pax
ONE love, blood, life
Here's how it is:
I was raised Catholic until I was in fifth grade or so; had taken First Reconciliation, Communion, etc. in the Catholic church. When my parents got divorced, I started going to church with my dad, who was going back to the Lutheran church (the church he was raised in). For those of you who may not know, the Lutheran church is one of the largest and oldest Protestant denominations, and is actually pretty close to Roman Catholicism in their liturgy and some other things they do. I was confirmed in the Lutheran church and until recently, I was pretty active--sang in the choir, read lessons, assisted with Communion, and even mentored a girl for confirmation last year.
When I started at this Catholic college two years ago, I attended Mass there because a lot of my friends did, and I still felt comfortable with Catholic liturgy. I would sometimes go to Mass at school with my friends and sometimes go to the Lutheran church with my family. Either way, I was going to church at least once a week.
I've had a few problems lately, though. With some of the scandal in the Catholic church, I've been feeling less and less comfortable with going to the Catholic church (no offense to the many Catholics here--I would probably feel differently if I had been Catholic my whole life). And I've found that going to the Lutheran church has been boring me more than really "awakening" me spiritually.
I feel a bit homeless these days in terms of religion. I've thought about checking out the Society of Friends or the UUA because of that quiz at Beliefnet a lot of us took a few months back. But I know a lot of my family would be sad if I stopped going to the Lutheran church, and I know my friends would miss going to church with me if I stopped going to Mass at school. But I don't get anything out of either one anymore. I still believe strongly in God and Jesus, but I need something new to help me manifest that faith, I suppose.
Any suggestions? Has anyone had any experience with a situation like this? Think it's right/wrong of me to leave a church or churches because of the reasons I stated? I haven't been to church in several weeks at all and it's starting to feel weird.
I was raised Catholic until I was in fifth grade or so; had taken First Reconciliation, Communion, etc. in the Catholic church. When my parents got divorced, I started going to church with my dad, who was going back to the Lutheran church (the church he was raised in). For those of you who may not know, the Lutheran church is one of the largest and oldest Protestant denominations, and is actually pretty close to Roman Catholicism in their liturgy and some other things they do. I was confirmed in the Lutheran church and until recently, I was pretty active--sang in the choir, read lessons, assisted with Communion, and even mentored a girl for confirmation last year.
When I started at this Catholic college two years ago, I attended Mass there because a lot of my friends did, and I still felt comfortable with Catholic liturgy. I would sometimes go to Mass at school with my friends and sometimes go to the Lutheran church with my family. Either way, I was going to church at least once a week.
I've had a few problems lately, though. With some of the scandal in the Catholic church, I've been feeling less and less comfortable with going to the Catholic church (no offense to the many Catholics here--I would probably feel differently if I had been Catholic my whole life). And I've found that going to the Lutheran church has been boring me more than really "awakening" me spiritually.
I feel a bit homeless these days in terms of religion. I've thought about checking out the Society of Friends or the UUA because of that quiz at Beliefnet a lot of us took a few months back. But I know a lot of my family would be sad if I stopped going to the Lutheran church, and I know my friends would miss going to church with me if I stopped going to Mass at school. But I don't get anything out of either one anymore. I still believe strongly in God and Jesus, but I need something new to help me manifest that faith, I suppose.
Any suggestions? Has anyone had any experience with a situation like this? Think it's right/wrong of me to leave a church or churches because of the reasons I stated? I haven't been to church in several weeks at all and it's starting to feel weird.