Mumblings

[ailbhe]

I've been looking for a church.

I'm not sure why, but I have a kind of an itch. A little gap. I think church might be a good place to fill it. But my own experience of churches is limited - Roman Catholic, or Swedish Lutheran at Christmas and Midsommar. RC churches have, in my experience, been full of families and children, and from my own childhood I remember being entertained by other members of the congregation (there's a longstanding family story about a group of men at the back of the church, kneeling on the floor because there were no spaces left in the pews, amusing me in total silence by redirecting a spider crawling on the floor; the poor spider was presumably desperate to escape me but they kept it in my general area for ages). Ah - I also remember churches packed to capacity on Sunday mornings, always open and unlocked so one could drop in, and lots of singing.

I really, really miss the singing of prayers.

What I'm not sure about is god, gods, or godheads. I might believe in something, but I'm not sure, and only sometimes, and anyway it's not important. I'm sure about things like living as best I can and kindness and honesty (which is not the same as truthfulness) and similar things. Do as little harm as I can manage and try to do a bit of good. Do what I can and teach my children to do the same.

I fail terribly all the time, of course, but what's the use of an ideal that's easy to live up to?

Universal Unitarians and Quakers both seem to be about peace, kindness, tolerance, and not requiring a specific profession of faith in a deity. I heard of the Quakers first - conscientious objectors and ambulance drivers - and met some; Johnny Goodbody who ran the second-hand bookshop in Dún Laoghaire was one, though he was also a friend of my father's, which is never a point in anyone's favour. He was kind to me and my sister, though. I only heard of the UU since some time after Linnea's birth, and my experience of it is still all online. But I like what I hear.

I suppose it's about investigating, now. I'd like to find somewhere we felt at home. I'd like my children to have that, as they grow up. But I don't want the doctrine. I don't want dogma. And Rob likes it all so much he's not interested even in a church which accept atheists - he will reluctantly attend stuff at his mother's church very very occasionally if nagged enough, but would never seek it out voluntarily. I have no idea what he'd think of his children believing in something like god, and, to be honest, nor has he. I'd like the kind of church where all that is left very fluid and open, for children to decide for themselves, a bit.

With proper attention paid to purple flowers.

Comments

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

I used to go to a really good Unitarian (http://www.unitarian.org.uk/) church in Manchester (Cross Street Chapel), where you were just as likely to to hear the Rig Veda on a Sunday morning as the Bible, or even a little Richard Dawkins now and then. It was great, very open, very friendly, and at one point they ran a "Build Your Own Theology" course for us newbies - the opposite of evangelical churches' Alpha Course, really.

..but down here in Poole the closest group has more of an Anglican tendency. Every church/fellowship is different and the minister abides by the preferences of his/her congregation. That sid, it's been a while since I went there. I should really give them another shot!

[mrs-warwick.livejournal.com]

RC churches have, in my experience, been full of families and children, and from my own childhood I remember being entertained by other members of the congregation

My experience of going to church with the 2 girls has always been positive, and the other members of the congregation are always ready to be distracted by a happy child. Eleri spent a good portion of last Sunday handing out the hymnbooks to the people across the aisle, and showing them the contents of her handbag.

[tiggsybabes.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in going back to church too. I think it's the belonging feeling that interests me (& the singing, I like singing) Kate now goes to a church youth group, but I'm not 100% convinced of the church itself as it's methodist & my MIL is methodist (say no more!!!)

The big-ish church in town is CofE, is beautiful & I went on ahool trip to it & the vicar was very jolly & nice. The church is 800 years old & very peaceful. My friend is an active member, not sure if that encourages me or puts me off, as she might pressurise me.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

if you like music, uu seems a good bet. we are attending 50% quaker, 50% rc; both kids have been baptised into the rc faith. rc here is vv welcoming to kids, far more so than in germany. kids at quaker meeting have a great creche, come into meeting during last 15 mins - but meeting is silent. you can attend quaker meeting for decades without joining. but it's silent, no singing.