Meme post

[cabenson]

cirrocoj -HM... OK, what are your thoughts on religion? Personal, emotional, intellectual, religion-and-politics, whatever

I was raised and educated as a Roman Catholic in the 70's/80's. Twelve years of Catholic school, not so much for faith-based reasons, as to keep us out of the public school system. I embraced the faith, because that is what we were taught to do. I also had a thing for nuns.

As a child/teen, it was easy to follow the expectations of the church because basically everyone you knew was doing it. As an adult, allowed the distance from the everyday pounding of church dogma into my brain, I have found organized religion to be something I want no part of.

I struggled for a long time to reconcile my love for the traditions and pageantry of Catholic services with my own personal views on certain issues such as abortion, women's roles in the church, birth control and the big one, gay lifestyles. The final straw was of course, the scandals involving abusive priests/clergy and the ensuing coverups. I could no longer be a part of such a hypocritical organization (my lust for nuns not withstanding).

But as to whether I believe in God, I must say I whole-heartedly do. I have been in too many circumstances where I strongly feel that without some sort of divine protection, I would no longer be here. My relationship with God is very personal-I don't preach to anyone, I pray for everyone.

I have had bad experiences with family members and friends turning to their churches when the chips are down and becoming very preachy and condescending. I hate that shit. I personally can't stand organized religions, but I do understand other people's needs-both spiritually and socially.

Intellectually, I have to believe in a higher power. I believe in evolution, but I think there had to be a spark to start it all off somewhere along the line. I guess that makes me a believer in Intelligent Design.

As far as politics go, I believe there should be no religious influence on politics/laws. I think faith-based politicos should be ousted, all couples should be joined in civil unions marriage should be considered a religious ceremony and not a legal one.

I believe I have a soul, albeit a tainted one, and I believe in life after death, be it in a heavenly place or reincarnation. While I struggle to find comfort in a specific religion,I believe in forgiveness, I believe in fairness, and I believe in faith.