply to what is happening in the world today not 2000 years ago. They use all sorts of resources for their service, not just the Bible. And they are honestly friendly and open to visitors. I haven't felt any pressure to join, but I feel completely welcomed to attend.
@ciades (1623)
• Philippines
2 Mar 08
I active doing church activities when i was nineteen years old. I stop when i was 25. I don't know people inside the church is no difference outside. So i decided to stop and continue showing my faith thru giving time attaining masses and doing good. Im serving almost for six years but i did'nt felt any difference to those people who did not serving. I always ask myself a question. Why it seems, i didnt feel his presence? OR that is not the things that He want me to do. OR because the people sorrounds me or the person inside me? OR because i just want to try doing th ose things. OR just like experimenting about life. And one thing He is not convinced of what i showed to him.
So, right now im outside the church. And im still looking for his presence inside me. My faith is still here and still truly LOVeHIm. But i dont know if when i will serve again thru the church activities or apostolate services.
1 person likes this
@grunge_avenged (552)
• Canada
2 Mar 08
Very interesting! Well, I am still fairly young so maybe I won't have quite the response you are looking for. However, my family used to attend church a lot more (not necessarily a lot to begin with though). We have not been to church for a loongg time except for when I was confirmed and when my brother was confirmed. We used to go on Easter and maybe Christmas and maybe a few other times in the year .. But now we just do not go at all. I think it is important to go .. And I am a Catholic as well but I do not really agree with the Catholic system. I attend a Catholic high school and so we have mass every month .. Which is like going to church in theory I suppose.
In grade 11, I took a course called "World Religions" and it really opened my eyes to other religions. I have a good interest in religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam (Muslims) .. They are all pretty interesting! If anything .. I would rather be a Buddhist than a Catholic .. Or at the least, a Christian but not Catholic. Many other sects of Christianity have better ethics in my opinion that are not so strict!
1 person likes this
@idaantipolo (472)
• Philippines
2 Mar 08
I was raised similarly...went to Catholic school from elementary until college. I even became active in organizations of the church. After college I worked and got into a relationship with a guy who after long years of being together, we split up and that devastated me so much and began not going to church, and it was at this time that I was looking for a big change that I decided to look into a Protestant church and attended their services for almost half the year. It was very different from the Catholic church and to make things short, I wasn't comfortable to be with that church, so I decided to go back.
We have totally different story but my experience in finding the "truth" about God and church, made me realize that no matter what church we may belong to,we should always keep in mind that the basis of all these are in the Bible. All their teachings are based in the Bible it is just how they translate the verses in the Bible that make things different.
@dyuwono (12)
• Indonesia
2 Mar 08
Religion is a way to understand, to know about universal system. God is real, I believe that. Only one god in this macrocosmos and microcosmos. God didn't have child or born. God are different than we imagine. God is not human. God is not like us. We don't understand.
I suggest we must more learn more about many religion.
All religion is teach us abut good life. But each religion has different concept about god. Who is our god? In christian or catholic said : "Yesus". But moslem said "Allah" or Jewish "Yahweh" or Indian "Manitou".
After we learn about religion, I hope we are lucky people can choose the right religion in this universe.
1 person likes this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I don't believe that there's one right religion for everyone. There isn't one right profession for everyone, or one right food to eat, why would there only be one path to God. I think we're all here to learn different things, perhaps we each have a lesson to learn that changes in each life (I believe in reincarnation) so maybe we need all of these man-made religions to show us different truths.
