(Untitled)

[tapwater86]

This has not been a good weekend at all.  In fact it has been especially crappy.   It starts off with the disappearance of my cell phone, and ends with being humiliated in front of a small, small church congregation.

It's the first time in a long time I felt like I had to say something on this thing, but I think typing this out will help, and

Comments

[nowealthbutlife]

My conflict with organized religion began when I was asked not to attend the church's youth group by the youth minister. Like you, I'm not anti-religion -- I think a lot of the moral outlooks espoused by many organized churches are beneficial to society. If people find direction and salvation through religion, I think that's fantastic.

I think there are a lot of serious problems within organized religion, too. The politicization of religion never ceases to astonish me: such phrases as the "religious right" and the connotation of certain religions or sects with specific political parties or ideologies is downright dangerous. I was baptized Presbyterian, so what church background I have is so-called "reformed" theology. It seems to me to be the height of hypocrisy -- these self-proclaimed enlightened, "open-minded" thinkers have developed such a pronounced superiority complex that they scoff at "non-reformed" churches that claim to see scripture text in black-and-white, since they themselves obviously know the true nature of spirituality. Look in the mirror, guys. It's enough to make me sick.

I've had that experience of being preached to, although nowhere near as demoralizing as yours sounded. Being preached-to in a small town West Virginia Methodist church about the mortal sin of homosexual activity really hurt me, although I don't quite know why as I kept telling myself I didn't believe in that hooey. Despite my best efforts to eschew the three-tiered universe concept, I still find myself falling into thoughts of Dante's Inferno...I'm figuring on 7th circle or so. I know what you mean about being in that "habit," if you can call it that, and it's an uncomfortable spot to be.

Next year I plan to try some different places of worship. I'm fascinated with learning more about Quakerism, but I'd also like to attend other denomenations' services. I don't know if organized religion is for me or what, but I think it's important enough to explore.