Does anyone else ever miss going to church sometimes? I miss the community and tradition and even the rituals. They were familiar and comforting in a way.
They say that even children who are abused prefer (often) to be with their parents regardless. I'm not saying you were abused by going to church, but that comforting familiarity can be replaced by a more rational group of friends, if you make the effort. And sure, I get it. We want to go back to the easy ways we grew up with. Life gets more complicated, less comforting. Good luck finding your way...
Sooz, I was abused in church and parochial schools as a relatively young child by Sadistic nuns. Fortunate to have missed the priests. There is zero inclination to revisit. The inside of a church could almost trigger flashbacks. People deluded by superstition and fantasies represented as real are often unaware of the subtle ways it damaged them.
Only at the holidays. I used to go for the organ music. If there was some big hedonistic Yuletide bonfire song singing event Now I'd go to that.
I don't miss it at all!!! I'd rather sit in a park and read a book. This may sound crazy, but I don't trust syrupy sweet people who spout things like "praise the Lord brother" or "Gawd bless you"
If I were to stand up in the congregation and declare I am an AGNOSTIC, without even knowing the definition some one would offer to pray for me. In the Black Church...someone would yell.." the blood of JESUSSSSSS!! Nah, I'm good, don't need the community or the religious gack!
No, but I do miss having a community in physical space. It's slow going getting into groups in this area and I'm still sick right now--the isolation because of it is starting to get to me.
Of course they were comforting. They were simple. They were absolute. The community of church cannot be denied, but even that is based on simple and absolute. A lack of questioning and trying to reason. Rote buzzwords and actions. A certain way to greet others with pat phrases and pasted on expressions. Dressing a certain way. Believing a certain way, or at least pretending well enough to pass.
This missing you mention -- is it missing or is it just withdrawal? MindfulSoul -- hmm. I can understand "mindful" as a choice for anyone. Soul is another thing. Do you really mean "soul", or are you conflating soul with "person"?
Nope. I never missed it. By the time I got married and left home I thought most of the people going to church were hypocrites anyway.
Nope. The smell from all the sacrificial goats started to bother my allergies