My father in law used to be a deacon for his church. My mother in law refused to step foot inside a church after a family member died and she was met with "it was God's will" - her absolute FURY at God prevented their second and third child from being baptized and kept all of them out of church for the most part (something she almost regrets now, wondering if she did them a disfavor). And yet, Jay knows more Biblical stories/history than I do. (It's all those Statler Brothers albums he listened to growing up!) And all three of her children have a good base in morality and brotherly love and tolerance (not bad for people from the flyover states). And their marriage is still going strong. On the contrary, my parents are divorced, one is incarcerated, and I was at church every Sunday morning for 8:30 service, singing in the choir, and folks teaching Sunday School. So really, being a good Christian isn't dependent on always rooting for what people think you ought.
It's true that Christians have a subtext of "Infidel! Heretic! Blasphemer!" when doubting their faith, questioning their God. And heaven help you if you're CLERGY expressing such anger/doubt! All of the good clergy I know acknowledge and encourage their congregants to accept and express these emotions within their faith. Even if it's quietly, among closest loved one, but they acknowledge it, out loud and reaffirmingly to their congregants.
Mom's fury isn't with God, and I'm sorry if I've given you that impression. She's got a strong, if not explicit laid out faith. It's just that she has very little use for churches. Its the organization she doesn't care for.
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ninetydegrees
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It's true that Christians have a subtext of "Infidel! Heretic! Blasphemer!" when doubting their faith, questioning their God. And heaven help you if you're CLERGY expressing such anger/doubt! All of the good clergy I know acknowledge and encourage their congregants to accept and express these emotions within their faith. Even if it's quietly, among closest loved one, but they acknowledge it, out loud and reaffirmingly to their congregants.
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Saved by grace.
-J
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-J