I mentioned last night that I wanted to talk about my faith, and I will. But first, some more introduction. I think where I have the biggest problem is that I don't understand why there isn't more positive dicussion about religion. Don't get me wrong - I know people take their beliefs very seriously, and if someone questions them or even proposes an alternative, it might be taken badly. But what I don't get is that people just don't have those conversations at all.
There is a certain subset of our society that doesn't want to talk about anything that could be seen as remotely controversial, and that's okay. But every time I hear about someone who is talking about their beliefs, they are either doing so in a way that denigrates other faiths, or in such a way that it seems they don't do anything else. The latter is certainly a great testament to faith, but most of us have real lives - or reasonable facsimiles thereof - and need help with the daily grind.
That's where I am now.
By any account, I have been a Christian for most of my life. I can't put a specific date on it, but I was confirmed into the United Methodist Church at around age 12. I remember taking some sort of class, probably with the pastor, and going over some particulars, but I have no idea now why I went through the process.
I have said the words over and over. I have been both a churchgoer and not a churchgoer. I have done things that even those aforementioned non-religious people may discourage. In fact, very rarely have I ever regularly undertaken actions that anyone would consider Christian-like. While I'm certain that it's too early to tell, and by nature I am pretty cynical about this sort of thing, I think that's changing. I think that I'm actually feeling it, and it's exciting. I'm going to try to delve deeper.
As I mentioned previously, I don't know where this is going. I just feel the need to get it out. If it helps you in any way, or if you even just enjoy reading, then you're certainly welcome. Even if you want to encourage particular subjects or discuss the finer points of something I might bring up, you're welcome too. But this isn't about hatred, and it isn't about rubbing anyone's nose in it. It's purely about my own process of discovery.
You're welcome to join in, as either an observer or a participant, but please do us all a favor and don't be an ass about it. I've attended church most of my life, and yet I still question my beliefs. There really isn't much chance of everything suddenly being revealed in an angry, fight-provoking comment. So why bother?
