RE: Tribal loyalty towards your former religion
July 12, 2015 at 9:49 am
(This post was last modified: July 12, 2015 at 9:51 am by vorlon13.)
Raised Methodist, converted to UU in 1980 m/l, 12 Stepper starting in '86.
As for Methodism, I'd say they seem rather more benign to me these days, having been exposed to so much whackadoodle BS in other schisms now. Never heard anyone speak in tongues while growing up, for instance. They eschewed serpents and snakes too. Their church ladies put on a good feed too, your standard Midwestern comfort food. I've enjoyed (snicker) watching their views evolve over the years as they attempt to stay 'hep'. My Sunday school experience back in the 60s has been helpful here in helping me catch apostasy and heresy in the postings of most all the supposed christers I encounter as a grownup now.
Even in 1980, the UU franchise I joined was profoundly liberal. Pastor was openly gay, and he introduced at least one boyfriend to the congregation. They took pride in being unable to locate an actual bible in their church building. They also allowed a gay AA meeting to use the building for their meetings. (I didn't avail myself of the opportunity) UU isn't big on hellfire, dogma, strictures, or much of anything I considered actual 'religion'. For me, a nice way station on my way here.
12 Stepping has been interesting. It presents itself not unlike an Ap you can put on your smart phone. It's compatible with every faith (they acknowledge atheism as the only incompatible platform to run it on) and it has been useful me. The 'Higher Power' stuff I've come to realize is a necessary fiction (from my viewpoint, YMMV) for most of the newcomers and I'm not really troubled by it*. In all faiths and religions, the 12 Stepper 'Higher Power' stuff is obviously heresy, those other faiths, however, for the most part find it convenient to ignore the conflict with their Message.
*for new members here, an unfortunate characteristic of the addict is a near universal corrosive thought process regarding attribution of their deliverance from their addiction. If attributed to an external agency, no matter how contrived or specious, the 12 Stepping effort is more effective than if the addict realizes they alone have achieved control via abstinence entirely by their own efforts and volition. It's a necessary fiction, from my viewpoint, and I haven't much trouble with it. That the 'Higher Power' stuff as presented is clearly heretical to just about every faith, I view as actually promoting agnosticism/atheism for anyone in 12 Stepping that realizes the 'necessary fiction' dodge. The 'One True God' after all, isn't going to 'cure' any addict of the wrong faith obviously, yet it appears to happen all the time nevertheless.
As for Methodism, I'd say they seem rather more benign to me these days, having been exposed to so much whackadoodle BS in other schisms now. Never heard anyone speak in tongues while growing up, for instance. They eschewed serpents and snakes too. Their church ladies put on a good feed too, your standard Midwestern comfort food. I've enjoyed (snicker) watching their views evolve over the years as they attempt to stay 'hep'. My Sunday school experience back in the 60s has been helpful here in helping me catch apostasy and heresy in the postings of most all the supposed christers I encounter as a grownup now.
Even in 1980, the UU franchise I joined was profoundly liberal. Pastor was openly gay, and he introduced at least one boyfriend to the congregation. They took pride in being unable to locate an actual bible in their church building. They also allowed a gay AA meeting to use the building for their meetings. (I didn't avail myself of the opportunity) UU isn't big on hellfire, dogma, strictures, or much of anything I considered actual 'religion'. For me, a nice way station on my way here.
12 Stepping has been interesting. It presents itself not unlike an Ap you can put on your smart phone. It's compatible with every faith (they acknowledge atheism as the only incompatible platform to run it on) and it has been useful me. The 'Higher Power' stuff I've come to realize is a necessary fiction (from my viewpoint, YMMV) for most of the newcomers and I'm not really troubled by it*. In all faiths and religions, the 12 Stepper 'Higher Power' stuff is obviously heresy, those other faiths, however, for the most part find it convenient to ignore the conflict with their Message.
*for new members here, an unfortunate characteristic of the addict is a near universal corrosive thought process regarding attribution of their deliverance from their addiction. If attributed to an external agency, no matter how contrived or specious, the 12 Stepping effort is more effective than if the addict realizes they alone have achieved control via abstinence entirely by their own efforts and volition. It's a necessary fiction, from my viewpoint, and I haven't much trouble with it. That the 'Higher Power' stuff as presented is clearly heretical to just about every faith, I view as actually promoting agnosticism/atheism for anyone in 12 Stepping that realizes the 'necessary fiction' dodge. The 'One True God' after all, isn't going to 'cure' any addict of the wrong faith obviously, yet it appears to happen all the time nevertheless.
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.
