Apparently I made Baby Jesus cry with my carrot porn yesterday, I’m such a naughty blogger. Incidents like this only add fuel to the argument that I should give church a try. Raised by Atheist parents, my only interaction with church has been neighborhood folk who wanted to save my little soul. Most notably the neighborhood Bible Thumpers who every year at Christmas would place giant birthday card for Jesus on their roof. Spelled out in blinkie lights was “Happy Birthday Jesus, We Love You!” I’m surprised my mother would let me within 50 feet of their house. My mother’s atheistic aspirations were driven by her temple. While attending Jew school her rabbi misused his post and was often fondling and inappropriately touching his students, what God would allow that? God must be dead. Thus I grew up hearing that only idiots believed in God and threw away their money and their brains following a non entity such as God.
My husband on the other hand was raised in churches. He attended a Lutheran school for K- 3rd grade and had gone to church basically since he was born. Not long before I met him his attendance had dropped off. His parents had a falling out at the church and his step mom decided to convert to Judaism and then attempt to become orthodox (that’s a whole ‘nother, very LONG entry).
I have always believed in some higher power. I can not tell you if it’s God or Buddha, though I do admire Buddha’s stance on a peaceful existence verses God’s record with things like The Crusades. In AP English we were required to read genesis since it is considered THE MOST controversial book ever written. I have to admit that I gave up when people began begetting others, the only other book I’ve ever given up on being James Joyce “Portrait of the artist as a young man” - snooze o rama (coincidentally James Joyce is the only book I’ve ever willingly thrown away). But back to the matter at hand.
Religion scares me. The fervor that goes along with it, can one really be a casual Christian or Jew and not be made to feel unholy and unworthy? How will I as a person with my outlandish humor and lack of social filter be accepted in religious circles? Will I be welcomed or made out to be a satanic infiltraitor?
My husband has a friend at work who is studying to become a religious leader in his church. Surprisingly, he’s a normal guy. Sadly his wife just left him and they are in the process of divorce, his church is emotionally supporting him as well as paying for seminary school so I’m thinking they aren’t too hardcore if divorce is ok (not that I’m planning one but it’s an intensity indicator). He’s also invited us in the past to some of the socials they have. Apparently it’s a pretty hopping place with socials, dances and the occasional event with a cash bar (!!!). It sounds like some place we MIGHT possibly fit in and if we make friends they might come to our home and not be horrified when we crack open a beer and proceed to drink it in front of the portrait of Mary and Jesus.
What are your thoughts on church? Do you attend? Is my trepidation over involving us in such circles unfounded or should I really fear for the soul lashing to come?

Do me a favor and check out my renter at the top of the sidebar. 3T is great and I must say i’m loving her holiday blog design. Click the link or Baby Jesus will cry even more and ducklings will die.