General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I'm kind of shocked at how anti-Christian I've become. [View all]rainin
(3,011 posts)I loved my church growing up. My family went to services twice on Sunday and Wednesday nights. It was a happy time. The sermons were about virtues...patience, generosity, love, etc.
I stopped going as I got older out of laziness, but when my children were born, I began looking for a church home. Holy moly, how things had changed! Church after church. Different denominations, even. The people had become clickish, tribal, snobby. The sermons had a distinct us/them message. None was overtly political like I think some are now, but it was unmistakeable that democrats were not going to be welcome there, unless we remained closeted. The children's activities seemed gimmicky and manipulative to entice kids to attend. My very young kids could feel the nastiness behind the syrupy voices and fake smiles.
I've since become atheist and my children are atheists, too. But, I would have loved a community like I had growing up. We did without.