I'm searching lately. I am/used to be a christian. I know I believe in God, but I'm not sure where to start. I feel alien in a normal church. What else is out there? I want to belong somewhere but its hard finding a religion/church to belong to.

i have my own blend of spirituality.........i just took bits and pieces of what i've learned in my life and blended it together and am very happy with where i'm at.........much luck, xoxoxo pat good to see you..........

i guess thats it. i dont want to just put things together for myself. I want a forum, a group of people to identify with, to belong too. Is that possible if you arent a christian?

[tranquility]

Hi Esthersvirtue -

Try going on the internet. If you google non-christian religions you will come up with some lists (judaism, hinduism, islamic).

I also do not relate to any particular religion. I have read and listened to varying opinions and I basically now just have developed my own belief. I pray in my own way and I do it several times a day - I don't need to go to a church to do it.

Good luck in your search!

tranquility

[Rapunzel]

EV, I think that we all have to do some soul-searching and find what we believe in, even if we are raised with one religion and we decide that it is the one that we believe in and want to stay with. You have to study and understand what your beliefs are, and the teachings of religions that you are interested in, and you have to pray and ask God to direct you to the truth. Learn as much as you can, and you will know it when you find truth. It will resonate within you if you are open to it.

Rap

Buddhist teachings are very interesting to read.

I like to read this author, Pema Chodron, who is an American born Buddhist nun and who has severl down to earth philosophy books. Her writing is very calming . I also really like her CD that she narrates herself. Her books can be found at www.shambhala.com and some are on Amazon. Her books included :When Thinks Fall Apart and The Wisdom of No Escape. They're easy to read and make you think!

[(JD)]

There are many different types of "Community" churches. I think you just have to go visiting them and see what's in your area?

Even if you find something "online" that appeals to you, it might not be in your community, and even the local group might not hold to all the listing of what you find on the internet

Good wishes in your search!

My suggestion would be to find a non-denomination church in your area... that way you are celebrating life and God with a group of people.. without being tied to partculiar doctrines.

I spent about 3 years studing the different Christian faiths in my area - but found them to be so very restrictive in trying to "break" into a church with all their doctrines, rules that absolutely couldn't be broken and such.. however I live in a very conservative part of the US.

Best of luck to you..

[sunrise]

The community aspect of church is one that appeals to me. At some point, I want to explore spirituality more, and I would like to visit different local groups and see what they are all about, and whether their beliefs resonate with mine. There are a collection of interfaith churches in my area that I might explore. One is Christian, one is Jewish, and one is Muslim, and they do many things together and learn from each other. That appeals to me.

I grew up in a non-denominational church. I just feel that it was little more than "motivational" and "faith doctrine". I'd like to have a 'church' that understands that life isnt an equation. Prayer doesnt' always change things. God didn't appoint Bush as leader of the world. Ect. Please forgive me. I just find the same things at all churches. I do live in a small town in the south though. I just wondered if spiritual people(that werent christian) had a group to worship in.

[Gemstone]

Maybe you could see what types of Churches are close by and start visiting?

A lot of different religions other than Christian gather together.

[(JD)]

From what you say I'm thinking you really just want a place to worship, and fellowship and not necessarily study hard or get caught up in the politics of life? That sounds good, doesn't it?

There are some churches, though Christian, might be more inclined to do that... Methodist is one, imo. (Not all, but many.) Your Baptists do tend to be quite outgoing with religion/faith. (I've been there.) It isn't for everyone, surely. There are some Presbyterian churches that are not activitistic (is that a word?) but more local community oriented. But again, I would say look in the yellow pages for Community churches, and see if you can find something, some place.

PS. It's the Bible that says that God puts the people in the positions of authority, such as leaders of countries, according to His divine plan and will.

TC

[sunrise]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
esthersvirtue said:
I just wondered if spiritual people(that werent christian) had a group to worship in.

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Well, those interfaith groups I mentioned aren't necessarily Christian. There are 3 that are ostensibly Christian (Congregational), Jewish, and Muslim. But in each one, many of the members aren't of that faith, but are together because of similar values and spiritual direction. I was invited to attend the Jewish one by a friend who is a member. He told me something like half the people in it aren't Jewish. I think the same is true for the other 2. I would just look around in your own community; your best resources will be local. Keep your eyes tuned to the religion pages in your newspaper and chat up friends and acquaintances on this topic. You never know what you might find.

[Caramee]

Try this:

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

I was amazed by my results.

That religion-matcher at belief net is great. Thanks for giving me that link. I found out my beliefs are more associated with liberal christians, but I live in states with concervative christians which is largely allot of my problem maybe. That was very neat. I'll also explore some of the others religions that it says I have some similarity with.

Thanks Caramee!

[Taonuviel]

More ideas on different types of churches to try - Christian Missionary Alliance and Foursquare Church of the Gospel. They're less tied up with rules than many other denominations and are worth trying if there's any around you. Another idea I mentioned to someone recently that makes sense but people often don't think of - large churches. Usually large churches are large because people like them and they have something good going.

[Caramee]

I thought the quiz was thorough and interesting (even if it said I should be a Quaker or a Buddhist -- thought it was cool those two came up together!). The site itself had a lot of interesting information on different faiths. Good luck in your search!

[birdinflight]

Esthersvirtue - Is there a Unity church in your area? It might fit the liberal Christian description. It isn't the same as Unitarian, that's something different, though that might interest you, too.

Unity headquarters are in the midwest, and churches are all over - also see www.unityonline.org

Unitarian must be online now - in the old days, they had a church-by-mail for those living in places with no Unitarians.

My faith came up as neo-pagan first and foremost, then came unitarian universalist. The ironic part of neo-paganism is that the first faith it mentioned is one I do not feel comfortable with but when it mentioned aboriginal/native spirituality about life in everything around us, I can relate to that.

[Gracey]

I got really burned out by "church" too Ester. We kind of gave up. . .but it was hard b/c there is this part of you that truly longs for the fellowship. I think that's that "God breathed" part of us, but that's just my opinion. We found happiness at a Vineyard Church. John Wimber founded this movement way back when (I think the 70's) and was formerly Johnny Wimber of the Righteous Brothers. Not bad for an old rock and roll dude, you know? Anyway. . .the Vineyard catch phrase is, "It's all about Relationship" which I have found encompasses every single aspect of "church" for them. A typical Sunday morning gathering finds people in sneakers and blue jeans ordering coffee or another drink at the cafe, chilling in the sanctuary with concrete floors, watching the worship band warm up with their frayed blue jeans and flip flops. Oh, did I mention our bass player has a blue mohawk? I love it there b/c nobody cares who you know or what you wear or who you vote for. It's just a gathering of folks who love God, who want to worship Him, and fellowship together. I know we're not in the same place, but here's my church site . .www.vineyardaugusta.org

[WinterRose]

Perhaps you could decide what your questions are and then start asking the different churches around you and see what answers feel right - then pray about it. I believe God will guide those who are truly seeking and let them know what is right in answer to sincere prayer.

[mlyn]

I believe the prblm we incounter is putting our trust in man
all us as human are imperfect,.