Always a good thing to gather together. Better to simply talk to God and ask Him to forgive you, protect you, and show you His love for you. If the churches all burned down tomorrow we would still have God. Nothing can separate us from Him or His love for us. Enjoy the journey.
Im a recovering Catholic who loves Jesus. My cousin was molested by a Philly priest and then my cousin molested me for 4 years. I found out when I was 19 (8 years later) that my cousin was molested by a priest named in the Phila/South Jersey priest sex scandal and I denounced the Roman Catholic Church and Jesus. Thank God I was able to find my way back to Christ WITHOUT help from any Church or Pedofile cult aka organized religion.
Its nice you want to go back to your old Church but God is in your heart no matter where you go!
Christianity is what molded my world-view as a child and what literally shaped me into a good human being with bright morals.
I'm not sure I believe that. If you can make it from the age of 14 to 24 without doing 'anything awful' while not attending church, it probably wouldn't have made a difference. That's like prime time in our lives for really fucking up. I think, to whatever extent you're a good human being, is because you have basic empathy and respect.
That's all it takes to be good to your fellow man. And those two things aren't derived from religion - they preceded it.
I wouldn't try to talk you out of taking your journey back though. Whatever is calling you back there will probably stay restless until you do. Take your time and look to the past, find your closure, and put to rest whatever lingers. But don't stay in the past too long, the present is much more fun, and the future could be anything.
Maybe it’s too late for you and her. Maybe not. But either way, without expecting some big cathartic experience, you should contact her again. Say something like “I was on a site with my friends and I commented on a friends post” than copy and paste your very comment from here. She needs to see it. She needs to understand not just what her father did but HOW it was wrong. And perhaps some small good will come of it. Even if you feel it won’t benefit you. It could benefit someone you will never meet and they may not ever know you sparked their happiness. But it’s still some good that you.can do in this world. And what do you have to lose. It’s just a text. Not like taking a bullet.
Also, I have had my down and outs with the church. I’ve found that the church leaders and congregations and I don’t usually click. But that hasn’t stopped me from keeping my word with God. Keeping a personal relationship with God does not require a Church. Discuss the virtues and morals God has laid out for us with people who matter. Like ya fellow pedes or your friends. God’s virtues helped shape the greatest Americans in history: George Washington, The Swamp Fox, Audie Murphy, Desmond Doss, Richard ‘Dick’ Winters, and so many others. Allow these Examples to guide you and push you to do the right thing every day with God in your heart. Fuck everyone else who tries to hold you back. Forget their negativity. Just push on. Don’t be a leaf on the river going wherever other forces take you. Forge upstream like a salmon against the current. Find your place and plant yourself like a rock, allowing no current to uproot you. We are Americans. We are strong together. And we WILL make this country great again for the good people like us. This is our land. It is your soul. This country and your soul belong to you. And in the fight for both, we may lean on each other.
So happy that you have decided to take this step, and, while going to church and once again having a relationship with the Lord may not completely cure your depression, you will gain a sense of well-being from the experience. I have dealt with depression all my life; not every day is easy. But I have a grounded hopefulness to call on through Jesus. Take care, pede, and may God bless you and yours.
A year ago I needed some audiobooks to listen to while working and it so happened that Audible recommended me "The Great Good Thing" by Andrew Klavan. I listened to it because it had good reviews, and I didn't even realize until later he had a show on the Daily Wire. It was generally a light-hearted book and pretty funny and I'd recommend it.
After that, I listened to Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. I never really intended to listen to "apologetics". I wasn't raised in a religious household, and I don't want to follow a religion just because I need a crutch to go through life.
But these two books were written by guys who basically hated religion and started to change their views after a few life events. I'm sure atheists will accuse them of being biased or whatever, but I think these guys tried their best to actively check and call out whatever psychological flaws were pushing them towards religion. After these two books, I've been feeling the same way. Unfortunately I'm in Commiefornia and Gavin Nuisance hates church, so I'm just listening to sermons on YouTube.
the Spirit moves in mysterious ways....let the adventure commence
There is a battle of good vs evil occurring right now, a battle for your very soul. Welcome back to the winning team.
Good to hear pede! Sending the best wishes!
Always a good thing to gather together. Better to simply talk to God and ask Him to forgive you, protect you, and show you His love for you. If the churches all burned down tomorrow we would still have God. Nothing can separate us from Him or His love for us. Enjoy the journey.
Im a recovering Catholic who loves Jesus. My cousin was molested by a Philly priest and then my cousin molested me for 4 years. I found out when I was 19 (8 years later) that my cousin was molested by a priest named in the Phila/South Jersey priest sex scandal and I denounced the Roman Catholic Church and Jesus. Thank God I was able to find my way back to Christ WITHOUT help from any Church or Pedofile cult aka organized religion. Its nice you want to go back to your old Church but God is in your heart no matter where you go!
I'm not sure I believe that. If you can make it from the age of 14 to 24 without doing 'anything awful' while not attending church, it probably wouldn't have made a difference. That's like prime time in our lives for really fucking up. I think, to whatever extent you're a good human being, is because you have basic empathy and respect.
That's all it takes to be good to your fellow man. And those two things aren't derived from religion - they preceded it.
I wouldn't try to talk you out of taking your journey back though. Whatever is calling you back there will probably stay restless until you do. Take your time and look to the past, find your closure, and put to rest whatever lingers. But don't stay in the past too long, the present is much more fun, and the future could be anything.
There's an old saying in the Jewish community. It's paraphrased, but the intent is the same and I hope I am very close.
Give me the children's first seven years and I present to you the man.
Ah, found a source. I was wrong about the Jewish.
Here's the actual quote.
It's attributed to Aristotle.
Maybe it’s too late for you and her. Maybe not. But either way, without expecting some big cathartic experience, you should contact her again. Say something like “I was on a site with my friends and I commented on a friends post” than copy and paste your very comment from here. She needs to see it. She needs to understand not just what her father did but HOW it was wrong. And perhaps some small good will come of it. Even if you feel it won’t benefit you. It could benefit someone you will never meet and they may not ever know you sparked their happiness. But it’s still some good that you.can do in this world. And what do you have to lose. It’s just a text. Not like taking a bullet.
Also, I have had my down and outs with the church. I’ve found that the church leaders and congregations and I don’t usually click. But that hasn’t stopped me from keeping my word with God. Keeping a personal relationship with God does not require a Church. Discuss the virtues and morals God has laid out for us with people who matter. Like ya fellow pedes or your friends. God’s virtues helped shape the greatest Americans in history: George Washington, The Swamp Fox, Audie Murphy, Desmond Doss, Richard ‘Dick’ Winters, and so many others. Allow these Examples to guide you and push you to do the right thing every day with God in your heart. Fuck everyone else who tries to hold you back. Forget their negativity. Just push on. Don’t be a leaf on the river going wherever other forces take you. Forge upstream like a salmon against the current. Find your place and plant yourself like a rock, allowing no current to uproot you. We are Americans. We are strong together. And we WILL make this country great again for the good people like us. This is our land. It is your soul. This country and your soul belong to you. And in the fight for both, we may lean on each other.
God bless, Pede
And in the immortal words of Dick Winters, “Hang Tough”
So happy that you have decided to take this step, and, while going to church and once again having a relationship with the Lord may not completely cure your depression, you will gain a sense of well-being from the experience. I have dealt with depression all my life; not every day is easy. But I have a grounded hopefulness to call on through Jesus. Take care, pede, and may God bless you and yours.
A year ago I needed some audiobooks to listen to while working and it so happened that Audible recommended me "The Great Good Thing" by Andrew Klavan. I listened to it because it had good reviews, and I didn't even realize until later he had a show on the Daily Wire. It was generally a light-hearted book and pretty funny and I'd recommend it.
After that, I listened to Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. I never really intended to listen to "apologetics". I wasn't raised in a religious household, and I don't want to follow a religion just because I need a crutch to go through life.
But these two books were written by guys who basically hated religion and started to change their views after a few life events. I'm sure atheists will accuse them of being biased or whatever, but I think these guys tried their best to actively check and call out whatever psychological flaws were pushing them towards religion. After these two books, I've been feeling the same way. Unfortunately I'm in Commiefornia and Gavin Nuisance hates church, so I'm just listening to sermons on YouTube.
Great! As long as its not JW or LDS you should be good!