My f*a*i*t*h is like a glass h-a-l-f ~ e_m_p_t_y

[wild_dreamer]

And my life is like a glass overfloweth. No time or energy.

I have finally come to the point in my life where I question my faith, and choose my path for myself.

Raised pagan. I have been a nonpracticing pagan for too long now, and I seek to broaden my horizons, and find what truly resonates with me.

My faith has been slowly waning, and I'm uncertain and unstable. Those of you who are willing teachers of your own faith, I will listen. Mostly, I am aware this is a soul-search that must be done alone... but I am open to the teachings of anyone who would direct my gaze to a new possibility.

In the meantime, the first religion I seek to learn about and am considering outside of Wicca... is Catholicism. Don't ask. I don't know why. e.e;

That's todays update, then.

Comments

[teal-cuttlefish.livejournal.com]

I checked out Catholicism when I was in college at age 18. I thought it was a very comforting faith, but overly paternal for me. I wound up atheist for quite some time, till I found Paganism/Wicca when I was 30. We have always told A that she would be raised in our faith and we didn't want her checking out other religions until she was 13. She's 13 now, though at this time she doesn't seem terribly interested in exploring right now.

Personally, I'd rather let my kid explore religions with my knowledge and support than feel she has to keep the information from me -- I won't belittle her experiences but would like to help her examine them and make her selection with full knowledge and understanding. I strongly believe that (almost) all paths lead to the light; the trick is finding the path that works for you.

[onnakitty.livejournal.com]

It isn't so much -keeping- the information from her. It's just.. Maybe a bit of it is I'm tired of looking to her for permission all the time. I want to do something independently. I'm nineteen, for pete's sake. Time to be my own person.

I believe that too, and Wicca has always felt.. when I was little it was natural, but as I've grown, I've become less practicing, less... It's like the bit from Dogma. "When you're young, the glass is small, and it doesn't take much to fill it. As you get older, the glass gets bigger, and the same amount of faith just.. doesn't fill it anymore."

So, maybe I need to find a different faith, or maybe I just need reaffirmation that the path I'm on is the right one.

I think you're right, though. (Almost) All paths lead to the light, I just have to find my own way there. I figure no matter what, some of the rules I learned growing up pagan apply to everyday life, and any other religion. Including "And ye harm none, do as ye will", among others I'm sure.

Thank you for your support, though. It means a lot. n_n

[teal-cuttlefish.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. :^)

I will mention, though, that Catholicism believes sex should be confined to married heterosexual couples planning to procreate, and anything else is a sin. They also like to oppress women -- both characteristics of many Christian sects. Just something to keep in mind; there are more liberal churches as well -- I can list a few if you like.

There's also the UU, where belief in God is optional. (I love that line!)

Keep us posted; we do like to hear from you and D and I even chat about you from time to time.

[teal-cuttlefish.livejournal.com]

And you're quite right -- you're 19 and fully capable of making your own decisions. (The reason I didn't answer one of your memes is that my first memory of you involves the incessant repetition of The LIttle Mermaid around 15 years ago.) Watching A grow and develop her own opinions has actually helped me remember that people grow and change, but sometimes parents can be hard pressed to let their kids grow up. Not accusing your mom of that, just a general observation. And people who have known you since early childhood also occasionally have problems remembering you're grown up -- though it looks like most of us are managing pretty well!

(When I had my birthday sushi party here, Trygve showed up. It was the first time we'd seen him in a couple of years, and he was vocally startled at how much A had grown. I try not to do that!)