August 31, 2004
Oh. My. God.
I was just asked by a neighbor (I pick up her daughter from school in the afternoon), if I wanted to join a "prayer group" to pray for the safety of our kids and their schools.
Um....No.
I am so not religious it's not funny.
Let me give you some background on where I am religiously...........
I was just asked by a neighbor (I pick up her daughter from school in the afternoon), if I wanted to join a "prayer group" to pray for the safety of our kids and their schools.
Um....No.
I am so not religious it's not funny.
Let me give you some background on where I am religiously...........
I was raised Catholic (Roman Catholic for you nitpickers out there), was baptized, had my first communion, confirmation, catechism classes, yadda yadda yadda.
Went to public grade school. Went to Catholic high school. No major traumas there, except maybe for the mandatory religion classes (4 years of them and I still couldn't name all the apostles if you asked me). I've never been really into it honestly. I liked some masses because of the music, but that's all that held my attention. I just never felt it was a great fit. I think my feminist ideas sprouted early and I felt the conflict between the church and feminism. Starting in Junior High, I would protest going to church to no avail. It was an "obligation" and honestly, I didn't want to piss off my parents that much. I stopped going only when I moved out of my parents house.
I met my husband in college. He is, shall we say, without religion. He was born in a country where religious freedom was truly an oxymoron (USSR), especially if you were not Christian. Once he got over the fear that I was going to try to "convert" him, everything went swimmingly. You'd realize how funny the thought of me converting anyone is if you knew me at all.
I was young, naive, yet disenchanted with the Catholic church. After college and our wedding, I met a few Pagans online. I researched Wicca a bit, and believe and feel deeply about most of their philosophies. Same with Buddhism and other Eastern religions. Then I had kids. The pressure to baptize them was strong, but I fought against the current.
It's been decided that in the eyes of the Church they are going to hell. Well, maybe not that, but they are damned to the unbaptized life in purgatory.
You see, I was born into my religion, dutifully took the classes and sacrements, they whole time doing it to please my family. Never really understanding or believing any of it.
I wholly believe in that joke/comment that it's not Christianity I hate, it's all the Christians. I have known one two many bible-clutching God-fearing wife beaters. Also, I feel that what people do in the name of Christ (or Allah or whatever), is absurd. Also, the idea of foisting your beliefs on others and that any one religion is "THE ONE" I can't abide by.
I don't mean this in anyway to condem you if you believe in God or whatever. I'm just filling you in. When you say something overtly religious, say something is "God's Will", thank God in an acceptance speech, or make the sign of the cross while in the batters box, I will inwardly (and sometimes outwardly) cringe.
Maybe I'm just an asshole, that is always a possibility. But I can't help but think that all that God-speak is fancy dressing to hide whatever insecurities you have. When you get all sanctimonious and holier-than-thou, I want to slap you. Hard.
I lived for too long following rules and being a wallflower making sure I don't anger or upset anyone. I am tolerant of your religion as long as you don't try to foist it on me. I'm all for learning about others beliefs, but stating yours in such a way and tone as to make me appear that I am wrong for not sharing them, not very Christian-like. I noticed the other day that whenever I walk anywhere, I look at the ground. I'm hiding. I never talked seriously about my ideas about other religions lest I be labeled a heathen or devil worshipper. My family is not that close minded, but I would be constantly teased by some family members and most friends. I don't know if I can deal with the shit they would give me.
Gosh darn it, I don't even know if the point I'm making is even getting across. What is the fucking point?
I guess I want you to know who I am. I am a woman who is pro-choice, spiritually open-minded and tolerant.
I don't want to be saved. I don't even know what I believe. Sometimes I don't even know if I believe in a higher power, yet I was raised to believe that atheist is a dirty word. I believe in the power of your own choices. I believe that the universe does give you what you ask for, it's just that you weren't very careful in the wording of the request. If you ask for money, a loved one may die and you get the life insurance. That's what I believe. There is a cosmic balance, karma or whatever you want to call it. We are in control of it. Our choices define whether it is "good" or "bad".
And sometimes, I just wish people would keep their religious bullshit to themselves (yes I recognize the irony).
‹ shut up already
Went to public grade school. Went to Catholic high school. No major traumas there, except maybe for the mandatory religion classes (4 years of them and I still couldn't name all the apostles if you asked me). I've never been really into it honestly. I liked some masses because of the music, but that's all that held my attention. I just never felt it was a great fit. I think my feminist ideas sprouted early and I felt the conflict between the church and feminism. Starting in Junior High, I would protest going to church to no avail. It was an "obligation" and honestly, I didn't want to piss off my parents that much. I stopped going only when I moved out of my parents house.
I met my husband in college. He is, shall we say, without religion. He was born in a country where religious freedom was truly an oxymoron (USSR), especially if you were not Christian. Once he got over the fear that I was going to try to "convert" him, everything went swimmingly. You'd realize how funny the thought of me converting anyone is if you knew me at all.
I was young, naive, yet disenchanted with the Catholic church. After college and our wedding, I met a few Pagans online. I researched Wicca a bit, and believe and feel deeply about most of their philosophies. Same with Buddhism and other Eastern religions. Then I had kids. The pressure to baptize them was strong, but I fought against the current.
It's been decided that in the eyes of the Church they are going to hell. Well, maybe not that, but they are damned to the unbaptized life in purgatory.
You see, I was born into my religion, dutifully took the classes and sacrements, they whole time doing it to please my family. Never really understanding or believing any of it.
I wholly believe in that joke/comment that it's not Christianity I hate, it's all the Christians. I have known one two many bible-clutching God-fearing wife beaters. Also, I feel that what people do in the name of Christ (or Allah or whatever), is absurd. Also, the idea of foisting your beliefs on others and that any one religion is "THE ONE" I can't abide by.
I don't mean this in anyway to condem you if you believe in God or whatever. I'm just filling you in. When you say something overtly religious, say something is "God's Will", thank God in an acceptance speech, or make the sign of the cross while in the batters box, I will inwardly (and sometimes outwardly) cringe.
Maybe I'm just an asshole, that is always a possibility. But I can't help but think that all that God-speak is fancy dressing to hide whatever insecurities you have. When you get all sanctimonious and holier-than-thou, I want to slap you. Hard.
I lived for too long following rules and being a wallflower making sure I don't anger or upset anyone. I am tolerant of your religion as long as you don't try to foist it on me. I'm all for learning about others beliefs, but stating yours in such a way and tone as to make me appear that I am wrong for not sharing them, not very Christian-like. I noticed the other day that whenever I walk anywhere, I look at the ground. I'm hiding. I never talked seriously about my ideas about other religions lest I be labeled a heathen or devil worshipper. My family is not that close minded, but I would be constantly teased by some family members and most friends. I don't know if I can deal with the shit they would give me.
Gosh darn it, I don't even know if the point I'm making is even getting across. What is the fucking point?
I guess I want you to know who I am. I am a woman who is pro-choice, spiritually open-minded and tolerant.
I don't want to be saved. I don't even know what I believe. Sometimes I don't even know if I believe in a higher power, yet I was raised to believe that atheist is a dirty word. I believe in the power of your own choices. I believe that the universe does give you what you ask for, it's just that you weren't very careful in the wording of the request. If you ask for money, a loved one may die and you get the life insurance. That's what I believe. There is a cosmic balance, karma or whatever you want to call it. We are in control of it. Our choices define whether it is "good" or "bad".
And sometimes, I just wish people would keep their religious bullshit to themselves (yes I recognize the irony).
‹ shut up already
• Confronted