tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104197823513168053.post175064608563453622..comments2013-10-20T00:10:44.739-04:00Comments on Perhaps the biggest: My slide into non-beliefAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330640864363173716noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104197823513168053.post-41089147755746953762010-10-28T22:48:03.145-04:002010-10-28T22:48:03.145-04:00Welcome back, Rich. I went through a lot of the s...Welcome back, Rich. I went through a lot of the same type of questioning you did, though, as you know, I came to a much different conclusion. :) I'm looking forward to reading more.Radiodadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10432167309750330864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104197823513168053.post-48854593852924534272010-10-26T23:53:44.017-04:002010-10-26T23:53:44.017-04:00Welcome back to the world of blogging, Rich! Good ...Welcome back to the world of blogging, Rich! Good to see you back around.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16030557639473109093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104197823513168053.post-6546174220181247492010-10-26T12:14:16.225-04:002010-10-26T12:14:16.225-04:00Nice to see you blogging again, Rich.
And particu...Nice to see you blogging again, Rich.<br /><br />And particularly to see you (re)launching your blogging with so articulate an exploration of deeply felt and considered a topic.<br /><br />I'll be interested to see where your explorations lead you -- and your readers -- in posts to come.<br /><br />It does seem to me that your clarification is important. I hear often from people who tell me that I "just haven't found the right church" (or denomination, religion, etc.).<br /><br />While I have large sympathy for their feelings, it has always struck me that the "my church will change your beliefs" both speaks poorly (if probably accurately) of their sense of my beliefs, and comes close to likening a church to a bank that offers lower interest rates or a store that stocks your favorite variety of a product, and the enthusiasm of their customers for the experience they have and that "you really must share."Keith Ferrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08888295556045780921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104197823513168053.post-45595784538404229132010-10-26T07:03:07.158-04:002010-10-26T07:03:07.158-04:00Thanks for your response, Allison. I guess I didn...Thanks for your response, Allison. I guess I didn't clarify it enough in the post; I didn't stop believing because of the opinions we encountered in that church. That was merely the point where I took off the rose colored glasses and started looking at religion objectively. I'll be touching the specifics in coming posts, but suffice it to say that trying it again really isn't an option.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18330640864363173716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9104197823513168053.post-64286703641371892052010-10-25T23:04:36.214-04:002010-10-25T23:04:36.214-04:00Now this is cool!!! I get to be the first to make ...Now this is cool!!! I get to be the first to make a comment on your post. <br /><br />Anyway, I just wanted to comment. I grew up in the Presbyterian Church right there in T-Vegas. I knew everyone that went there and many of the people there helped raise me in sorts. I was very close to God and had a close relationship with him for my entire school career. Then, as you may remember my father passed on. It only strengthened my relationship with God...until I left town to move to Utica and went to college. <br /><br />I just couldn't find my niche in the church community there. I wasn't a huge fan of the Presbyterian church in Clarion and well, I didn't see any other option. My relationship fell to the wayside. I haven't really thought much about it. I still believed but I think I was still angry, frustrated and upset at God. I felt like it was his fault. <br /><br />I guess in a way I was indifferent to religion for all of college. I can honestly say that I am consciously trying to get back to where I was. I have always believed but I have been holding a huge grudge and I guess now I am getting over it. It still hurts to think about how things have changed so much but you just have to roll with the punches. <br /><br />When I read this, it made me think about my own journey and now that I am starting to get back into the Christian thing again, reading your post got me thinking. Thinking about what I really believe and making it my own and not something that was made routine by years of "going to church," but finding a reason to believe.<br /><br />I know that the church seems corrupt and I'm sure there are many that may preach a message of fear but not all churches are like that. The churches I have been attending all of my life have never given the "hell-fire and brimstone" kinds of sermons or bible school classes like the one you described. I am mortified and ashamed that there are churches that preach that kind of fear campaign. It shouldn't have been like that and I hope that you would one day find it in your heart to give it another chance. <br /><br />I don't know if it was just the fear campaign that scared you away from the faith or there were other reasons. Not all churches are like that, I can attest to that. There are many good people that are Christians and there are many churches there in T-Vegas that are much more accommodating. I guess what I am suggesting is that you should give it another try. If you still don't like it then you can go back to what you are doing and you will never hear me preach to you on the subject again. Just saying.Ms. Stoltzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14527039124152484048noreply@blogger.com