Comments | lordkelvin0626: giving up church for Lent.

lordkelvin0626

giving up church for Lent.

Mar 20, 2007 15:54

Sometime in the past couple of days I think I've made a big decision about something regarding church. I've been listening to various people for a longtime saying things like the sermon is the least important part of what happens at church. And while I don't necessarily disagree with this, it's not something I can really say I've ever believed, ( Read more... )

Comments 10

helcat March 20 2007, 23:02:01 UTC

I seldom go to church, but I'm always at church, if you know what i mean.

it's one of the reasons i love what i do for revgalblogpals.

lordkelvin0626 March 21 2007, 03:48:58 UTC

I think I'm starting to know what you mean. I think I've just had that whole going to church thing beat into my head so much that I didn't think there was any other way of doing it even though it really doesn't make all that much sense. It's almost like saying that Wednesday night bowling is sacred. But then maybe Wednesday night bowling is sacred...

Maybe I should start reading the revgals.

helcat March 21 2007, 19:58:24 UTC

well, it's like this. if going to church is a metaphor for the bringing together of community, if the eucharist is a metaphor for bringing people around the table, then these practices are inherently spiritual. the trick is finding others who share that yearning for intertwined spirituality/community, and practicing mindfulness where you can, instead of where others expect you to.

These are some of the practices from Buddhism I've woven into my faith and i find it really works.

Of course, I keep joking that I'm going to start the cult of helcat...

lordkelvin0626 March 21 2007, 20:14:51 UTC

yes, exactly. Like Wednesday night bowling.

Except I don't go bowling on Wednesday nights, I go to goth clubs on Saturday nights (sometimes).

Putting my agnosticism on hold for a bit... focus23 March 21 2007, 01:57:23 UTC

I decided a while that since it's men who write bibles and build churches and God who writes universes and builds worlds, then I'll learn more about God by studying the universe and spending time in the world than by studying a book and spending time in one building.

Kate's got a great poem about that, regarding her father. I think it's called "Fly Fishing."

Re: Putting my agnosticism on hold for a bit... lordkelvin0626 March 21 2007, 03:35:21 UTC

I know that poem, it's a beautiful poem. My first memory of Kate is when she read that poem. I think I kept trying to tell her she needed to submit it to a journal I was reading back in those days. She probably thought I was crazy.

First night going to an open mic at the Mercury, too. And if I remember correctly you were there as well.

Re: Putting my agnosticism on hold for a bit... focus23 March 21 2007, 20:31:55 UTC

I believe I was. Haven't gone back to the Merc in a looong time. It... uh... reminded me of church a bit too much. Too many people listening to too few people and lots of preaching to the choir.

Re: Putting my agnosticism on hold for a bit... lordkelvin0626 March 21 2007, 21:12:41 UTC

touche'

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