I've made the decision to find religion....Now What??

[GMScud]

I was raised in the Catholic Church. So were my parents and grandparents. I went to Catholic school from K-12th grade and received the sacraments.

Today I have basically zero affiliation with the Catholic Church. I just don't buy what they're selling. I still go to church with my Mom and stepdad on Easter and Xmas, but that's more for them than it is for me.

I think the best part about religion is the sense of community, focus on family, and giving back charitably. There is a lot of good there in that sense. I do believe in a higher power- I'm not agnostic- and I do say prayers to that higher power, but I'd have a hard time calling myself Catholic at this point.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I was raised in the Catholic Church. So were my parents and grandparents. I went to Catholic school from K-12th grade and received the sacraments.

Today I have basically zero affiliation with the Catholic Church. I just don't buy what they're selling. I still go to church with my Mom and stepdad on Easter and Xmas, but that's more for them than it is for me.

I think the best part about religion is the sense of community, focus on family, and giving back charitably. There is a lot of good there in that sense. I do believe in a higher power- I'm not agnostic- and I do say prayers to that higher power, but I'd have a hard time calling myself Catholic at this point.

Same thing here. I mean personally I kind of enjoy it on the holidays, there's always something at church that makes for a great laugh later. Weather it be Father Mike adjusting the pitch of his voice in a seemingly random manner to the girl sitting in front of us wearing a thong. It was priceless to see my whole family crack up, including my ultra serious while at church father.

One of my favorite moments in church was when we had an Irish priest guest host a family mass in which during the sermon the children come up and sit around the alter. When the children were flocking towards the front the priest commented on how it seemed that people weren't using birth control in our town.

Either way this thread has led me to consider going back to religion. I mean personally I'm agnostic but when you think about it, there had to be some ultra powerful force of pure goodness that was strong enough to get Vinny fired. Without a God and a Messiah it's literally impossible.

[skinsguy]

SS84,

If it's Christ you are searching for, just continue to pray and He will lead you to the right church. Some here absolutely will despise you for even starting such a thread let alone make such a decision to follow Christ. Some will even make fun of you over it. You will lose any respect you may have had before, but just keep doing what you're doing man...and I swear you'll be more content with life.

And whichever denomination you feel most comfortable in is fine. There are some churches that are waaaay over the top and there are some who are more down to earth. Just seek the place that speaks to your heart the most and keep an open mind. If you need someone to pray with you, I'm always here.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

SS84,

If it's Christ you are searching for, just continue to pray and He will lead you to the right church. Some here absolutely will despise you for even starting such a thread let alone make such a decision to follow Christ. Some will even make fun of you over it. You will lose any respect you may have had before, but just keep doing what you're doing man...and I swear you'll be more content with life.

And whichever denomination you feel most comfortable in is fine. There are some churches that are waaaay over the top and there are some who are more down to earth. Just seek the place that speaks to your heart the most and keep an open mind. If you need someone to pray with you, I'm always here.

I'd argue that denouncing faith will get you more disrespect in the real world. Presidents HAVE to claim a Christian faith or they're not going to make it; people assume that agnostics and atheists are evil, morally devoid devil worshippers.

It's just easier to talk online for some people.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

I'd argue that denouncing faith will get you more disrespect in the real world. Presidents HAVE to claim a Christian faith or they're not going to make it; people assume that agnostics and atheists are evil, morally devoid devil worshippers.

It's just easier to talk online for some people.

I'm not so sure about that nowadays. Maybe in certain areas within the bible belt, but I don't think the "real world", from personal experience, really finds it offensive to denounce faith. There are a lot of assumptions and unfair characterizations on both sides of the spectrum. Such as your example of Agnostics and Atheists. And I can add the example on the other end of it as well, with people of faith being weak minded and nothing but "sheep". Both sides are guilty of false characterizations.