An epiphany

[writing irish]

Doc, that's a lot better than what I was thinking. I'm all for cunnilingus, early and often, but not with prostitutes.

If you're interested, "Finding Your Religion: When the Faith You Grew Up With Has Lost Its Meaning" by Scotty McLennan is a good read. He's the real-life inspiration behind the Rev. Scott Sloan character in Doonesbury.

 

[Boom_70]

Epiphany is really a Christian word so I think you should change thread title to revelation. Otherwise it's misleading.

I clicked on thinking that you were going to tell us that you accepted the baby jesus as our god and savior.

 

[markvid]

There are times I wonder the same. It's obviously not out of the ordinary to question your faith at some point in your life.
I've been to 2 Catholic masses in the past few years, one, my mother's funeral last month and a mass for her yesterday morning.
Both times, I started to think to myself, why do we have to go into a building to profess our faith in God, etc? Shouldn't he be able to hear us at any time we pray outside of church? Then it morphs into are we really talking to anyone? What if the stories in the Bible are just that? Or has someone has written the fiction book of all-time and we have accepted it as the truth.

Or, is it that I was really out of practice of the Catholic mass and had to think what was coming next

:)

 

[Boom_70]

Just today God has shined his love on Boston.

 

[zeke12]

hb --

The good part of your relevation is that it's liberating -- to your thought process, to your life.

The difficult part is that it means finding your own moral code in the world instead of having one given to you. Many thoughtful religious people have to do the same thing, as well, but you surely will be forced to.

One other thought: You're not out of the ordinary. Lots of people feel the way you do. Lots of them continue going to church, but that doesn't mean that's the right decision for you. If you're looking for something else, seek it.

 

[dooley_womack1]

I really haven't much believed in God for about 15 years, when he/she/it knocked me clean off the fence on the issue. I believe in the basic goodness of people and that most people see Rousseau's social contract as the best way to make life in society work.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller. A good read for those of you who have questions about Christianity while not as willing to give up the faith, as well as non-Christians who have curiosity about the faith but are set back by the psycho elements we unfortunately have to suffer. Well written, thoughtful, good **** all around. I liked it.

 

[Beaker]

There were worse places to be than in church. Don't fret. You may have the rest of your life to realize the mistake you're making now.
Or, the next 10 seconds.

Well, there's an unpredictable comment. ::)

 

[writing irish]

I miss the days when I thought that people are essentially good. It felt better to think that. I don't any more.

 

[zeke12]

I miss the days when I thought that people are essentially good. It felt better to think that. I don't any more.

The lack of evidence is, indeed, deafening.

 

[shockey]

welcome to the bright side, hb, my brother. 8) ;D 8)

 

[ADifferentOkie]

If you are going to church or saying prayers or whatever as a force of habit, then you should stop. It makes no sense.
But Christianity doesn't have to be about rituals. That has always been my complaint with the Catholic church.
It should be about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
You can find that if you look, and you don't have to do it in a church.
I advise anyone to keep an open mind when it comes to religion. You won't agree with most of what people say, but I think you should always listen, because you never know who might actually be right.
If there is a God, He can choose an incredibly unlikely method to speak to you.
If there isn't, I don't know how you can really figure that out and be confident in your decision without having intelligent discussions and reading up on the subject.

 

[gandhithegreat]

You may have the rest of your life to realize the mistake you're making now. Or, the next 10 seconds.

In the US, we call the above statement terrorism. And you've broken one of the major tenants of most organized religions...thou shalt not pass judgement. The statement insinuates that the original poster is incapable of making up his/her own mind. The wonderful thing about being human is that we can continue to think and shape our mind the way we want...by the grace of whatever you believe.

 

[pallister]

Good thing not passing judgment is not one of the TENETS of SportsJournalists.com.

 

[Beaker]

If you are going to church or saying prayers or whatever as a force of habit, then you should stop. It makes no sense.
But Christianity doesn't have to be about rituals. That has always been my complaint with the Catholic church.

I agree with that.

Have either of you posted your 95 Theses on the door of the local church yet? :D

 

[audreyld]

If you've believed (or wanted to) letting that go can be as difficult as leaving any other close relationship. And like a divorce or break up, it means that you are going to lose friends who are on your ex's side, if you know what I mean.

When I finally admitted that I was an atheist recently I felt huge relief. And then I felt indescribably sad. His column was beautiful. And I understand why he asked to be relieved of that beat. An atheist with a good knowledge of religions and an open mind can cover religion. But how hard would it be to be asked to cover the doings of someone you used to love and live with?

I just wanted to repost HC's comments here, because I think they sum up how a lot of us feel about our relationship with belief.

 

[gandhithegreat]

Good thing not passing judgment is not one of the TENETS of SportsJournalists.com.

you are correct about that.

 

[Buck]

'Belief is the death of intelligence.'
— the late, great Robert Anton Wilson
RIP

 

[Guy_Incognito]

HB, been there, done that. Have since realized it is OK to believe in the HRE, without believing in organized religion, which is bunk.

It's OK, but it sure seems unlikely that throughout the course of history, no one has stumbled on to HRE's true nature & what if anything HRE wants from a world that HRE didn't have to create.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

If there is a God -- and I regularly waffle on this -- I think the description by Bruce Almighty is most apt: He's a bully standing over an anthill with a magnifying glass.

As for organized religion ... if they have to shove it down your throat, how legitimate can it really be? No thanks.