I associate group membership with an alignment of values, so I chose to leave my faith community a few years ago when I realized I could not commit to a core belief of the faith. Yet, I have since experienced an immense loss in my life due to the absence of the religion.
I have felt frustrated over the past few years in attempting to find a secular substitute for the social connection I once had. I discovered the benefits offered by my previous religion are not easily replaced through other social involvements.
Religion is a highly-organized social system. In the case of my previously-chosen religion, it connected me with a world-wide community of people with shared values. Religious communities also tend to promote attitudes of love and acceptance for a wide range of people. I recognize this assessment is not true for those with lifestyles outside of a religion's accepted moral code, however, among those with the highest degree of spiritual commitment, I found there to be acceptance of the person, if not the chosen lifestyle. Secular communities, at least as I have observed, tend to have a focus of exclusivity. With secular organizations the exclusions seem far more pronounced and integral.
While I differed from the expressed majority of my faith as it concerned some moral topics, the actual moral teachings were often far more nuanced than the typical member expressed. I still find deep wisdom in much of the moral teachings of my now-abandoned faith.
I miss being connected with such a large, international social community; I miss interaction with people who value deeply and honor in their behavior ideas of human dignity; and I miss exploration of the philosophical and moral challenges considered at deep levels within my previous faith. I have not yet found an alternative environment to meet these needs. I have begun to question whether a comparable environment exists.
Given my fairly fruitless attempt to locate a satisfactory community substitute for the social and moral benefits provided through my previous religion, I have from time-to-time considered re-engaging with the faith. The lack of firm belief that originally led me to walk away has not changed, yet with time, I have become more open to the possibility of being part of the community without a shared commitment to some of it's core principles.
Have you ever considered being part of a religion primarily for the social benefits? Do you think one could engage effectively and obtain benefits from a religious environment, without sharing core elements of that religion's faith? Have you found satisfying social connection, value resonance, and challenging moral exploration outside of religion? What environments have met this need for you?
I have felt frustrated over the past few years in attempting to find a secular substitute for the social connection I once had. I discovered the benefits offered by my previous religion are not easily replaced through other social involvements.
Religion is a highly-organized social system. In the case of my previously-chosen religion, it connected me with a world-wide community of people with shared values. Religious communities also tend to promote attitudes of love and acceptance for a wide range of people. I recognize this assessment is not true for those with lifestyles outside of a religion's accepted moral code, however, among those with the highest degree of spiritual commitment, I found there to be acceptance of the person, if not the chosen lifestyle. Secular communities, at least as I have observed, tend to have a focus of exclusivity. With secular organizations the exclusions seem far more pronounced and integral.
While I differed from the expressed majority of my faith as it concerned some moral topics, the actual moral teachings were often far more nuanced than the typical member expressed. I still find deep wisdom in much of the moral teachings of my now-abandoned faith.
I miss being connected with such a large, international social community; I miss interaction with people who value deeply and honor in their behavior ideas of human dignity; and I miss exploration of the philosophical and moral challenges considered at deep levels within my previous faith. I have not yet found an alternative environment to meet these needs. I have begun to question whether a comparable environment exists.
Given my fairly fruitless attempt to locate a satisfactory community substitute for the social and moral benefits provided through my previous religion, I have from time-to-time considered re-engaging with the faith. The lack of firm belief that originally led me to walk away has not changed, yet with time, I have become more open to the possibility of being part of the community without a shared commitment to some of it's core principles.
Have you ever considered being part of a religion primarily for the social benefits? Do you think one could engage effectively and obtain benefits from a religious environment, without sharing core elements of that religion's faith? Have you found satisfying social connection, value resonance, and challenging moral exploration outside of religion? What environments have met this need for you?