Posted by Tabitha on September 5, 2003, at 22:07:14
Hi, I've posted a couple times about looking for a church. I tried a Religious Science church a couple times. The last time I really liked it. I don't think I can really accept all their beliefs, but I enjoyed the service. The speaker wasn't pure religious science, he was influenced by other traditions.
The thing that I liked was it was such a positive message. There was all this stuff about the divine presence within, and very little focus on our flaws and defects and sins. Also a lot of affirmation-type prayers. Plus at the end you all held hands, and then there was social time, with cookies. I came out feeling all happy and bubbly, like my inner child had just gotten a heaping helping of praise.
It made me realize that the groups I've been involved with are so focused on problems and struggles. I was in 12 step groups, and though they were just what I needed at the time, the focus is all on your common problems, and your not so functional aspects. It got to where the meetings were just making me feel worse. I also was pretty involved with buddhist and zen stuff, and there it seems there's so much focus on what's wrong with your thinking. At least that's the emphasis I got from it. It's like you're supposed to spend a few decades working on your thinking, until your buddha nature gets to come out a little. My favorite zen teacher even came right out and said, there aren't any (figurative) cookies in zen practice. I want some cookies!
Anyway, just wanted to post about this experience. I still want to try the unitarian universalist groups, but can't find one with an evening service. I don't know if I can ever become a sunday-morning church goer.
poster:Tabitha
thread:257465
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20030530/msgs/257465.html