Apparently, I've shocked a few people...

[CameraGirl]

By starting to attend a local non-denominational church.

Some have even said I need an intervention! ;) :P

But...I dunno. I feel at home, there, and am enjoying the Faith, quite so.

Any suggestions for a newbie to said Religion? :P

[Cunae]

Enjoy it! If this is where you find spiritual nourishment, then you should go there. That's what freedom of religion is all about.

Who is speaking against it? People here or friends or family?

[Caitlin.ann]

Just do what feels right and ignore everyone else.

[WitchJezebel]

If you feel at home and at peace there, then that's all you need. You definitely don't need to explain or justify it to anyone else; this about your spirituality. Good for you that you've found a place you feel comfortable.

[CameraGirl]

Enjoy it! If this is where you find spiritual nourishment, then you should go there. That's what freedom of religion is all about.

Amen.





Who is speaking against it? People here or friends or family?

Oh, nobody here. They know better than that. ;)

And, well, some friends feel that I'm only doing this, to get closer to the guy friend I like, that I lost in my life (long story). That's not it, at all. Right now? He's the last thing on my mind.

And, family, too, would feel that I was doing it for the attention seeking aspect.

But I know it's not these things, and that's what matters.

[CameraGirl]

Just do what feels right and ignore everyone else.

That is the best advice I've gotten in this.



If you feel at home and at peace there, then that's all you need. You definitely don't need to explain or justify it to anyone else; this about your spirituality. Good for you that you've found a place you feel comfortable.

True.

But, I almost feel like everyone's looking at me like I've converted to Satanism, or something, or that I've grown a second head.

[Cunae]

That is the best advice I've gotten in this.



True.

But, I almost feel like everyone's looking at me like I've converted to Satanism, or something, or that I've grown a second head.

If you don't preach at them, they'll see it for what it is... your spiritual choice. As long as you are happy, that is all that matters.

And what feels right right now may not be later. Faith is fluid, I think. Our spiritual needs change as our lives and needs change. I don't believe we're locked in for life!

[angle kitsune]

just do what feels right, what others say and feel dosen't matter. If you know your doing this for the right reasons than there is no need for you to explain yourself to anyone, they should just accept that it is your choice and be done with it. I'm happy for you as are others.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

Cameragirl,

Let me preface this with to thy own self be true. So if that is what calls to you go for it and embrace it to its fullest. However some of your posting also raises flags for me as I read it.



Any suggestions for a newbie to said Religion?


You have not given us a religious denomination to even give a suggestion in ref to your question. In fact all we know from your own words is that it is a non-denominational church. I assume that it is of a Christian basis as you call it a church but beyond that nothing.



And, well, some friends feel that I'm only doing this, to get closer to the guy friend I like ...

And, family, too, would feel that I was doing it for the attention seeking aspect.


Now I don't know about others but it seems strange to me when both family and some friends see something wrong in the selection and reason why. One or the other, yes that's usual it seems but both that falls to the outside for me.



Some have even said I need an intervention


If that is applied to both family and friends as a suggestion then again some red flags there. Unfortunatley you have not provided enough to say whether the flags are from the new church, the people at said church or the guy friend you claim to like but lost for some reason.

Of course my gut guess would be the guy friend. I can't help but wonder if your family and friends know something about this that you don't, or you don't want to hear.

[aluokaloo]

an intervention of what exactly? its your path walk it like you own it. cause guess what? you do! ;)

[Meisopomenos]

If you feel at home and at peace there, then that's all you need. You definitely don't need to explain or justify it to anyone else; this about your spirituality. Good for you that you've found a place you feel comfortable.

Others have given wise advice, but WitchJezebel has summed my thoughts up into a post that doesn't take three years to read... ;)

If I ever find myself going to a church for nourishment (which may happen, may not, I don't know where God will take me next) then so be it. But I'm going to go for myself and if some ask me about my religion, I don't have to answer to them.

Be secure with yourself and go with the flow. You'll only be content when you're content and satisfied with yourself and your beliefs.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

I'll probally get slammed maybe even banned from here for this but at this point this is really bugging me.

Why does everyone act like they are in a commercial...I don't know crap about you or the religion or church your talking about but I stayed in a holiday inn last night so you must be right and if it feels good do it.

Those who went to Jonestown felt good about it. Those with David Korish felt good about it. Half the frigging cults in the world the people feel good about it until they get sucked in. People scream and hollar here about this group or that group yet don't ask a friggin single question about a thing, just spout off if it feels right do it.

But I guess the net and all removes anything that might make one question and say hey wait a minute here. I pray to the goddess that the next Jonestown that comes up all the "It's your choice just do it" people are called upon to pick up the bodies.

Same crap never changes, her friends and family are throwing the flag that something is wrong but people who do not know anything about it are telling her it's ok, they can't tell you what is correct.

Makes me think of the two girls that hung themselves in Austrial after everyone told them crap was ok. Too bad the people speaking didn't take time to actually ask a question.

Sorry I'm outta here.

[Caitlin.ann]

I should have said, and was thinking, as long as it doesn't harm anyone else nor yourself then be whatever faith you want to be. You do bring up valid points, MonSno_LeeDra. But then again what "harm" means is subjective as well as the Wiccans know concerning the Rede.

[Lahmi]

By starting to attend a local non-denominational church.

Some have even said I need an intervention! ;) :P

But...I dunno. I feel at home, there, and am enjoying the Faith, quite so.

Any suggestions for a newbie to said Religion? :P
I'd say you found your intervention already. :)
As far as suggestions to a newbie to following Jesus, just hit
the basics first.. like personally ask Jesus to be your Saviour.
Some church folks don't make that point very clear to
newcomers. :)
Grab a New Testament and start with the Gospels.
Feel free to ask questions of the pastors there or of other followers
of Jesus that you know..
I will also be glad to field questions as they come up and I pop
in here every few days.

[Xander67]

Hey Camera Girl, Nice to see you!

[zombi]

I'd say you found your intervention already. :)
As far as suggestions to a newbie to following Jesus, just hit
the basics first.. like personally ask Jesus to be your Saviour.
Some church folks don't make that point very clear to
newcomers. :)
Grab a New Testament and start with the Gospels.
Feel free to ask questions of the pastors there or of other followers
of Jesus that you know..
I will also be glad to field questions as they come up and I pop
in here every few days.

Now, see, I have to fundamentally disagree with you on minor points -- not every denomination of Christianity believes in the "personally ask Jesus to be your saviour" bit, especially if you're talking about anything like a "sinner's prayer". Even Christian churches that claim to be non-denominational are, a lot of times, actually very denominational. There is a wide, wide spectrum of Christianity, and it takes a lot of digging in its sacred texts to find 'truth'.

That said, if the OP is completely unfamiliar with Christianity as a whole, the best idea IMO would be to read the Bible, in its entirety. That should give you a clear idea of what kind of God Christians worship as well as insights into the Christian worldview and basic tenants of Christian faith. Good luck!

[Forest Child]

Hi Cameragirl

This all boils down to what you believe, what your family believe, how they brought you up, how strongly they feel about their own religion and what your friend's motives are?

Usually if a child chooses to 'stray from the fold' and follow a path not authorised by their parents or dissimilar to the one they were brought up in, then that causes friction. Some parents fear that what they 'know' and believe to be correct is, therefore, right for everyone. What others do is their own affair but what their child does makes them anxious because they usually love their offspring and want what is best for them.

A non-denominational Christian church is usually innocuous enough and generally not thought to be cult-like. It is also worth noting that there are people with a particular pschological mindset which makes them predisposed to addiction. One reason that cults do so well is their way of dealing with addiction by transferring the addiction from the drug or behaviour to the cult itself.

I suggest that you explore with your eyes open, remember that the only true connection to the Divine is within you just as the early Christian mystics, Jewish mystics, Buddhists, shamans etc have been saying for millennia. We all need community however, and finding the right place where we fit in and can be useful is part of life.

People do things for many, varied reasons, some of which they don't even understand or acknowledge themselves but generally, in the long run, everything works in our soul's direction even if it does seem uncomfortable or wrong in hindsight. There is always a lesson somewhere if we look.

Good luck with your search.

[Clair de la Lune]

I would like to ask you more questions before I can answer anything, actually.

[CameraGirl]

Ask away, Clair de la Lune.

Sorry I haven't responded to this, quicker. I've been dealing with school, family problems, and friendship issues.

It's gotten so bad, that I've thought about it, and feel like I need to find myself, my relationship with God, and work with school, neglecting the rest, save for my mother/sister.

I thank you all, even the skeptical, for your words. :) ;)

[Anteros]

And, well, some friends feel that I'm only doing this, to get closer to the guy friend I like, that I lost in my life (long story).

So it's a complete coincidence that, after losing this guy from your life, you happen to start attending the exact same church he does, and suddenly start engaging in the religion he belongs to? ;)

[Carri]

By starting to attend a local non-denominational church.


Any suggestions for a newbie to said Religion? :P

My one suggestion, and this is from my own life experience but also from other situations I am aware of. In a non- denominational church the pastor really has no one he is accountable to, (and I mean physically, of course he is accountable to God) he has no supervisor so what you are hearing at the service is his own words and interpretaion of the bible. So my suggestion is just question and don't blindly follow his teachings, be sure they are correct and factual and ring true for you. But I would probably give that advice for any religion.

[Lahmi]

My one suggestion, and this is from my own life experience but also from other situations I am aware of. In a non- denominational church the pastor really has no one he is accountable to, (and I mean physically, of course he is accountable to God) he has no supervisor so what you are hearing at the service is his own words and interpretaion of the bible. So my suggestion is just question and don't blindly follow his teachings, be sure they are correct and factual and ring true for you. But I would probably give that advice for any religion.

good advice. :)
and I recommend it for anyone.
Always crosscheck with the Bible and if you have questions, ask
other christians or ask the pastor later to explain why he believes
what he does. :)

[CameraGirl]

I've found it quite hard and difficult to find peace on the Christian Path. I do not like who I've become, and I believe my calling to the Mother Goddess/Gaia is where my feet should stand/be planted. I still want to research in Christianity, but the Christian God is not My God, much as I wanted Him to be.

[cydira]

There are many ways that Christianity and Mother Goddess/Earth focused religions are alike.

Have you looked into some of the more mystical elements of Christianity? It is possible that the church you're attending may not be a good fit for you. It is also possible that the particular sect of Christianity is not a good fit. The reason why I differentiate between the church and the sect is because sometimes different churches within a given sect have entirely different perspectives.

If you are interested in looking into the more female oriented or mystic elements of Christianity, I'd be happy to suggest a few things that I've read which were wonderfully enlightening.

It seems to me that you did not get much in the way of support in your exploration of Christianity by the people around you and it's lead to a deep dissatisfaction with that exploration. If this is the case, it may be because they weren't entirely sure how to communicate to you various facets of the faith that you were interested in.

Maybe it's just been my experience, but it's very rare that one encounters some one who can do an adequate job of expressing the core principles of their beliefs to some one of a different faith. When the differences between the faiths practices and dogma are as large as the differences between Christianity and Goddess/Earth oriented religions, it can seem like a completely insurmountable gulf. *shrugs*

[Lahmi]

In all honesty, it sounds like you found church, rather than Jesus.
Cydira is right, there are many differences between different groups
of believers and how they relate to Jesus.
Should you want some questions answered, ask away, and perhaps
I can be of some small assistance.