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sea storm:
What do you mean you aren't Christian anymore??????  The church used to have a big place in your life. With that God too.

Have you changed religions?  It is ok if you are not a Christian of course. It just seems like a very important part of you that slipped away .

I am becoming a Buddhist. It is not a religion but more a philosophy and the channel is direct to the white light, god, goddess all that is.  Seems like all religions are about loving each other, knowing oneself and being kind. Some kind of spiritual path seems very necessary to me personally.

Good night dear Hops,

Sea

Hopalong:

--- Quote ---The church used to have a big place in your life. With that God too.
--- End quote ---


Nope, I'm not Christian, since 1970ish. I had real, childhood faith and direct experiences of love associated with Jesus. But it wasn't "belief," it was willingness and yearning for love. "The church" I've often referred to is this one, which is not Christian (though historically it was it evolved into a NON-CREEDAL church). Religion fell apart for me when I realized it was about special clubs.

I do not "believe in" God. I am profoundly agnostic. At the same time I occasionally in private use the G-word. But that doesn't mean "belief" -- it means "this describes the oceanic hope I'm expressing as best I can for this moment." (Pathetic but that's my version of prayer for now.)

What faith I have is in love and in nature. I think human language is entirely inadequate, cannot stand the idea of making any human texts "sacred" (they are WORDS which are by definition not realities) and that the Great Mystery of Meaning is never, ever going to be answered in a church or a book.

I care a lot about my church but it's mainly because I have no family and this group of people are like an extended family to me. I'm less enthused lately because the minister we have now pushes a lot of negative buttons for me (but that's also allowing me to work on how I react...etc.). Most of my local friendships arise from this community as well). I host a 2x/month women's group at my home that I love doing. But I'm beginning for the first time to give my church the stink-eye as a religious institution.

Won't stop going but I go a lot less. I'm a lifer there, though. I need it. And there is some joy in belonging to a community.

love
Hops

sea storm:
Somehow I assumed that  you were religious. Partly because you strive forward like a soldier of something.

Your church must be interesting if you can be an agnostic and go public about it.  that kind of broadmindedness is hard to find and precious.
The greatness and amazing magic of the world is overwhelmingly beautiful, horrible and often fills me with awe. Nevertheless, it is not attached to Mr god and all that. what I find helpful is when a problem is overwhelming to surrender and give it up to a higher powerr. Any higher power at all.  To the sky, the sea, wind in the trees, your friends. Don't be alone in it.

Thanks for sharing your spiritual beliefs.

Sea

Hopalong:
I love your description of a higher power. Thanks, Sea.

And what it is, is a non-creedal denomination called Unitarian Universalism. This site explains it: www.uua.org.

We have plenty of agnostics, some atheists, secualar humanists, Christians (by their own lights--they have special meetings on their own but also worship with the congregation), Buddhists, a Sikh (he's also the mayor), and loads of EX-MethoBapCathPresbyEpiscoterians...iow, anythings.

We have been called the Church of the Question Mark, the Church of the Potluck Supper, etc.

 :D

Hops

sea storm:
Hi Hops


I never tire of your name. It makes me think of bunnies hopping along happily in the grass or of Hopalong Cassidy riding so expertly while he twirls his lariat. There is only one Hopalong.

I like the idea of the church of pot luck dinners.  I have a group on my street that meet twice a month. Once for dinner at a restaurant and once at someone's house. There are 8-10 who show up each time. It would be hard to expand the group as we all have pretty small houses, probably 1100 square feet. The people who go to the restaurent are called " The Newcomers Club" but most have been in the group for over 10 years. I have been going ever since I moved here last July. I am so glad I have this community. It is not churchy but more based on kindness, listening, helping each other. Also nosiness, opera, and drinking. Ah well, you can't have everything.

By opera i mean they go opera occasionally. As if they are bursting into an aria. This is when there is heavy drinking. I am not used to this anymore as I don't drink. For health reasons etc.  It has taken months for the group to build enough trust for this. At the last dinner one man said that his father was shot during the Hungarian Uprising, another said his father committed suicide and then his mom became an alcoholic,  another woman said that she felt suicidal in January when she had to ask her 25 year old seriously alcoholic son to leave and go to a shelter.  This was after an evening of laughing, good home made food, good talking. She works in child apprehension and is working six days a week and burned out.  When she told the group this their reaction was strange ( to me). There she had found her voice and explained through tears her deep sadness about her son and her feelings of being overwhelmed by her job.  People just pretended she hadn't said anything or continued talking about how to care for orchids. She actually stood up and said her say. One guy said that his father committed suicide and then the other guy said his father was shot when he was eight,.

I went over to the woman and put my hand on her shoulder and told her she was brave to speak her truth. Next day I phoned her and asked her to come over and we talked about what she had said. I asked her if she had support and went into crisis counseling mode. Right now i feel like the neighbourhood confessor. This is not what I want but who knows what I am here for. They are showing me things I didn't know before and I guess i am showing them a way of being with feelings they are not used to. They are probably as nervous about me as I am about them.  Everyone has a story and I really believe they need to find their voice and be listened to by someone who cares.

Nobody said it was easy

Love,
Sea storm

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