So... *cough* I went to church today...

[shnen]

I thought I would escape up north to my dad and step moms place... Drove up about 2 hours on friday afternoon... the only problem... what to do about sunday morning. Being that they are super-amazingly-avid christians, they go to church every sunday... I have avoided sundays with them for quite a number of years now, but I jsut wasn't ready to come home yesterday, still needed at least one more day away from Toronto.

So I wake up, they are all gone, I think I am in the clear when I see a note from my step mom asking me to go whenever I wake up. The church isn't even 5 mins drive from where they live... so I get ready... church starts at 10:30... I watch a bit of TV, trying to maybe jsut make it for the potluck they are having afterwards.

But then I have a realization... in order for them to respect my decision on my beliefs (when i decide to tell them)... I should show them that I support them in theirs. So at 11:30 (I feel its safe) I head out. I find out its communion... this is one thing I won't do to pretend or support anymore... but then thank the goddess they had done it before...

so I had to sit thruough the service... which was quite eye opening.. I gained acceptance of the religion... and truely realize the goddess was with me the whole time, not letting the service annoy me or effect me... it was wonderful... and not just that, seeing how much it meant to them that I made an effort to go... :)

just thought I'd share my new little revelation...

[Witchy Cowgirl]

I think that's great Shnen. We can all learn from each other - even if it's re-learning something.
I plan on going to church every Sunday - but I always seem to let it slide. I try not to beat myself up about though. I do feel I need to get it together and go.

[SerenityMoon]

that's great that you were so open minded! if only more people were like that..kudos to you.

[Mythrel]

the last time I was in church, was a friend's catholic wedding...I just sat there amazed at all the pagan symoblism in the rituals...I had to hold back laughter when the priest starting chanting in latin and tried to raised a cone of power...I sat there watching it start, fizzle, start, fizzle...I watch them pray to god, mary, saints of all kinds...and they say I they are monotheistic(spelling)

it was interesting and fun...I recommend it to all... :D

[Flar's Freyja]

Before my son started having to work every single Sunday, I attended church with him to show my support of his spiritual choices. When he decided to be baptized, I recognized that by attending, taking him out to dinner and buying him a gift. Last Yule, I bought him a gorgeous lambskin bible cover.

When it comes to family and other loved ones, it's important for us to make this effort and I'm glad you did, Shnen. Hopefully, that respect will be reciprocated. I've invited my sons to attend public rituals just so that they can see what I'm doing. They've chosen not to attend and that's fine with me, because they don't have to participate to respect my path. And they do, with humor. The wisecracks they make when I practice at home are warm and funny and show me that they're okay with my faith.

[Flar's Freyja]

Oh, and the building didn't fall down or burst into flames or anything either when you went in, right? :T

[Mythrel]

Originally posted by Freyja
Oh, and the building didn't fall down or burst into flames or anything either when you went in, right? :T

I was a bit nervous about that...but I stepped on holy ground, went in and everything...no spontaneous combustion or random lightning strikes...I was relieved!!!

[Phoenix Blue]

Meh. Pagans are holy people, too. :bigredgri

[Sequoia]

I like church. Mostly for the music and that warm feeling. . . but it's interesting. And for me. . . I don't have a problem with the Christian god. I actually pray to him, like I would any other god. So far as I know, he doesn't seem to have a problem with it. . . I have the feeling his mainstream followers would, though! :D

I went to bible study a few weeks ago, and it was really interesting to debate things with christians (whom I am not sure knew I was pagan), and hear them actually share some of my views and questions!!! It was the coolest thing, even the pastor guy had questions like mine! And had been thinking about answers for them! It was so amazing!

I just broke out in a cold sweat when they did the whole bread-and-wine thing. . . it wasn't a catholic church, but appearantly it was some kind of "christian unity day" thing, where many different churches around the world hold a similar service to show their brotherhood, or something like that. It was very cool, though I did not participate in that part.

But that whole feeling, when people are praying, and worshipping, and just that. . . it's a great feeling, isn't it?

To me. . . god and gods are everywhere. I could pray to Thor in a presbytarian church, and probably nobody'd be too peeved (well, the gods. The pastor might get annoyed if I did it out loud). I think. . . religion is a beautiful thing.

It's the fanatics that freak me out >.<

But church can be really nice, in the right places. :)

edited to add: it's also really fun when in bible study, you find out that even though you're pagan, you know the bible better than some of the christians. . . :D!!!