shape notes and earnest old white men with big noses

[lumin_esc]

I was raised Christian in Appalachia -- Missionary Baptist. My parents were modern, I guess, in that they actually allowed their ability to think interleave with their faith instead of just blocking logic out. They defied my dad's family by bringing my outcast gay great-uncle (and his adorable partner Larry) over for Thanksgiving dinner every

Comments

[amoux]

I realized one day that I just couldn't believe a god so kind could have these cockeyed opinions about whose desires were more okay when they were equally well-meaning.Pretty much

[amblinwiseass]

Long story short I grew up entirely without Church, something which I've mostly been relieved about, but there've also been persistent, mysterious pangs of grief which I JUST NOW REALIZED came because churches are really mostly about community

It's not just "growing up in the church" that does it; I grew up first Roman Catholic and then Southern Baptist, and I'm just as unclear on the whole concept of 'sense of belonging' as you seem to be. You've got to grow up in the church and be the kind of person that that church is willing to accept, which in my experience is a whole 'nother proposition.

[amoux]

That is a really excellent point. Thank you for... well, pointing it out to me. X)

[pen_umbra]

*raises hand* Or you end up like me!

HAY GUYS. Popping in to this thread a year late or so. :V Thanks for the add, Lumi! Was nice meeting you. Hopefully this whole "no new acquaintances at FC" thing ends now. :|

[lumin_esc]

Pft -- shameful biases? You're conscientious to a fault, already; I think I might cry if you told me I'd inspired shame in you. X)

There is a lot of focus on "fellowship" in church, but it's not necessarily vital. Like I said in my post initially, my family didn't exactly fit perfectly in -- I was wearing wolf shirts (already dabbling in therianthropy, lol) and growing my hair long when I was attending service at ~14, which got me a lot of raised eyebrows and old-lady whispers. My mom told me many times that she just... liked the act of worship.

But yeah, she does have a rather excellent taste in music, doesn't she? :3

[amoux]

I am?? :O Wait--who told you??! XD I try, but... uh, I didn't think I was actually being successful enough at it that anyone would actually describe me in such terms! I guess we'll just have to cry at each other now, then. XD In all serious emotional business, I'm enormously touched--which is an odd way of putting it, I suppose, but I'm not that great at articulating my feeeeeelings, so I should just stop before I really get myself lost. ^^;;; So thank you. *sniffle* :D