Posted by dillon on September 23, 2003, at 3:04:51
In reply to Re: Faith that Fits or How to find my place , posted by Tabitha on September 23, 2003, at 2:18:15
> Hi Dillon, welcome to PBFaith. I've recently begun looking for a spiritual home myself. I've also had several experiences of people trying to interest me in their groups or churches-- I've gone to classes and visited churches and felt completely out of place, despite the enthusiasm of everyone around me, to the point where I thought they had to be faking it. (Looking back I don't think that anymore. They were just having a different reaction than me.) I think we all just have to find a group and set of beliefs that fit for us. It isn't easy.
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> I found it wasn't easy to even give myself permission to look. Somehow, not having any faith was easier than admitting that the faith I was raised in (various flavors of Protestant Christianity) didn't suit me. Striking out on my own is like cutting ties to my family. It also feels like cutting ties to my faith-free friends. Although I've read spiritually-flavored self-help books for years, actually joining a groups seems like a big step-- like coming out of the closet with my interest.
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> After some exploration, I figured out what I personally need-- a group that provides social opportunity, that appeals to my emotional needs (I seem to really need to hear positive messages), that doesn't offend my intellect, and that doesn't induce guilt and shame to prod changes in behavior (or doesn't otherwise offend my humanistic values picked up in therapy). I've found one group that seems promising, but I'm not sure how involved I want to get.
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>Your experiences sound promising to me too. I wouldn't mind hearing more about your experience with this group (whomever they are... and I would like to know that too). It sounds like you and I have simmilar interests in what our needs are from a group...
My 27 year old son is investigating Buddism and is enjoying that experience and the people. He says it's very different that what he's been used to. It's helped him get over his brother's death this past year. It has been a tough year for us, but there is a reason to keep going, I just know there is.
I have made wonderful friends in all the religious groups I have had contact with... their faiths are all so inspiring... I just wish I could experience a community/home of my own up here in the Great NorthWet... It gets depressing in the winters here.. I figured it out once.. We get approximately 278 days of cloudy weather a year... You need faith just to get though seasons that gray!
Keep me posted on your experiences please!
Cheers!
Dillon
poster:dillon
thread:262571
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20030908/msgs/262591.html