How did you find Christianity?

[Grondhammar]

It's a very interesting question, and interesting thread to read through.

It sounds like a lot of people here have been exposed to the "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" (Johnathan Edwards) sort of Christianity. And some have found their way around that to more of the core of Christianity.

I think the hateful / judgmental type of Christianity is certainly alive and well. But that's not the only type that exists. More and more, I see Christian churches across all the sub-types being leaders in their communities in the space of tolerance and acceptance.

We have longtime family friends who are devout Catholics, and two of their three children have come out as gay or trans. And they (the kids) feel very comfortable going to church still, because the priests both here and in London (where they ended up) are totally accepting, caring individuals.

Speaking personally, I think autistic masking played a huge role in my early experience with Christianity. My parents brought me to church, I learned all the stuff. I didn't even think about it. I played along, because I was doing that in every other social aspect of my life.

And then I encountered Buddhism through a Japanese tutor, and self-acceptance (which was definitely NOT taught to me in church). And at the same time I was doing loving-kindness compassion meditations, I was reading Jesus' words. And I realised the two were teaching exactly the same thing. It's just that the churches had all decided to centre on the "genocide is fine if we convince ourselves that God commands it" sort of Old Testament brutality, and ignore Christ's actual teachings.

Anyway, very long story as short as possible: I act on Christ's teachings about tolerance, patience, not condemning, caring for all people. I personally throw out anything hateful in the scriptures as something some religious leader added to justify themselves, and I feel sad so many people have encountered that in mainstream Christianity. Because that's so opposite to what Christ was teaching.

And I hope there's some bright future after this life, but I don't know that -- no one's shown me a photo album of whatever comes after. I have SO many unanswered questions. But I keep looking and keep my head open to all possibilities.

 

[vergil96]

I follow witchery if anything. I'm not a fan of organised religions. I don't worship anything or anyone, but I meditate for balance. I practice and experience, but I'm sceptical about it at the same time and I'm concious that it's largely psychological both in terms of perception and influence.

 

[Hazel_1914]

I find aspects of it more and more confusing every day, to be honest.

 

[RemyZee]

I grew up being brought to church, it was important to me because I always had lots of questions, and had a strong sense of connection to spirituality, and liked doing the Bible deep dives that is theology....wound up going to seminary as an adult, which gave me a certain perspective. I didn't have a problem with the same things other students did: even though I went, I'd never had the literalistic view of things.....I went to it to learn about my culture and its complexity, which is completely tied to its religion. I did find during those years that there was a genuine cruelty within the church, that there is self forgiveness for cruelty and impossibly stupid ideas, but at the same time, my culture has a great tradition of activism and pacifism. Just now in my life I am struggling again with Christianity, and believe that part of the faith is that struggle and the questions it assumes. But the institution has done so much wrong, and a couple of years ago I went back to the church I grew up in. When I lived there, the church was packed on Sunday mornings, hardly a seat to be found. When I returned the place was practically empty. I think the church has brought this on itself with its judgment and intolerance.

 

[Rachie]

I grew up being brought to church, it was important to me because I always had lots of questions, and had a strong sense of connection to spirituality, and liked doing the Bible deep dives that is theology....wound up going to seminary as an adult, which gave me a certain perspective. I didn't have a problem with the same things other students did: even though I went, I'd never had the literalistic view of things.....I went to it to learn about my culture and its complexity, which is completely tied to its religion. I did find during those years that there was a genuine cruelty within the church, that there is self forgiveness for cruelty and impossibly stupid ideas, but at the same time, my culture has a great tradition of activism and pacifism. Just now in my life I am struggling again with Christianity, and believe that part of the faith is that struggle and the questions it assumes. But the institution has done so much wrong, and a couple of years ago I went back to the church I grew up in. When I lived there, the church was packed on Sunday mornings, hardly a seat to be found. When I returned the place was practically empty. I think the church has brought this on itself with its judgment and intolerance.

RemyZee, I am sorry to hear that you have been struggling with your faith. First I want to say the church building is not your faith but can be a part of your expression of your faith. Your faith is your true personal relationship with God, the Father Son and if baptised the Holy Spirit.

I wanted to say that I was getting fugees for the first time in my life in 2023. I always came out of after two days though and God was seeing me through it and was there waiting for me when I came to. Thankfully, I am cured of that today. I can tell you also I would go around to places and see God through them like nature and animals. It helps to connect. I also said to myself that I know my Father made me and gave me to my parents Psalm 139 and I didn't make myself.

I want to say something more I am a non demontional-I attend an Anglican church today but am baptised as a Catholic. I went to Catholic schools to 19 and still can attend Catholic church’s in the week. There was a scandal recently in the Church of England in the UK and the Archbishop left but have someone new come in and I am thrilled about that and will see where they will go. Didn’t the Catholic church have Pope Leo to recently seemed like a fresh of breathe air. When the case in the UK Justin Webly came forward and said the church is greater than any scandal and that we should focus solely on Jesus Christ and our dependence as if we are a Christian that will see us through and not an man made minister.

Jesus said in Revelations 2 that we need to keep our first passions for our faith to do well spiritually. I think may be some people may go wrong with this here. I also think that I like he said that whatever the church is going through which he is the head that the plans of Satan will never overcome the true church.
Matthew 16-18
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

If you your not comfortable in a church you could look around for another.

 

[Princess Viola]

it's probably a silly answer but praying and reading the bible is what did it for me

 

[vergil96]

I was about to ask how you reconcile teachings of the Church about mental health and disability and being autistic yourself. But there was a number of posts that clarified how many of you are Christians and don't agree with the more condemning, hateful teachings.

Anyway, very long story as short as possible: I act on Christ's teachings about tolerance, patience, not condemning, caring for all people. I personally throw out anything hateful in the scriptures as something some religious leader added to justify themselves, and I feel sad so many people have encountered that in mainstream Christianity. Because that's so opposite to what Christ was teaching.

I also get the impression that this is what Jesus meant, patience and care for each and every person, not hate, condemnation.

When and where I was growing up, it was the norm to be Catholic. My family wasn't very religious, few people were, most were what I would call casually religious. They would go to church for celebrations such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, perhaps to the mass every Sunday or every couple of Sundays. It was in good tone to say you believe in God. It was more of a custom for me than something I was convinced by.

But anyway, I experienced a lot of backwards views from the teaching of religion back then. It was against science and clearly observable or proven phenomena, it didn't make sense to me. It was reactionist, against technology. It also didn't make any sense. The arguments being made against technology and science were an appeal to tradition and the past, nothing more. Another thing that stood out to me was the clearly uninformed and harmful approach to mental health. Again, the arguments made zero sense, they were simply an appeal to control and demonification of differences. The approach to women was also appaling in many ways. This is why I dislike the Church as an institution. I also have the impression that organised religion will always end up in the hands of the power-hungry, because they want to have influence through emotional and moral means.

However, there were people in my family who were or are religious and it's not what they believed in. My grandma, who was one of the closest people I've had, was a practicing Catholic and prayed and went to the mass frequently. What she saw in faith was a call to be a good and kind person. She was also raised by a priest and two nuns. Several other family members who either are still alive or already passed away were like my grandma in their faith. But it isn't or wasn't about the Church as an organisation for them, it's more private. Anyway, I'm glad to see that there are more people who see faith this way.

 

[Crabcore]

I had the advantage of being born into a truly christian family. I say truly, because many who call themselves christian are more concerned with rule-following than with what Jesus Christ actually taught: to love God, and love each others as we love ourselves. The actual church we attended was more rule-oriented than I was comfortable with, so as an adult I have gravitated to non-denominational churches who believe in what the Bible teaches, but don't add to it.

Actually following Christ's teachings cannot be honestly criticized, Only good can come from loving God, and loving others. I used to have a problem with the idea of God telling us to love Him, and even to worship Him. But when I thought it through, I realized that God needs nothing from us! He knows that when we love and worship Him, we are participating in His nature - which benefits US!

This is so wholesome. I want to have the kind of spiritual connection you do, honestly. This really makes me feel that what I'm looking for actually exists (especially when choosing faith, love and strength over demonization and fear), and isn't just in my imagination.

Thank you to everyone who responded! I love everyone's unique take on spirituality and I love how many different paths there are to choose from. Obviously it can feel a bit overwhelming, too, but something tells me it's worth the investment. Even if it takes some time to figure out exactly what I'm looking for!

 

[Crabcore]

it's probably a silly answer but praying and reading the bible is what did it for me

That doesn't sound silly at all! It has actually been so long for me that I might even benefit from doing the same, or maybe finding some kind of bible study group who will go into detail about certain things that I don't understand. I don't really want to trust AI with spiritual matters (that seems like a bad idea), but the human interpretations and possibilities of how they relate to our lives really intrigues me.

If bible study groups still exist, that is. I might just be referencing things from the distant past because I'm out of the loop