Conflicting

[NCPilot]

So a little background, I come from a Roman Catholic family, who still practices Roman Catholicism.  I left the church back in 2007 because I just didn't agree with the teachings anymore.  I didn't agree on the issue of birth control, abortion, and I didn't agree that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven.  

Fast forward to 2013, I am an eclectic pagan who worship the moon goddess Luna, and it's been very fulfilling for me.  I've gotten a lot of great advice from Luna as well as my spirit guide.  It has made my life better and I appreciate everything the pagan path has given me.

Last night as I was falling asleep, I did begin to think about the fact that I do have a good family...well I have a great family TBH, and in some ways Roman Catholicism is responsible for that.  I've been pretty hard on Christianity as a whole in the past few years and gotten a little zealous about it.  

I don't see myself becoming Christian again, my worldview doesn't fit in the Christian worldview, however maybe I should stop being so hard on the Christian faith and instead learn how to coexist with them?

Thoughts?

[Melia2013]

I don't see myself becoming Christian again, my worldview doesn't fit in the Christian worldview, however maybe I should stop being so hard on the Christian faith and instead learn how to coexist with them?

Thoughts?

 
I was raised Southern Baptist...my grandfather was a minister for 25 years.  So believe me, when I say that I can understand.  I think co-existing is the way to go, it has made my relationship with my family much less stressful.  One of my main issues with my previous religion was the judgement of those that were non Christian.  I realized when I had first started on a Pagan path years ago, that I was judging my family members and their beliefs.  I judged them in the exact same way that they judged me.  It really truly was an aha moment.  I respect them for their paths and don't preach to them and vice-versa.  I have one aunt who reminds me weekly that I am going to burn if I don't get back on the "right" path, but she is just one out of many.  You will I am sure have one or two that will not see the beauty in your path, and that is okay.  One of my dearest friends is Catholic and we respect one another beliefs and it works out great.  
Best of luck!
Melia

[Jack]

I don't see myself becoming Christian again, my worldview doesn't fit in the Christian worldview, however maybe I should stop being so hard on the Christian faith and instead learn how to coexist with them?

Thoughts?

 
You don't have to see yourself being Christian to just "coexist." I'm not sure what you're doing in terms of being hard on the faith, though - is this just thoughts you're working out? Do you often get into religious debates?

[dionysiandame]

So a little background, I come from a Roman Catholic family, who still practices Roman Catholicism.  I left the church back in 2007 because I just didn't agree with the teachings anymore.  I didn't agree on the issue of birth control, abortion, and I didn't agree that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven.  

Fast forward to 2013, I am an eclectic pagan who worship the moon goddess Luna, and it's been very fulfilling for me.  I've gotten a lot of great advice from Luna as well as my spirit guide.  It has made my life better and I appreciate everything the pagan path has given me.

Last night as I was falling asleep, I did begin to think about the fact that I do have a good family...well I have a great family TBH, and in some ways Roman Catholicism is responsible for that.  I've been pretty hard on Christianity as a whole in the past few years and gotten a little zealous about it.  

I don't see myself becoming Christian again, my worldview doesn't fit in the Christian worldview, however maybe I should stop being so hard on the Christian faith and instead learn how to coexist with them?

Thoughts?

One can disagree with the Christian religion and still love Christian people. There are plenty of good ones out there and the very vocal minority don't speak for the many who exist just fine in multi-faith marriages, friendships, and households.

Honestly, I'd say "get off the high-horse and get over it." I know I went through a "Christianity is the bane of everything OMGZ u gaiz the HORRORS!!!one1" phase (I'm not saying you sound like this but I did because I was 14 and thought I fucking knew everything.) I don't know what made me stop doing this, but I'd have to go with age and maturity. Eventually I realized I just sounded like an idiot. Worse than that, a self-righteous idiot.

So chill out. I'm not saying you'll grow out of it.

Actually, that's exactly what I'm saying.

You'll grow out of it. Especially if you stick around smart people who won't cater to bullshit.

[NCPilot]

One can disagree with the Christian religion and still love Christian people. There are plenty of good ones out there and the very vocal minority don't speak for the many who exist just fine in multi-faith marriages, friendships, and households.

Honestly, I'd say "get off the high-horse and get over it." I know I went through a "Christianity is the bane of everything OMGZ u gaiz the HORRORS!!!one1" phase (I'm not saying you sound like this but I did because I was 14 and thought I fucking knew everything.) I don't know what made me stop doing this, but I'd have to go with age and maturity. Eventually I realized I just sounded like an idiot. Worse than that, a self-righteous idiot.

So chill out. I'm not saying you'll grow out of it.

Actually, that's exactly what I'm saying.

You'll grow out of it. Especially if you stick around smart people who won't cater to bullshit.

 
Well thanks for your honest opinion and kick in the pants.  

[RandallS]

I don't see myself becoming Christian again, my worldview doesn't fit in the Christian worldview, however maybe I should stop being so hard on the Christian faith and instead learn how to coexist with them?

I know a lot of good people who are Christian. The Christian faith, although not for me, really isn't "bad" -- but some Christians do their best to make it seem awful. Someone once said that while Jesus was okay, some of his followers weren't. But that's true of all religions: some religious people make their religion look awful.

[EclecticWheel]

So a little background, I come from a Roman Catholic family, who still practices Roman Catholicism.  I left the church back in 2007 because I just didn't agree with the teachings anymore.  I didn't agree on the issue of birth control, abortion, and I didn't agree that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven.  

Fast forward to 2013, I am an eclectic pagan who worship the moon goddess Luna, and it's been very fulfilling for me.  I've gotten a lot of great advice from Luna as well as my spirit guide.  It has made my life better and I appreciate everything the pagan path has given me.

Last night as I was falling asleep, I did begin to think about the fact that I do have a good family...well I have a great family TBH, and in some ways Roman Catholicism is responsible for that.  I've been pretty hard on Christianity as a whole in the past few years and gotten a little zealous about it.  

I don't see myself becoming Christian again, my worldview doesn't fit in the Christian worldview, however maybe I should stop being so hard on the Christian faith and instead learn how to coexist with them?

Thoughts?

 
I don't know how you personally experienced Catholicism.  Some people have great experiences with it, others not so much.  Though I wasn't raised in a religious household, I was exposed to the religion of my father's upbringing, and it wasn't good.  I had a falling out with Christianity altogether for a few years and felt very antagonistic to it.

It took some studying into the background of the Bible and its evolution, including concepts like midrash, for me to gain a new perspective on Christianity and to look into it more deeply than my own knee-jerk reactions.

I spent a lot of time studying Catholicism.  It really does have a lot of wonderful things about it.  So does Eastern Orthodoxy.  However, like you, I was unable to accept the idea that there is one true religion, much less one true church out of the various Christian sects.  I eventually converted to Anglicanism (the Episcopal Church) because it is much more open to interpretation and respecting other faiths, including non-Christian ones, and it doesn't condemn gays, women who have had abortions, etc.

I'd just take a step back.  You don't have to be a Catholic, but you can respect your family, their religious beliefs, and what it has done for them.  Despite its problems, Catholicism is really a deep well of mysticism if you know where to look.

I am sure that this will settle itself for you in time without you having to do much about it.  That's how it worked out for me.

[WitchyWoman]

I was raised Southern Baptist...my grandfather was a minister for 25 years. One of my main issues with my previous religion was the judgement of those that were non Christian.  I realized when I had first started on a Pagan path years ago, that I was judging my family members and their beliefs.  I judged them in the exact same way that they judged me. It really truly was an aha moment.  

NCPilot, I hear you on the challenges of what you're experiencing. I was raised in a conservative Episcopalian family and my father has been an ordained deacon in that church for over 20 years. When I first began studying and practicing Paganism, I just switched the flag my inner zealot had been waving around. After a number of years of at-best-spotty communication and strain, I had an almost identical experience as Melia just within the last year or so.

I find that, as far as my parents and other Christians are concerned, if I focus on the values we share (e.g., compassion, love, healing, helping others, etc.), my way is a lot easier in terms of interacting with them without major conflict.

Best of luck to you!

[ALiteraryLady]

I don't see myself becoming Christian again, my worldview doesn't fit in the Christian worldview, however maybe I should stop being so hard on the Christian faith and instead learn how to coexist with them?

Thoughts?

 
Did you ever consider that perhaps you don't like the individual interpretations of Christianity that you met through the Christians that you interact with? I bring this point up because it does tie into the whole "why are those Christians cool and the other Christians over there totally lame" sort of thinking. You can make a case that it is the various denominations, but I have some cool Lutheran friends, and some very rigid Lutheran family friends, so I think that personal internalization of Christian theory plays a role into it.

If you are really going to function in the world, you're gonna have to learn to be tolerant of Christianity, since it's everywhere. You don't have to like it, or agree with it, but the simple recognition that Christianity has the right to be a thing, for like billions of people on the planet, that will make your day easier to say the least.

Christianity is like a crying baby, you can't walk over and punch it, unless you want to look like a jerk. You can however put in some earbuds and rock out to Heavy metal music. Tune it out, be civil and you'll be fine.