The other 'coming-out'..

[The_old_man]

I am a registered Methodist. I very seldom attend services as I seldom get out of bed in time to get there.

My wife and I do attend many of the "Exterior" activities, as well as being very active in the "marriage Encounter" community.

My great grandfather was six months short of being ordained as a Catholic priest when he left the seminary. We do not know Why he left as he never told anyone.

Since then, our family has led lives as "Educated Agnostics".

My personnel opinion. God exists, as an extra dimensional force.
Religion is ones personnel relationship with that force. CHURCH is a multi-national conglomerate that has the sole purpose of dominating its members in all activities.

 

[Guest]

I was born into a Mexican Catholic family and culture. Later in Catholic schools (in Detroit) I became very ambivalent as I could not separate being Mexican form being Catholic and the Catholicism I was taught was as foreign as the gringos that taught it.

Later as an educated Catholic I came to discover what I wanted 'the church' to be (not selfishly but as an institution that serves others). It simply depends on the people I encounter, and not necessarily those in charge.

I do enjoy Catholic theology, particularly the works that helped create and came out of Vatican II (many since censored or outright banned). Pope John XXIII was the last vicar I respected and listened to; I still occasionally read his opening speech to the council and am always moved at what a living document it still is some 40+ years later.

Sometimes I am a very angry Catholic. Sometimes I find a transcendence of worldly stress in my fragile faith. For those who might be interested, I do not believe abortion is evil, I do not believe the Pope is infallible, I do not believe in all the crap about the 'virgin' Mary, I do not believe sex is evil in any form or expression and I believe the RCC's reasons against birth control and female priests is utter crap.

unpiously, Perdita

Perdita

 

[Desamy]

I was raised Mormon from birth (shock! Looks like I'm the first 'Mormon' to make a post), but strayed from it about 2 years ago now, as my heart told and lead me in directions that were contrary to the Mormon Faith. I can't be hypocritical, especially when it comes to my beliefs.
I now occasionally attend a non-denomination Christian church with my Husband.
I pray regularly, and as I am only human, I struggle all the time.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Will he reveal?

I'm <GENERAL PROTECTION FAULT>

Retry
Abort
Fail







My religion is between me and my deity. Telling it to the world makes it into a spectacle of false morality that cheapens the religious experience.

 

[minsue]

Catholic. Ahh, nothing like the delicious frisson of a Catholic upbringing and a deeply tangled sexuality. You don't know what you're missing. There's a reason half the Decadents converted.

Shanglan

I know it well. It's all that stuck.

Athiest, for those who haven't wandered into some of the other religious threads.

 

[RebeccaLeah]

To quote the most politically correct polls:

I'm spiritual but not religious.

Formal religions don't fit me or my thinking. I guess I have my own spirtual system/belief, a large portion of which I typed out earlier at Abs, ironically.

 

[English Lady]

Perdita -I know many Catholics just like you and a very fine bunch of folks they are as well!

 

[SensualCealy]

Ive already posted to this but after reading so many others I had a few thoughts to process.

IMO- those of you who said, its the people the mess up what the religion is all about I think are correct. If it wasnt for those who thought or precieved themselves as better then others in my own congregation, Id likely still be there attending every Sunday, with or without my husband.

IMO- you can be spiritual, religious and christian and not attend a building to proclaim it. What does the building have to do with faith?

IMO- The writings in the bible for example are guide lines, and as was said by Perdita, even the Pope isnt perfect or we would be calling him Christ!

In most cases if you can live a day to day life with the things you say and do, without major issues then you are doing well. I know God loves me for who I am, and takes me for who I am, so now I have to convince others! lol
Cealy

 

[Guest]

Re: Will he reveal?

I'm <GENERAL PROTECTION FAULT>

Retry
Abort
Fail







My religion is between me and my deity. Telling it to the world makes it into a spectacle of false morality that cheapens the religious experience.

you bag of wind.. LOL.. i love ya more than my luggage.

is that like lather, rinse, repeat?


******
im an unorthodox pagan
no, really.. i believe theres something that is bigger than us.. i just refuse to lable it.
basic belief: do unto others.. just be a good person. we all have so much to learn.

 

[McKenna]

I prefer to think of myself as a transcendentalist, or at the very least, someone who is searching for truth wherever it lies.

I was born and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a.k.a. "Mormon." I was quite devout for many years, but walked away from my religion in my mid 20's. I've never looked back --though at times I miss the sense of community, and feeling like I had all the answers. I do not miss the ridicule or hearing of the many misconceptions people have of this religion. I mention with hesitancy my past association with it because I know without a doubt that in some way, some fashion, I've been judged because of it. (I'll be happy to show that I do not, in fact, have horns sprouting from my temple, though I'm quite sure what soul I have was damned to hell some time ago.)

I've attended a couple of non-denominational churches in the past couple of years, but have not been impressed or influenced enough to return to either of them. I find truth and renewal in the most obscure places -whether it be the words written by a fellow Literotican or the "baptism" of a rainstorm. I don't think anyone has a monopoly on the truth, and will regard such a person with much skepticism if not downright disgust. Humility goes a long way in my book.

I value truth above all else and appreciate most the people who are true to themselves while operating in this world of infinite untruths.

 

[jeanne_d_artois]

I'm a minister of the Universal Life Church

of Modesto, California.

As a minister, I am authorized by the church to perform the rites and ceremonies of the church (except circumcision), including weddings, funerals, baptisms and blessings, subject to the laws of your country, state, or locality. Prior to conducting any civil ceremony (such as marriages), I should know and comply with the laws pertaining to your area of jurisdiction.

I am entitled to all privileges and courtesies normally offered to members of the clergy.

The next part is the difficult bit:

My commitment is to always do the right thing. It is my
responsibility to peacefully and sincerely determine the right course of action, and to avoid infringing on the rights of others. I alone am responsible for my actions as a minister.

I think I need the wisdom of Solomon, the skills of a diplomat and understanding of God.

What a pity that I am a fictional persona.

Jeanne

PS. Anyone want to be married?

 

[Just-Legal]

Any body watch Dogma....?

Yup. I love the theories and ideas that are portrayed there. *g* And Alan Rickman, of course.

As for religion, I was raised a Catholic (had to be dragged kicking and screaming to church... that isn't going to leave a good impression on a child now is it?) but I think my whole family has fallen out with religion when my grandmother died.

Right now... I have my own beliefs and values and they are enough for me

 

[Honey123]

I am a Roman Catholic ~ but my beliefs have changed over the years.

I am pro choice....and I mean that for everything, not just birth control.

I told this to my mother once, she looked at me and said, "Who are you?"

After quite an intellectual and heart wrenching conversation about religion, beliefs and "who" I am, it was clear that my mother's belief as a child growing up in an Italian Catholic family weren't really that different after all. Just the wording is different now and our beliefs have changed for the type of world we live in.

Religion is a choice ~

I watched Dogma and thought this explained alot of how I felt about my religion...

 

[Guest]

Perdita -I know many Catholics just like you and a very fine bunch of folks they are as well!

Thank you for saying that, Lady. I know many Catholics like me too; "we" are The Church, vs. those knuckeheads in Rome .

Bless you, P.

 

[Black Tulip]

Like many before me, I call myself definitely religious, but I belong to no church. I was raised protestant as a small child, my mother was a mennonite but she did have us kids baptized and we went to church and Sunday school.

I refused to go any longer when the ultimate was withheld: I could not be Maria in the play for Christmas because they could not find a Joseph who was taller than me. LOL

I believe there's more than just this life, but am not even sure if there is something that has to be called God or something else.
Later in life my parents both were members of the Order of Rosicrucians and we kids were too. Most of my beliefs are an extension of those I think. Mysticism perhaps?