I just had a really great conversation last night reflecting on sadness for (about?) people who are "squicked out" by Christianity ā and religion in general, tbh ā to the point of open spirituality being a deal breaker or major turn-off. Speaking as someone born and raised without religion or spirituality, I can attest to a number of assumptions, generalizations, etc. that people raised like me can develop about religion. That religious people are implicitly ascribing to and endorsing all of the beliefs and historical baggage of their religion, that belonging to a church is primarily about agreeing to/with the church's (or denomination's) religious (and therefore, increasingly, political) opinions, etc.
But speaking as someone who has been in close contact (albeit slightly weird, strictly professional contact) with churches for over a decade now, and gotten to see what churches are for their congregants, it's sad to me that those conceptions prevented me and continue to prevent people like me from accessing all the positive things that religion can offer. Community, care, grace, etc. Even more so, that they prevented me from engaging with the kind of universal questions that spirituality basically exists to contend with.
Anyway, no answers here but definitely lots of resonance and kinship of thought <3
Thanks for your insights, Paolo. Iām happy to hear that contact with churches has expanded your experience instead of closing you off to religion. That bodes well to for those churches and also speaks to an openness to experience on your part. Be well, friend <3
I just had a really great conversation last night reflecting on sadness for (about?) people who are "squicked out" by Christianity ā and religion in general, tbh ā to the point of open spirituality being a deal breaker or major turn-off. Speaking as someone born and raised without religion or spirituality, I can attest to a number of assumptions, generalizations, etc. that people raised like me can develop about religion. That religious people are implicitly ascribing to and endorsing all of the beliefs and historical baggage of their religion, that belonging to a church is primarily about agreeing to/with the church's (or denomination's) religious (and therefore, increasingly, political) opinions, etc.
But speaking as someone who has been in close contact (albeit slightly weird, strictly professional contact) with churches for over a decade now, and gotten to see what churches are for their congregants, it's sad to me that those conceptions prevented me and continue to prevent people like me from accessing all the positive things that religion can offer. Community, care, grace, etc. Even more so, that they prevented me from engaging with the kind of universal questions that spirituality basically exists to contend with.
Anyway, no answers here but definitely lots of resonance and kinship of thought <3
Thanks for your insights, Paolo. Iām happy to hear that contact with churches has expanded your experience instead of closing you off to religion. That bodes well to for those churches and also speaks to an openness to experience on your part. Be well, friend <3
this is IT
the phil himself
Ily