return to childhood religion

Terribull, your post resonated with me.

I am horrified about the scandals of the past. For that reason, I became the Safeguarding Co-ordinator for my Parish, twenty years ago.
I cannot redress the wrongs of the past, but will do my best to ensure that our very large parish is a safe place for all.

I think you're doing a good thing Marydoll, I'm sure there are many like you, I know my mum knew such people I her church, who do restore some faith.

This post is 13 years old! I wonder what happened to frida and if she did return to church.

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Reported!

They will try to infiltrate anything, won’t they? Perhaps they think those interested in spirituality are dumb. Quite the reverse in my experience, whatever the beliefs.

well, now we know where to go for the best in counterfeits.
in the meantime, have reported to GNHQ.

There is a very good reason why families and communities want everyone to marry someone of their own religion, in often, denomination. Because it is more likely to lead to adhesion and less questioning.

My mother was Protestant, my father from staunch Catholic family (oh the irony, originally 'extreme' Protestants, aka Huguenots) - the reaction from both families certainly made me question how they behaved and reacted, a lot. DH comes from a very mixed family, other Christian denominations (Methodist and Baptist) and Islam. We both came to the conclusion very early in life that it was, sorry, but a lot of nonsense and led to more division and discrimination, cruelty even, than any other cultural or even colour, differences.

Dawkins helped making sense of it all. I am a humanist, through and through, and so is he.

Not going to get involved with any of the theology and religious/ denomination issues.

To answer the original poster .... I went back to church after an absence of around 30 years. I went back to a little independent evangelical church I knew as a teenager - where I went to youth club back in the day. In between I had been nominally C of E for a few years but never a regular church goer.

Does it work. Well for me, it did. I was amazed at how , even as an old woman I have been welcomed. I also found out some never left the church but graduated from youth group to main church. Others, like me had left and were now drifting back. It may well depend on the reasons you left in the first place. In my case it was family pressure. ( Mum passed away and I have been able to return - after a fashion as my husband has had a stroke now and this does stop me going and joining in as much as I would like). The church were also very quick to help me when my husband did have his stroke even though I had only been with them a few weeks. Their support has been very welcome to me.

I have never changed my beliefs since I was baptised as a teenager. Maybe that makes a difference? Going back to church was the best thing I have done in many years. As I say, I just wish I could join in more things with them.

Thats all I can say really.

i was raised strict catholic ,it only installed guilt shame and fear, i guess that is its intention! I was literally brainwashed and at various periods i looked into other religions/beliefs the little catholic imp in the recesses of my mind drew me back to RC. I even let my sons go through the RC education system, which some years later i both apologised to them for.Ive heard it from several ex catholics the system crushes you on so many levels.My leaving of the beliefs was gradual which was due to education on theology, and the history of the RC church, the power and abuses etc.I loosely call myself an agnostic Quaker, i would not officially become a Quaker but i like the openess, lack of mostly men in power and frocks and the humilty of the beliefs.It took me 60 odd years to get to this point!

No I have not returned to my childhood religion. I too was raised as a Catholic and have dipped in and out over the years. A few years ago I joined my local Anglican church and could not be happier. The welcome and warmth has been wonderful and I will continue to attend because I have found my happy place.

that's good, a happy place.