I’m Christian, Episcopalian. What drives me to continue practicing? There’s a lot of things:
Socially, I enjoy the sense of community that comes with being an active member of a congregation, and it provides both a reminder to and a venue for giving back in the form of volunteering and charity.
Personally, I appreciate the rhythm it gives to my weeks and years, with specific times set aside for joy and grief, reflection and action, uncomfortable growth and quiet recovery.
Spiritually, I draw both comfort and strength from my relationship with God; whether or not this is a spiritual sort of “rubber ducking” doesn’t change how it affects me.
Morally, I think the example of Christ is a good one to follow, and again, that doesn’t really depend on Him being a real historical figure.
Not the commenter, but Christian as well. Consider myself non-denominational, but attend/worship at an Episcopalian Church. The hobby comment isn’t entirely untrue, but there’s more meaning to it than that for me at least.
Most hobbies don’t have such an outsized influence on my life. The hobbies that could would cost a lot of money.
Wait, there’s more: Some people are skeptical even of religion, yet still practice a religion.
We reconcile that by:
admitting that we can’t make sense of everything
recognizing that many of the ways our religion interacts with reality are aspirational rather than descriptive
rejecting dogma
choosing to persevere in doubt rather than cling to false certainty
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I’m Christian, Episcopalian. What drives me to continue practicing? There’s a lot of things:
Socially, I enjoy the sense of community that comes with being an active member of a congregation, and it provides both a reminder to and a venue for giving back in the form of volunteering and charity.
Personally, I appreciate the rhythm it gives to my weeks and years, with specific times set aside for joy and grief, reflection and action, uncomfortable growth and quiet recovery.
Spiritually, I draw both comfort and strength from my relationship with God; whether or not this is a spiritual sort of “rubber ducking” doesn’t change how it affects me.
Morally, I think the example of Christ is a good one to follow, and again, that doesn’t really depend on Him being a real historical figure.
Very nicely put. This describes my own faith almost to a T.
Sounds like a hobby
Not the commenter, but Christian as well. Consider myself non-denominational, but attend/worship at an Episcopalian Church. The hobby comment isn’t entirely untrue, but there’s more meaning to it than that for me at least.
Most hobbies don’t have such an outsized influence on my life. The hobbies that could would cost a lot of money.