Have a few minutes and wanted to respond to some of the previous posts.
Bramble, in response to your post #150, we have a great local food bank here sponsored by MIFA - Memphis InterFaith Association. One of their great ways of fund raising is that whenever you check out from the grocery store, you can “buy” a coupon (think they range from $1, $5, $10, and $20) and pay for it with your grocery purchase. The grocery store then forwards the contributions to the food bank. I donate that way, as well as through the many food drives they have through schools, the post office, and charitable organizations. Sudo’s church is one of the largest participants in the program - it actually has it’s own pantry and daily fills boxes of food for local people in need.
Part of my point was that people do not attend church on Sunday so they can participate in the food bank. This happens daily as a part of their community service which, imo, is fostered by their religious beliefs. Living their beliefs is daily, not restricted to Sunday morning gatherings.
Bramble and Bolshevik, indicated that attending church is often done as a family “activity” (for lack of a better word). After our exit from twi, we agreed it was important to bring up our children in a community of faith, and joining a church became a priority. I was “great with child” and had two toddlers so he did most of the hunting alone, but found a Christian (Disciples of Christ) church that we both agreed would be a good setting. We joined in 1990, and within a year we were both very active there.
I was selected for “The Training of the 12", a 1-year program to train future leaders of the church. Twelve people were selected each year, and the group met weekly with the four ministers for 3 hour sessions. About an hour was presentation/lecture, about 2 hours were discussion. I was “on board” with the 3 associate pastors, but the senior minister and I butted heads, a lot, every week. I was not shy about challenging his viewpoints that struck me as contradicting scripture. At the first meeting, he challenged me to bring back a paper to him outlining my viewpoints, and we could discuss them. Think he came to regret that, as each week I would arrive with multi-paged “term papers” to hand out to all the participants. I was not the “yes man” he had counted on for one of his handpicked 12.
After “graduation”, I chose to work in the nursery area and teach the kindergarten class during the Sunday School hour, and then be with the 1st - 5th graders for Children’s Church while “Big Church” was in session. This was primarily so that I could be near my autistic son who did not respond well to auditory stimuli and became distraught in the midst of a lot of activity. He needed “peace and quiet” which was hard to come by in a nursery setting, but we made it work. My eldest daughter, bless her heart, was somehow dubbed “the kid to pick on” and came to really dislike Sunday School. She told me she had prayed about it, and she wanted to help me out in the nursery, and be able to be close to her brother and keep him comfortable, as well as help with all the children there. She said this way she could serve God and enjoy attending with the family. This was all approved and welcomed by the Nursery staff, and continued until he was in the first grade.
Then all hell broke loose. The 1st-5th graders were to go from their Sunday School class to "Big Church" with their parents for the opening portions, and were dismissed to "Children's Church" prior to the sermon. My son had continued to stay in the kindergarten room with me for Sunday School. I left him under the watchful eye of my daughter during the opening of "Big Church" and would swing by and pick them both up for "Children's Church" as I was leading the other children from the sanctuary to the chapel where "Children's Church" was held. During my absence, they prepared and served the refreshments to all the nursey classes.
RS (the senior minister) decided I was setting dangerous precedents in the Nursery by having my children there now that my son was in first grade. I asked “If he had down syndrome, would it be a problem?” “No, certainly not, we make exceptions for children with special needs.” “Well, my son has special needs, he is autistic, and cannot go to “Big Church” for the opening hymns, announcements, and prayers. The choir is lovely, but much too loud for him. It overstimulates him, physically hurts his ears, and he had a very difficult time regaining his composure after being frightened by the loud noises.” “Well, if he can’t behave properly at church, you, he, and your daughter are no longer welcome at this church.”
So the children and I departed in 1998 and spent several years visiting churches trying to find another one that would meet our family’s needs. It proved unfruitful. The girls ended up going with their friends to different churches, my son and I stayed home and watched a service on TV or on the radio, or had our own worship service, just the two of us. In 2002, I joined a home fellowship comprised of ex-twi folks and folks who had never been affiliated with twi. It is a great fellowship, and it is where I continue worshiping today. He did not like that setting, either. As he attends a Christian school, he has daily Bible classes and Chapel at least once a week, and decided that was enough “Sunday School and Church” for him.
So what began as a “family affair” ended almost 10 years ago when I was asked to leave the church. Interesting that just last month the minister that “kicked” me out, was forced to resign due to his ill behavior and twisting of the scripture - the same things I got in trouble for confronting him on during my last 6 years attending there, which, ultimately, ended in my dismissal from the congregation.
By 2002, my husband was very vocal about his atheism at home and with his staff at work, but continues to attend church routinely. This behavior is still confusing to me.
Sirguessalot, as always, your posts are thought provoking and appreciated.
Oakspear, you are so good at clarifying issues. I would appreciate your input on the "reality of Jesus Christ = the reality of Santa Claus" equation.
Suda
