The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 3,018 
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Post by The Great Carpezio on May 9, 2024 20:22:01 GMT
I am also a confirmed Catholic and was married in the Church (DH is also a confirmed Catholic).
I always questioned on some level, but I, overall, was raised a "good Catholic" but within a couple of years out of high school, I was really questioning but wavering back and forth still when I married at 24. At that time my parents were still involved with the church and 3/4 Catholic grandparents were alive.
It has been a gradual acceptance that I am an atheist/agnostic. I have known for over 25 years, but I still held on to some beliefs and was fearful of claiming it for many years. First I realized that I wasn't Catholic, then I realized I wasn't Christian, then I realized I wasn't religious, and then I even lost the "spiritual" label. Somewhere in the last three or so years, I have come to fully embrace it and am 98% deconstructed, and I can't even wrap my head around believing in any type of formal religion.
For the most part, because it was gradual and my DH is much like me on Catholicism and religion (but less introspective), I have had time to slowly have those conversations with those I am close to and care about. Many of those people, like my parents, also moved away from religion, or many friends who also grew up Catholic or religious have also moved away from religion or don't do a whole lot with church anymore.
That makes it easier. However, my DH's family is still very Catholic....like really religious. It is hard to be around them for a few reasons (we have gone low contact), but they are not curious as to why we are not religious. They just live under the assumption that they are better; they don't SAY that, but religiosity is the default around them (every conversation mentions religious references like: I asked the Virgin Mary to.... or Father So and So asked me to.... or They are saying a mass for our family...). No one has EVER, once, asked why we are no longer Catholic. Again, it was a process, but I know they know---when we do attend weddings or funerals, we do not take communion or kneel. We did not get our 16-year-olds baptized. We are just supposed to defer to their beliefs and/or stay silent. And we do.
The only people I have had any debate/issues with are evangelical types, and part of the issue is you are dealing with that. They definitely feel the need to try and save you and share the word with you, and that is why some people in parts of the country have more issues with being atheist/agnostic than others. It would be exhausting if people were always talking about what church they go to and telling me I am evil or going to hell. The midwestern Catholics I know just kind of give off the arrogant vibe rather than yell in your face. I admit, I have moved into my own phase of: I am not interested in hearing your version of religion and it makes me uncomfortable. I am not rude and will shut a person down, but I will try and steer the conversation away from religion or remove myself.
I wish I had better advice.
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 9, 2024 21:10:24 GMT
It really almost never comes up so I don’t bring it up. I was raised Catholic, baptized, communion, confirmation, the whole nine up until I was about 14-16 or so. My mom would go to church on Saturday nights. My younger brother and I would walk there by ourselves and go on Sunday morning, sit in the entryway outside of the main church, read the bulletin and talk quietly with each other until enough time had passed and we would go back home. So technically we “went” to church but we didn’t participate if that makes sense. After doing that for about a year, we decided it was all pretty stupid and we quit even doing that.
I married a non-religious guy and after seeing all the hoops my older sister and her Lutheran DH had to jump through to get married in the Catholic Church, I knew I wasn’t going that route. He wasn’t going to convert and I wasn’t going to push it because I didn’t believe most of what was preached in the Catholic Church either. I wanted to elope but he wasn’t having that due to his wealthy very religious Baptist grandma, so we compromised and got married at the Episcopalian church affiliated with his college. Of course my Catholic mom about had a cow over that, but at least it was still a church wedding so she came around. When DD was born, we didn’t bother having her baptized. I figured it should be a personal choice and we could talk about different religions (which we do, to the best of my ability), and she could decide for herself if and when she wants to believe in anything or belong to a church vs. having something shoved down her throat like it was for me.
At one point after we moved in 2012, DH said something about joining a church in the area more for the sense of community than for any religious reason, but since we’re gone a good chunk of the year on weekends to go to our cabin it didn’t really make sense so we never did. I think of myself as spiritual more than religious.
Now I only go to church if there’s a wedding or a funeral that I can’t skip out on.
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Post by gracieplusthree on May 9, 2024 21:14:05 GMT
I've pretty much decided I'm agnostic too after on and off church going as a kid and then a good 15year stretch with my kids when I was a single mom. I dunno..I just have been yelling people that my relationship with religion has gotten complicated.
At this point I doubt I'll ever be a church going person again. I still believe in some things, and I certainly want a heaven to exist. But....It's difficult for me to even type this as I keep erasing things.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
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Post by purplebee on May 9, 2024 21:21:11 GMT
Born and raised Catholic, met Dh at 17, he’s a “Jack Mormon” - childhood church, but non-believer/practicing from about age 12. I stopped attending 50 years ago after we married, tried non-denom “Christian” churches here in the Bible Belt when Ds was little. Never clicked w/me - whole different type of faith than I was used to (Evangelical, not for me) and quit when Ds had no interest in his early teens. Raised him to have morals/decent values, left the rest up to him.
Never got any flak ever from my very devout Catholic Mom about not practicing, she was just happy that I went to Mass w/her when I visited, and she never stopped praying for all of her kids and their families. I do hate what the Catholic Church has done re the child abuse cover-ups, and could never go back, but also never discussed much w/my Mom. Her faith was always a comfort to her, and I didn’t want it to come between us.
I still believe in a higher power, still pray, but it’s more of a meditative practice (the Rosary is a great tool for meditation!) and I try to be a decent person and treat others kindly and fairly.
Honestly, the thing that caused my gradual loss of faith, which has been over the last nine years or so, is trump. I have lost confidence in organized religion in general, and want no part of it now. Always in the back of my mind was the thought that I would find a church home someday, but not now. The fact that most Evangelical and so-called Christian churches, at least here where I live, have aligned themselves with trump based only upon his fake stance on abortion sickens me. The level of hypocrisy is astounding. What about everything else he has done? Is abortion the only sin that counts? Ugh…..
Anyway, all this to say that you don’t have to justify your beliefs or lack of them to anyone!
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Post by nightnurse on May 9, 2024 21:34:50 GMT
I think you should talk about it. I think more people should. Christianity is so normalized in this country, to the point where we are seeing political factions pushing for a theocracy. That’s frankly gross. And dangerous. I had a neighbor tell me Biden shouldn’t be president because he was catholic and I said the constitution doesn’t allow for a religious litmus test and he actually said “I don’t care about the constitution.” One of the first people to hear I was an atheist said “oh but I thought you were a good person.” Hearing about my lack of faith made her see me as no longer a good person when nothing else, none of my behavior, had changed. We need to talk more about the important topics and normalize it.
When people ask, I tell them the truth. I tell them I can no more make myself believe in god than they can make themselves believe in Ra or Santa or Thor or the Easter bunny. Sometimes I think it would be nice to believe there was some magical being with my best interest at heart but I can’t.
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anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,132
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on May 9, 2024 23:19:57 GMT
I was the same as others... born into baptized confirmed.. taught ccd... went from being a youth group member to a leader... married 1st dh also catholic in the church..
Then we split...
And i felt the shift in people who have loved and cared for me my whole life... like i was IN THE CHURCH!!! And suddenly because my ex turned into an abusive alcoholic... and i made the choice to leave with my kids....
Suddenly i no longer belonged... i couldn't teach..couldn't receive communion... couldn't really feel loved at a time when i needed something to believe in and hold on too... it was not a comforting place...
Thats when i started the questioning and deconstructing...
So when my mom or anyone asked why i stopped believing all together... i told her flat out i wasnt welcome anymore...
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Post by cindyupnorth on May 9, 2024 23:19:57 GMT
I think I want to talk about it. I don’t have shame in it. But I feel more like Christianity is forced on me. My Director at my job is very religious. Does a podcast on how to manage with gods help, or something like that. Also posts lots of religious related stuff on fb. Sometimes that makes me feel uncomfortable, but I get its her rights and beliefs. I also feel uncomfortable with the posts on fb, please pray I find my keys. And just want to post, gods too busy curing cancer Karen. Or something rude but I don’t.
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Post by refugeepea on May 9, 2024 23:22:10 GMT
I don't unless I want to.
I was raised in a faith where you were made to feel extremely guilty if you didn't confess. I don't have the stamina to explain it all. The number one thing I find peace in when leaving religion is that NO ONE knows my thoughts. If I screw up, if I feel guilty about doing something, I DON'T have to tell anyone! I have finally learned boundaries.
My sins by my former faith's standard were extremely small, but I would never live up to the standard of perfection that was required. Anxiety and depression were my constant source of pain. It's a hard thing to get over. It comes and goes, but thankfully it's less painful.
If someone seems genuinely interested, I may give a brief summary. They have to earn my trust. If its someone concerned about my salvation due to some observation they've made of me, YET they do not interact with me on a daily basis; they receive nothing. Just a "that's not something I will discuss with you, but thank you for your concern." Repeat, repeat, repeat.
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Post by AussieMeg on May 10, 2024 1:36:25 GMT
I'm sorry that you're struggling with this issue. It must be so hard to live somewhere where everyone is so invested in what other people believe. It's not something that happens here thankfully. Even at my kids' Christian school, they acknowledged that at least 50% of students were Atheists. If I lived somewhere where religion was important, I think I would have to lie about it. I don't think I would be able to handle people trying to convert me, or pray for me, or shun me. (Although it's kind of a moot point, because I would never live anywhere like that. There isn't anywhere in this country that has a high level of church goers, certainly nothing like the Bible Belt that you have there.) It's not something I need to deal with in conversations with my friends either. Most of my friends are Atheists. There are a few friends who were raised Catholic who still have enough of that Catholic fear and guilt that they say they kind of still believe. But not a single one of them ever goes to church, except for weddings and funerals. I also feel uncomfortable with the posts on fb, please pray I find my keys. And just want to post, gods too busy curing cancer Karen. Or something rude but I don’t. Right?! I am 99% certain there was a thread here many years ago, where someone asked for prayers to help find her lost keys. Or something similar. It actually made me feel sick and angry. I had to sit on my hands to stop myself from posting something about why would god help you find your keys when he didn't help my sister survive her terminal illness. This is exactly why I haven't come right out and told my very Catholic mum that I no longer believe. She would have spent the last 25 years and her remaining days convinced I was going to burn in hell for all eternity. One instance where the price of being truthful would be too high... I never ever let on to my very religious grandparents that I am an Atheist. They would have been really upset. I remember how excited my Nanna was when I told her that I was sending DD to a Christian school - she proudly told all her friends at Chapel! I didn't say anything about my Atheism to my mum until after her parents had both passed away. Years ago, there was someone who applied logic to the concept of God. They said that the safe bet was to believe in God. If you dont believe in God and he exists, you are theoretically in for a trip to hell. If you do believe in God and there is no God, then no harm, no foul I get what they're trying to say, but to be honest, you either believe or you don't. There's nothing anyone could say to me that would make me believe, even if I wanted to "hedge my bets." And because I am so strong in my belief (or should I say, disbelief!), I feel no reason to take the safe bet, because I am 100% certain that there is no hell. |
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Gennifer
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,238
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Post by Gennifer on May 10, 2024 1:48:19 GMT
I don’t bring it up often, but when someone wants to talk about it I compare it to their relationship with Thor.
They don’t have to think about why they don’t believe in him as a deity, or verbalize it to other people. He’s a non-issue, providing occasional entertainment. He doesn’t affect their day-to-day life or choices, and they don’t wonder “What would Thor do?” They don’t try to legislate using him as justification, and they don’t care if other people do or don’t believe in him. Then I explain that the Christian god has the same kind of importance in my life as Thor.
That at least gets them to consider how little I care, and that I don’t feel some void in my life just because I’m a non-believer.
Disclaimer: I’m an atheist now, but my husband and I were both raised in very devout Mormon families.
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Post by AussieMeg on May 10, 2024 1:58:08 GMT
But I feel more like Christianity is forced on me. My Director at my job is very religious. Does a podcast on how to manage with gods help, or something like that. Also posts lots of religious related stuff on fb. That is awful! Nobody at my work ever talks about religion at all. The only time it has ever come up, in 38 years of my working life, was when my company brought over someone from the US head office to be our General Manager. He called a big meeting to introduce himself to everyone, and he told us about his wife and kids, that he a Christian, and votes Republican. All of us were looking at each other like "WTF?" Nobody here would ever introduce themselves that way. |
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Post by AussieMeg on May 10, 2024 2:00:07 GMT
I don’t bring it up often, but when someone wants to talk about it I compare it to their relationship with Thor. They don’t have to think about why they don’t believe in him as a deity, or verbalize it to other people. He’s a non-issue, providing occasional entertainment. He doesn’t affect their day-to-day life or choices, and they don’t wonder “What would Thor do?” They don’t try to legislate using him as justification, and they don’t care if other people do or don’t believe in him. Then I explain that the Christian god has the same kind of importance in my life as Thor. I bloody love this!! I can't see that I would ever need to use it, but I am keeping it up my sleeve, just in case. |
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Gennifer
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,238
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Post by Gennifer on May 10, 2024 2:20:36 GMT
That is awful! Nobody at my work ever talks about religion at all. The only time it has ever come up, in 38 years of my working life, was when my company brought over someone from the US head office to be our General Manager. He called a big meeting to introduce himself to everyone, and he told us about his wife and kids, that he a Christian, and votes Republican. All of us were looking at each other like "WTF?" Nobody here would ever introduce themselves that way. I wish I lived in a secular country. |
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Post by Merge on May 10, 2024 2:21:22 GMT
Years ago, there was someone who applied logic to the concept of God. They said that the safe bet was to believe in God. If you dont believe in God and he exists, you are theoretically in for a trip to hell. If you do believe in God and there is no God, then no harm, no foul I get what they're trying to say, but to be honest, you either believe or you don't. There's nothing anyone could say to me that would make me believe, even if I wanted to "hedge my bets." And because I am so strong in my belief (or should I say, disbelief!), I feel no reason to take the safe bet, because I am 100% certain that there is no hell. Yes. I liken it to losing your belief in Santa, though that offends some. Once you realize that Santa doesn't exist, you can't go back to believing in Santa. Older kids will pretend to believe in Santa, especially if their family is of the "you have to believe to receive" variety re: gifts, but that isn't belief. It's a charade. I could announce tomorrow that I've resumed belief in God because I want to hedge my bets, but it would be a charade. |
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Gennifer
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,238
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Post by Gennifer on May 10, 2024 2:26:00 GMT
^^^ It’s like deciding to believe you can fly, just in case you ever fall out of a plane.
The belief isn’t going to make it any more true. It’s just going to make you feel better now “in case” and very disappointed when the time comes.
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Gennifer
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,238
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Post by Gennifer on May 10, 2024 2:58:26 GMT
Actually, I’d like to change that example. It’s more like believing you can fly in case you fall out of a spaceship.
I would say the chances of me falling out of a spaceship are about equal with me finding out there is actually a god: Zero.
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westiemom
Shy Member
Posts: 48
Aug 14, 2023 4:21:57 GMT
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Post by westiemom on May 10, 2024 5:38:55 GMT
This might sound vague. I am sorry if it does.
I was raised Catholic, married in the Catholic church to a non-catholic, but left when all the scandals were exposed. Some of those pedo-priests were in my community. I just couldn't stay with it.
I jumped between churches for a few years and settled into a Presbyterian church 25 years ago.
For the past three years, we have been dealing with a health crisis in my family. For the first year, we kept it pretty quiet and only spoke with some family members and a couple close friends. We did not go to church during this time. Now, we have been more open. Our ministers know. Many of our church members know. NO ONE has contacted us to say hello, ask if we need anything, nothing. I know health problems are difficult to respond to but NOTHING? The only times we have heard from our church have been to ask me to do volunteer work or to ask for money. We are doing neither.
To make it worse, two women who I considered close friends have treated me very poorly recently. I am at a pretty low place emotionally and these two (who do not know each other) really kicked me when I was down. One of them is quick to tell you how Catholic she is and all she does for the church and all she sacrificed so her kids could have a "Catholic education." The other was a Presbyterian minister.
I think when people want to tell you how religious they are, you should watch your back.
I don't really talk about this but I do not see myself ever being a part of a "church family" ever again.
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 10, 2024 12:40:18 GMT
I think I want to talk about it. I don’t have shame in it. But I feel more like Christianity is forced on me. My Director at my job is very religious. Does a podcast on how to manage with gods help, or something like that. Also posts lots of religious related stuff on fb. Sometimes that makes me feel uncomfortable, but I get its her rights and beliefs. I also feel uncomfortable with the posts on fb, please pray I find my keys. And just want to post, gods too busy curing cancer Karen. Or something rude but I don’t. Can you snooze or unfollow (but not unfriend) her so you don’t have to see those posts? I had to do that with a few people that would notice if I unfriended them, but I don’t want to see all that crap on my feed. If she asks you why you didn’t respond to this or that just blame it on the algorithm LOL. |
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Post by mikklynn on May 10, 2024 14:07:53 GMT
I was raised in a very devout Catholic family. I knew by 8th grade I would not remain in the Catholic church. I married a Lutheran in the Lutheran church. My mom desperately wanted her cousin to marry us in a Catholic church. When I explained I would not promise to raise my children in the Catholic church, she suggested I lie!
She cried when I married in the Lutheran church and again when I baptized my children in the Lutheran church. I spent many years attending church every Sunday. Now I only go occasionally. I believe in a higher power, but I don't feel the need to attend church.
I'm slightly hypocritical, as I take communion on Tuesday with my parents at the care facility, from a member of their Catholic church. It makes my mom happy.
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Post by flanz on May 10, 2024 15:42:45 GMT
This might sound vague. I am sorry if it does. I was raised Catholic, married in the Catholic church to a non-catholic, but left when all the scandals were exposed. Some of those pedo-priests were in my community. I just couldn't stay with it. I jumped between churches for a few years and settled into a Presbyterian church 25 years ago. For the past three years, we have been dealing with a health crisis in my family. For the first year, we kept it pretty quiet and only spoke with some family members and a couple close friends. We did not go to church during this time. Now, we have been more open. Our ministers know. Many of our church members know. NO ONE has contacted us to say hello, ask if we need anything, nothing. I know health problems are difficult to respond to but NOTHING? The only times we have heard from our church have been to ask me to do volunteer work or to ask for money. We are doing neither. To make it worse, two women who I considered close friends have treated me very poorly recently. I am at a pretty low place emotionally and these two (who do not know each other) really kicked me when I was down. One of them is quick to tell you how Catholic she is and all she does for the church and all she sacrificed so her kids could have a "Catholic education." The other was a Presbyterian minister. I think when people want to tell you how religious they are, you should watch your back. I don't really talk about this but I do not see myself ever being a part of a "church family" ever again. I'm so sorry. It really sucks when people show you who they really are. I suspect that this is a lot more common than we hear about. Christians in name only, fake friends. I'm sorry. I hope you have some loving people in your lives to support you through tough times. I find atheists some of the very nicest people!! |
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Post by sideways on May 10, 2024 15:49:20 GMT
You don’t anyone an explanation.
But, for anyone who thinks I’m “nuts”, or just “can’t understand” and who make no bones about trying to make me feel less-than with those statements, I simple say “I wised up”.
If they’re concerned with belittling me then I’m not worried about responding in kind.
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Post by scrapcat on May 10, 2024 16:05:03 GMT
As most others, the simple answer is I don't. I don't really feel the need to explain myself to anyone. I detest bumper stickers and slogans, and especially do not wish to label myself so one dimensional.
Without getting into all the details, I've felt like you've felt and although you don't have to talk about, if you want to with trusted people who will help you reflect, then that can be good too.
I don't think there's anything strange or even that unique about what you are going through. I always feel lucky to be able to change and evolve through life. My journey with faith, at this point, has been cyclical, which I honestly didn't anticipate. I generally feel bad for ppl who are tied to one way of thinking all of their life.
Whatever you end up on, I hope you find comfort with it.
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Post by alsomsknit on May 10, 2024 18:29:52 GMT
I have never felt the need to explain myself. In fact, I think DH was floored to hear I was firmly in the atheist camp. It was never something we talked about.
It was a long journey of researching, introspection, and pondering. Went from exiting a cult (born in to it), belief in god (met and married DH in this phase)—>agnostic—>agnostic/atheist—> toggle between the previous two—>atheist—> nothing.
I do enjoy learning about religions from an academic stand point and it landed me in the nothing camp. No longer feel the need to label myself.
It would probably kill my mother. However, she shuns me at the cult’s instruction/“suggestion.”
Have no idea what my never-attends-church-or-mentions-god husband feels about my lack of belief.
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Post by disneypal on May 10, 2024 18:33:36 GMT
How do you explain to others your change in your faith? I don't think you really need to explain it. For you family and friends, if THEY bring up the subject, just state the facts. "My faith has changed over the years"
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,561
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Post by RosieKat on May 10, 2024 22:05:29 GMT
I'm slightly hypocritical, as I take communion on Tuesday with my parents at the care facility, from a member of their Catholic church. It makes my mom happy. I've had this dilemma myself. I have concluded that it brings joy to some people who I dearly love when I participate, and that the God that I believe in will understand that. I always pray something along the lines of "You know my heart and that I intend no disrespect or heresy, so please accept the good in why I did this. Thank you for x, y, and z. Amen." (This is something that doesn't come up on a regular basis or anything; if it did, I'm not sure how I would deal.) |
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,940
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on May 10, 2024 22:14:21 GMT
The Catholic church did a good job getting me to change - I just say I was uncomfortable belonging to a church that was pretty antithetical to everything I believe in: gay marriage; abortion; birth control etc...
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Post by monklady123 on May 10, 2024 23:16:26 GMT
I'm slightly hypocritical, as I take communion on Tuesday with my parents at the care facility, from a member of their Catholic church. It makes my mom happy. I've had this dilemma myself. I have concluded that it brings joy to some people who I dearly love when I participate, and that the God that I believe in will understand that. I always pray something along the lines of "You know my heart and that I intend no disrespect or heresy, so please accept the good in why I did this. Thank you for x, y, and z. Amen." (This is something that doesn't come up on a regular basis or anything; if it did, I'm not sure how I would deal.) As a member of a church with an open table for communion I don't believe that God is keeping track. |
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Post by mollycoddle on May 10, 2024 23:54:02 GMT
Why do you feel like you want to explain yourself to others? Self reflection is fine but is anyone else really interested in your religious beliefs? Yes. people are interested. This surprises me, but then, I have never been around super religious people. I have been agnostic since I can remember, but I never discuss religion, because it does not interest me. I would tell someone if they asked that I am agnostic, but I would not discuss it with them-unless I changed my mind and wanted to discuss it. All of the above to say this; if you are interested in explaining your change of heart to your friends, by all means do it. If you find yourself explaining because THEY want to know why, and you don’t feel like explaining yourself, it might be time to ask yourself why you are letting yourself be pulled into a discussion that you do not want to have. ETA: I am curious about evangelicals and discussions about religion; are they very persistent about discussing it? I know some religious people, but they are not pushy about discussing their faith. |
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Post by mikklynn on May 11, 2024 12:36:58 GMT
I'm slightly hypocritical, as I take communion on Tuesday with my parents at the care facility, from a member of their Catholic church. It makes my mom happy. I've had this dilemma myself. I have concluded that it brings joy to some people who I dearly love when I participate, and that the God that I believe in will understand that. I always pray something along the lines of "You know my heart and that I intend no disrespect or heresy, so please accept the good in why I did this. Thank you for x, y, and z. Amen." (This is something that doesn't come up on a regular basis or anything; if it did, I'm not sure how I would deal.) I like that! I don't feel guilty over taking communion, it's just that in the Catholic faith you are required to be a member in good standing to receive communion. I think that is BS. I loved my old church where the pastor invited everyone to Christ's table. I believe all are welcome. |
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Post by mikklynn on May 11, 2024 12:41:50 GMT
This might sound vague. I am sorry if it does. I was raised Catholic, married in the Catholic church to a non-catholic, but left when all the scandals were exposed. Some of those pedo-priests were in my community. I just couldn't stay with it. I jumped between churches for a few years and settled into a Presbyterian church 25 years ago. For the past three years, we have been dealing with a health crisis in my family. For the first year, we kept it pretty quiet and only spoke with some family members and a couple close friends. We did not go to church during this time. Now, we have been more open. Our ministers know. Many of our church members know. NO ONE has contacted us to say hello, ask if we need anything, nothing. I know health problems are difficult to respond to but NOTHING? The only times we have heard from our church have been to ask me to do volunteer work or to ask for money. We are doing neither. To make it worse, two women who I considered close friends have treated me very poorly recently. I am at a pretty low place emotionally and these two (who do not know each other) really kicked me when I was down. One of them is quick to tell you how Catholic she is and all she does for the church and all she sacrificed so her kids could have a "Catholic education." The other was a Presbyterian minister. I think when people want to tell you how religious they are, you should watch your back.I don't really talk about this but I do not see myself ever being a part of a "church family" ever again. Boy, that describes one of my late DH's brothers to a T. He is the least Christrian person I know. He never helped out with his parents. He was angry with me for not allowing him to visit my DH during his cancer battle in the middle of a pandemic, because he was unvaccinated. Sorry, NOT sorry. I was following the oncologist's orders. westiemom I'm sorry you didn't receive the support you deserve. |
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