Katrina, I feel sick that this is how you were responded to. Especially because it's not true that your mom wasn't welcome in the Catholic church, even if she was divorced. It's also not true that your child couldn't be baptized - and by the way, calling him a bastard?!
I hurt when I see how clergy weaponize religion. I understand why you walked away. Religion can hurt. It can traumatize.
But I also want to tell you that some of us who do believe and still practice, in some formal way, that religious belief, are doing our best to reflect the love, mercy, and compassion we know is at the core of our faith, and its traditions.
Organized religion is comprised of people and they forget that they are NOT God. I am speaking to your experience and to those who have felt outed and othered. My ‘church’ is out in nature where I can more closely hear. Lots of unlearning and shedding of those layers that were projected onto you, Katrina, and were never yours in the first place. You are not alone as many have been wounded. I heard stories that made my hair stand on end as a hospital chaplain. As soon as they saw my wild and funky socks I was invited in because I was there simply to listen and to hold space. I believe this is the greatest gift we can offer one another. Gentle care as you sift, sort and come back to YOU. Once again, your essence cannot be preached to you. It is your birthright. 💜
"Your essence cannot be preached to you. It is your birthright." I love those lines so much, Joanie. I can't even imagine what you've heard as a hospital chaplain. So, so many have been damaged "in the name of God." It makes my heart hurt.
“The fiery flames” of preaching love and acceptance. I’ve been told this is my destiny as well. I can only pray that those misguided souls will find peace in this lifetime. But I take comfort in knowing that they will at the end of it.
I agree. Organized religion is more about money and power than anything else. I do appreciate people who do good works, and behave ethically and with kindness. That’s the only “religion” I need.
About 15 years ago, I read the Richard Dawkins book The God Delusion and everything clicked into place for me. Through the resource section at the end of his book, I found the Freedom from Religion Foundation, a nonprofit organization filled with delightful, intelligent, kind people who fight for our founding principles to keep religion out of schools and government. I became a lifetime member. I have proudly called myself an atheist ever since. One of my favorite bumper stickers says it all: “Religion is not a pre-requisite for morality.” Amen!
(P.S. while I credit Dawkins - an evolutionary biologist - with helping me “see the light,” he has turned into a male JK Rowling-esque transphobe, and I can no longer abide him).
I was all excited to read "The God Delusion" until I read your PS. But I am definitely going to look up the Freedom from Religion Foundation. And I'm also looking for that bumper sticker! I love that I always learn something new and important from you. Thanks, friend. XO
It is still a great book, honestly. I think maybe his frontal lobe is changing with age, lol. But take it out from the library (if a Florida library dare carries it), so that he doesn’t earn any of your money!
Another good one is Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris. Much shorter. Harris and Dawkins are two of the four “horsemen” of what’s called “new atheism” (though it now dates back to the oughts), along with Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens (both now deceased). I found Dawkins and Harris to be the more accessible of the horsemen.
I believe very similarly to you....I out it a little differently when i say it out loud...but like you I began to question a lot about religion at a young age. I loved my preach Dr. Smitty so very much...but I remember crawling into his lap and taking his face into my hands and asking...where exactly does god live and why do I not hear him talk to me?! And I also remembering that "god lives everywhere" just did not seem plausible to me at age 6. I just never found the answers to all my questions. I always say that I might be wrong...but if/when the time comes that I am face to face with "God"
I'll join you in the flames my friend! I abandoned religion long ago, but live full of love and acceptance - even of the ones who refuse to see me or you or anyone who is "other" and only see us as less than. Xoxo
Thank you for voicing your truth, Katrina. I grew up in a nondenominational Christian church. Liberal as it was, I still felt excluded when I realized I was lesbian at around age 16. As an adult, I’ve embraced Unitarian Universalism and then discarded organized religion in favor of Tibetan Buddhism, which I consider as much philosophy as religion.
One writer has written that if Jesus and the Buddha had chanced to live at the same time they would need no introduction. They would KNOW ONE ANOTHER! I love that.
I'd love to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism. From what little I know, I think it would probably align closely with my own belief system. I think I'll do a little reading on it. Thanks, Julie. :)
The group I work with is part of an organization called Namchak. You can Google and find them. They are very open to people from all backgrounds. Good luck in your explorations!
There's a thing called spiritual rape, and it is real. My ex did it to me when he told me I was excommunicated for sinning with him. Turns out, that, too, was a lie.
Wow, Julia. I'm so sorry. I, too, can't wait until we get to sit down and talk together. I didn't even know Catholic priests COULD marry. That definitely wasn't something they taught me at St. Michael's.
Katrina, I feel sick that this is how you were responded to. Especially because it's not true that your mom wasn't welcome in the Catholic church, even if she was divorced. It's also not true that your child couldn't be baptized - and by the way, calling him a bastard?!
I hurt when I see how clergy weaponize religion. I understand why you walked away. Religion can hurt. It can traumatize.
But I also want to tell you that some of us who do believe and still practice, in some formal way, that religious belief, are doing our best to reflect the love, mercy, and compassion we know is at the core of our faith, and its traditions.
Sending you ❤️
I do believe that, Jeannie. I see it in you. ❤️
❤️
Organized religion is comprised of people and they forget that they are NOT God. I am speaking to your experience and to those who have felt outed and othered. My ‘church’ is out in nature where I can more closely hear. Lots of unlearning and shedding of those layers that were projected onto you, Katrina, and were never yours in the first place. You are not alone as many have been wounded. I heard stories that made my hair stand on end as a hospital chaplain. As soon as they saw my wild and funky socks I was invited in because I was there simply to listen and to hold space. I believe this is the greatest gift we can offer one another. Gentle care as you sift, sort and come back to YOU. Once again, your essence cannot be preached to you. It is your birthright. 💜
"Your essence cannot be preached to you. It is your birthright." I love those lines so much, Joanie. I can't even imagine what you've heard as a hospital chaplain. So, so many have been damaged "in the name of God." It makes my heart hurt.
“The fiery flames” of preaching love and acceptance. I’ve been told this is my destiny as well. I can only pray that those misguided souls will find peace in this lifetime. But I take comfort in knowing that they will at the end of it.
I agree. Organized religion is more about money and power than anything else. I do appreciate people who do good works, and behave ethically and with kindness. That’s the only “religion” I need.
About 15 years ago, I read the Richard Dawkins book The God Delusion and everything clicked into place for me. Through the resource section at the end of his book, I found the Freedom from Religion Foundation, a nonprofit organization filled with delightful, intelligent, kind people who fight for our founding principles to keep religion out of schools and government. I became a lifetime member. I have proudly called myself an atheist ever since. One of my favorite bumper stickers says it all: “Religion is not a pre-requisite for morality.” Amen!
(P.S. while I credit Dawkins - an evolutionary biologist - with helping me “see the light,” he has turned into a male JK Rowling-esque transphobe, and I can no longer abide him).
I was all excited to read "The God Delusion" until I read your PS. But I am definitely going to look up the Freedom from Religion Foundation. And I'm also looking for that bumper sticker! I love that I always learn something new and important from you. Thanks, friend. XO
It is still a great book, honestly. I think maybe his frontal lobe is changing with age, lol. But take it out from the library (if a Florida library dare carries it), so that he doesn’t earn any of your money!
Another good one is Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris. Much shorter. Harris and Dawkins are two of the four “horsemen” of what’s called “new atheism” (though it now dates back to the oughts), along with Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens (both now deceased). I found Dawkins and Harris to be the more accessible of the horsemen.
I believe very similarly to you....I out it a little differently when i say it out loud...but like you I began to question a lot about religion at a young age. I loved my preach Dr. Smitty so very much...but I remember crawling into his lap and taking his face into my hands and asking...where exactly does god live and why do I not hear him talk to me?! And I also remembering that "god lives everywhere" just did not seem plausible to me at age 6. I just never found the answers to all my questions. I always say that I might be wrong...but if/when the time comes that I am face to face with "God"
...I still have lots of questions .
I think questions are good. I think we should be asking them all the time. <3
I'll join you in the flames my friend! I abandoned religion long ago, but live full of love and acceptance - even of the ones who refuse to see me or you or anyone who is "other" and only see us as less than. Xoxo
Yes, you do, Mesa. You ARE love and acceptance personified. ❤️
😭😭😭❤️
Thank you for voicing your truth, Katrina. I grew up in a nondenominational Christian church. Liberal as it was, I still felt excluded when I realized I was lesbian at around age 16. As an adult, I’ve embraced Unitarian Universalism and then discarded organized religion in favor of Tibetan Buddhism, which I consider as much philosophy as religion.
One writer has written that if Jesus and the Buddha had chanced to live at the same time they would need no introduction. They would KNOW ONE ANOTHER! I love that.
I love that, too. <3
I just realized I got the quote wrong. It was “they would need no introduction for they would “recognize” one another.
I'd love to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism. From what little I know, I think it would probably align closely with my own belief system. I think I'll do a little reading on it. Thanks, Julie. :)
The group I work with is part of an organization called Namchak. You can Google and find them. They are very open to people from all backgrounds. Good luck in your explorations!
There's a thing called spiritual rape, and it is real. My ex did it to me when he told me I was excommunicated for sinning with him. Turns out, that, too, was a lie.
Wow, Julia. I'm so sorry. I, too, can't wait until we get to sit down and talk together. I didn't even know Catholic priests COULD marry. That definitely wasn't something they taught me at St. Michael's.
I can't wait to have this convo in person with you. Love from someone who married a Catholic priest and believed all his lies.