Posted by Tabitha on September 23, 2003, at 2:18:15
In reply to Faith that Fits or How to find my place , posted by dillon on September 23, 2003, at 0:47:42
Hi Dillon, welcome to PBFaith. I've recently begun looking for a spiritual home myself. I've also had several experiences of people trying to interest me in their groups or churches-- I've gone to classes and visited churches and felt completely out of place, despite the enthusiasm of everyone around me, to the point where I thought they had to be faking it. (Looking back I don't think that anymore. They were just having a different reaction than me.) I think we all just have to find a group and set of beliefs that fit for us. It isn't easy.
I found it wasn't easy to even give myself permission to look. Somehow, not having any faith was easier than admitting that the faith I was raised in (various flavors of Protestant Christianity) didn't suit me. Striking out on my own is like cutting ties to my family. It also feels like cutting ties to my faith-free friends. Although I've read spiritually-flavored self-help books for years, actually joining a groups seems like a big step-- like coming out of the closet with my interest.
After some exploration, I figured out what I personally need-- a group that provides social opportunity, that appeals to my emotional needs (I seem to really need to hear positive messages), that doesn't offend my intellect, and that doesn't induce guilt and shame to prod changes in behavior (or doesn't otherwise offend my humanistic values picked up in therapy). I've found one group that seems promising, but I'm not sure how involved I want to get.
poster:Tabitha
thread:262571
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20030908/msgs/262584.html