Ramblings and Musings

[bonnie_halfelvn]

This has been a very strange year for me, in terms of having rejected Christianity. It’s strange because some of my friends have pretty much the same beliefs, but call themselves Christians. It doesn’t work for me. I feel very much like an outsider, and I don't think I could ever go back. It all feels fake now

Comments

[lordofhaladin]

*hugs*

[bonnie_halfelvn]

Thanks.

[dreamer_98]

*hugs*

It's a difficult place to be in. I understand not feeling like you fit into a certain label, holding your own beliefs and not wanting them to be judged and critiqued by others who think, "You should think/believe this way."

Even though I consider myself to be a Christian, I don't have any desire to attend church or study the Bible or any other activities/actions that people think Christians must do. I'm trying to follow my faith in my own way, and trying not to listen to what other people might say about it.

[bonnie_halfelvn]

I wouldn't be surprised if your beliefs are similar to mine.

As to being judged, I can honestly say that I really don't give a damn what a stranger thinks about what I believe. I can't say that I've ever had anyone I know personally outside my immediate family voice any opinion about my beliefs (and my parents have not been overly assertive, thankfully). I wouldn't care what they thought, either, but I would be annoyed that anyone who called themselves a friend thought it was their place to say anything.

Sometimes people use the guise of "Christian love" to insert themselves into other people's business, but I've been fortunate not to have to deal with that - except when it comes to the lgbt issues I fight on behalf of others. All that "love the sinner, hate the sin" crap.

My mother is very disappointed. My dad probably thinks I'm going to hell. Since I no longer believe in hell, I'm not too worried about it. ;)

[rosiethehobbit]

That is a difficult place to be in. It takes time to re-evaluate such a huge portion of your life. And yes, training that is that ingrained will be with you for the rest of your life to some extent. I still find reactions, verses, and songs in my head that I don't much care for anymore. It does feel like being lied to and used.

Hugs and blessings to you as you do your soul searching. May you find joy in your own path, wherever that path takes you.

[bonnie_halfelvn]

It makes me happy that you took the time to respond to this, because I know you've been down this road.

Thanks and hugs.

[veronica_rich]

My mother thought my rejection of Christianity was the fault of the religion class I took at university, but that was over half a lifetime ago and I didn't go back from becoming agnostic. She eventually stopped bugging me about it; I could've thought she just gave up and forgot, except she was warning my sister years after that about wanting to date an overly religious guy. "Take your sister to meet this man," she told her. "If she can't stand him or he tries to convert her, forget him; she's fair about people's religion, or lack of. He should be, too." I hope your mother will come to accept yours and not be upset, too. But you've gotta do your own thing.

[bonnie_halfelvn]

LOL, your mom is a smart lady.

There are four of us kids. I was the last to attend church on any regular basis, so I guess that's why it's such a disappointment to her.

MY youngest SIL is pretty religious, though. She is always buying Christian-based video cartoons for her kids to watch. I think it would be very hard to take them to church all the time. They are a handful.

On the other hand, my SIL's beliefs have fueled her and my brother's prejudice against lgbt people, so you can imagine we are not close. ;-P

Homophobia and religion are choices, and I've chosed not to participate in either. ;-)

[ex_logospil]

In the book I am writing right now, at one point I quote Lytta Basset (one of my favorite theologians) who wrote, Avec tous les autres ou pas du tout -with everyone, or not at all. You might say that is my motto...

This is why I now identify mainly as a religious pluralist. I gather what is beautiful, and brew a love potion in my cauldron.

It would be fair to say that Taoism is probably one of my strongest influences. But I love... Love.

"When there is no place you've decided to call your own, no matter where you go, you are always heading home."
~Muso Soseki

I also love these words by Rumi: "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there."

[bonnie_halfelvn]

Love is the best religion of all.