…stories of growth and stages of belief…
Upward through the lush green hills we drove to the Tilden Ball on a late April evening. We watched the temperature gauge in the car begin to fall as we rose into the mountains: 52, 49, 46 degrees. We drove passed the steam train sign and a green meadow, into the dark Read the rest of this entry »
Nobody in my family believed in God. My grandmother came from a family of freethinkers, radicals who threw over the old religion way back in the mid 19th century. My grandfather walked out Read the rest of this entry »
“Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” Throughout my thirty plus years searching for a spiritual practice that felt comfortable, this was the one phrase that consistently revealed itself to me. In my non-academic study of world creeds, I discovered that every major religion Read the rest of this entry »
I was raised a Christian – a more liberal variety (Disciples of Christ). I was taught the basic belief of Christ and God and rules of being a Christian. However, when I was 15 my older sister (16 years old) died from a cancer that had never been seen before. My sister was brilliant and it seemed that she had so much to offer this world. My family had a difficult time dealing with this, and my mother began to Read the rest of this entry »
About ten years ago I served for a number of years as a Eucharistic Minister for my Catholic parish in New Jersey. This is a lay person who is allowed to distribute communion alongside the priest during mass and who can bring communion to someone who is ill at home or in the hospital. I felt proud and considered it an honor and privilege but there was Read the rest of this entry »
I started off as a good little New York Jewish girl, the only daughter of immigrants from Nazi Germany. My parents weren’t very religious but belonged to a Reformed temple, attended services on holidays and some Saturdays, celebrated the Sabbath with candles and a special meal, and never ate pork. I was expected to Read the rest of this entry »
This is a different type of story - and it is not a first person account. But I decided to put it up because I think it illustrates well the type of problem that can arise with organized religion - whose rules largely come from Man and may or may not have anything to do with actual human goodness or anything any type of god who might be up there actually would want. MPJ
I would be honored for you to post my true story and let your viewers
decide for themselves if they wish to support the catholic church.
michael Teply Chico, Ca.
Let me tell you a little about my mom. My mom was raised a catholic. She was very Read the rest of this entry »
I dropped to my knees in the bathroom, blubbering and pleading with
God to forgive me. I was sixteen and had been entertaining
blasphemous thoughts. What if Jesus
My comments showing my impression of how the stages unfolded in this person appear in bold type. MPJ
I didn’t have a particularly religious upbringing: Mom was raised an unchurched Presbyterian with a teenage fling as an Episcopalian; Dad was a lapsed Catholic. Raised ten years in a Southern Baptist neighborhood outside D.C., Read the rest of this entry »
I decided to let this one to stand on its own - without commentary from me. What do you all think? Can you see the transitions/stages without my pointing them out? Or is it better if I comment? Please advise! Thanks! MPJ
Most people believe in the value of thinking for yourself. They will tell you the importance of being independent and critical. Yet, as I entered high school, Read the rest of this entry »