The Ghost of Churchy Past

[Angrboda]

I was raised Presbytarian until my sisters, four years older than me, were confirmed. Then my mom sort of lost interest, and I did too. I have no unpleasant memories from that time and the church itself makes me feel comfy and safe when I think about it (that specific church). I spent most of my adolescence as an unacknowledged atheist. I don't even remember when I lost my faith. At 17 I converted to Taoism, but I was a lone practitioner without any organized support. Over the next 20 years I gradually adopted a belief in the Hindu goddess Kali. But I never went to temple or anything. I had flirted off and on with Buddhism. To this day I enjoy religious art and symbolism. I enjoy studying religion and occasionally manage to drag myself to a UU service once in a blue moon. I enjoy the feeling of connectedness and the 'weekly message', and the general pageantry, but I'm very shy so I don't socialize much. I go late and leave promptly. Still, it's something I enjoy, even though I'm an atheist and am wary of the 'churchy aspects'.