I remember one of the teachers at primary school trying to get us to be mortified by Jesus dying on the cross, because he did it to save us Christians, and Gerard Grogan correcting him, 'We're not Christians, sir, we're Catholics!' We kids thought his logic was impeccable. The Holy Family we understood, Joseph, Mary and the baby (and the wee donkey, of course). Where God fitted in was obscure and uninteresting just one of the stories about folk in the desert. Catholicism was a necessary part of being cultural Irish, no more, to be discarded as soon as possible. And we had terrible hymns.
How fascinating to hear someone else tell their faith story. Your comment about missing the singing made me smile as hymns were one of the reasons I found the Quakers so attractive, along with their lack of ritual. I long to go back because I miss the spiritual environment but the people who were so dismissive of my inability to take on organisational roles are still there. It can’t be done.
Yes, the Quakers might have appealed to me at one point, had I known about it.
I’m sorry you’re missing that environment, Beth. What a horrible way to be treated and to feel. Is there nowhere else you could go?
I’ve never missed anything about church life - which seems like a lifetime ago now - other than the singing, as I said, but I can understand it must feel like being estranged, if you wish to feel part of it.
It suited me because Quaker practice is as much about being fully present in the world and there’s an interesting synchronicity of thought that occurs sometimes when a meeting comes together in silence.
I think having contemplative time, in whatever setting, can make us more able to cope with what’s going on ‘out there’ or sometimes in here * pointing to own head/heart.
I remember one of the teachers at primary school trying to get us to be mortified by Jesus dying on the cross, because he did it to save us Christians, and Gerard Grogan correcting him, 'We're not Christians, sir, we're Catholics!' We kids thought his logic was impeccable. The Holy Family we understood, Joseph, Mary and the baby (and the wee donkey, of course). Where God fitted in was obscure and uninteresting just one of the stories about folk in the desert. Catholicism was a necessary part of being cultural Irish, no more, to be discarded as soon as possible. And we had terrible hymns.
Yes, Catholicism was very much tied up with being Irish for my Dad and his family. I ditched that pretty quickly. Great response from your classmate!
How fascinating to hear someone else tell their faith story. Your comment about missing the singing made me smile as hymns were one of the reasons I found the Quakers so attractive, along with their lack of ritual. I long to go back because I miss the spiritual environment but the people who were so dismissive of my inability to take on organisational roles are still there. It can’t be done.
Yes, the Quakers might have appealed to me at one point, had I known about it.
I’m sorry you’re missing that environment, Beth. What a horrible way to be treated and to feel. Is there nowhere else you could go?
I’ve never missed anything about church life - which seems like a lifetime ago now - other than the singing, as I said, but I can understand it must feel like being estranged, if you wish to feel part of it.
It suited me because Quaker practice is as much about being fully present in the world and there’s an interesting synchronicity of thought that occurs sometimes when a meeting comes together in silence.
I think having contemplative time, in whatever setting, can make us more able to cope with what’s going on ‘out there’ or sometimes in here * pointing to own head/heart.
Thank you so much for taking time to read and comment. Sending all good wishes for your journey.