Home » Crimson's Creative Challenge » Where’s Your Faith? – Crimson’s Creative Challenge#47

Where’s Your Faith? – Crimson’s Creative Challenge#47

Posted on by

It’s Thursday. And I’m inspired to join in Crispina’s weekly challenge. Because, why not?

Where’s Your Faith?

Do you attend church?

No. I only go to weddings, funerals and the occasional baptism. Oh, and I love to visit churches when I go sightseeing. Does that count?

Not really. So, why don’t you go?

I don’t feel the need. Mom insisted we do our First Communion and Confirmation, that’s it. Felt that was enough to take care of her Catholic duties. Was never much for church going herself.

Why is that?

I think she’d had her fill with the nuns back in the day. They were not, what one would say, pleasant as teachers. She lived in small villages with one school, comprising of one class, taking care of grades 1 to 8. They were a nasty and judgmental lot.

I, myself only had my boys baptised. I guess I’m even more of a hypocrite.

Think you’ll ever start?

Nah. Don’t need a building to have faith.

54 thoughts on “Where’s Your Faith? – Crimson’s Creative Challenge#47”

  2. I’m with you. If you follow the Golden Rule, church attendance isn’t necessary. Organized religion seems to be a power play by church officials to keep the masses engaged through fear and intimidation cleverly disguised as doctrine. Take the whole ‘no fish on Fridays’ thing-eventually reversed yet don’t you wonder how many guys are boiling in hell for a burger before the change? 😇

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Well done, you. And … I’m with you. Having been raised in a religious upbringing, I find myself more spiritual than religious. To me, the place and dogma or preaching or adherence to outside rule or genuflection of any kind does not make the faith, the conduct of oneself does. The frame of culture can help, if one so chooses, and I’m not averse to anyone keeping what they feel helps them be a part of a community or give their own belief a sense of order – it is all fine – it just is not part of what I need. For me, a leaf, a smile, a puppy, a small child, the wrinkles on a face, the sunshine twinkling on a car, the rain puttering, the sounds of life, the sweetness of a yawn at the end of a long day, the taste of good food, the affection of another – they are Spirit manifest enough for me.
    🙂
    And … to each their own.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Love that window. Equally love your post. Honest and to the point. So I’ll be honest in return.
    Yea, I go to church… if I’m out with the camera and the church is unlocked. These days many rural churches have toilet facilities and facilities for coffee and tea. Wow. But mostly it’s for the history and the architecture. I usually leave a comment in the vistors’ book. And a donation. Despite my parents had me christened, I haven’t as much as paid lip-service since I was 14. My own children remain *unclaimed*. The youngest tried all the Christain sects and then became a Biker-Outlaw. The middle one decided on the Wicca movement. Not sure where the oldest is, spiritwise. I don’t need a church to tell me what’s right or wrong. I don’t need the threat of eternal damnation to keep me in line. And I don’t need a fantasy figure to offer me unconditional love… as long as I obey the rules (notwithstanding I have my own spiritual presence who sometimes snuggles me into contentment at night).
    There, that’s me. But I forgot to mention, I honour the Gnostic Sophia (spiritual intelligence) which, according to the Early Church was anathema.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Isn’t it beautiful? Glad you did. I didn’t realise I was going to go there when I did. Honesty is best, in my book.
      Then you do right by using their facilities and photographing them. Leaving a note is sweet, leaving a donation is a gifted.
      I only gave my kids he first step. Then realised they need to make their own decisions. My youngest sister did the same. The middle sister did the whole rigamarole with her three.
      Nope. Don’t need a church to throw fire and brimstone at me, either.
      I’ll now have to look into the Gnostic Sophia 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Raised as a primitive Methodist, my Mum hoped I would become a Methodist Minister. I didn’t!
    I find it abhorrent to walk into a grand cathedral, albeit a beautiful, architectural marvel, to find gold and jewels, amongst the rich hierarchy, when outside there are homeless, poor, diseased, and wretched people just trying to exist.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I agree with some but not all remarks here.I detest “religiosity”. I believe in Faith but not doctrine that displays opulence and attitude while those around them are suffering and looking for answers to life questions.A building does not make a church. The people do. anyway, good job getting people to think. i hate that. it gives me a headache. lol.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Q,

    Firstly, I love stained glass. So much. I would go to church if it was strictly about the stained glass and wine, but since it’s not that simple a commitment, I’m fine with googling images of it.

    Secondly, I don’t want to say it because you’re gonna get a big head. But Imma say it because I already starting saying it. You nail these challenges from myriad vantage points, and you did so on this one from the inside. It’s an inside job! God would be equally parts perplexed and proud. Weighted to the latter, for certain.

    Lastly, “Don’t need a building to have faith” is my motto. You have faith, or you do not have faith. No mortal borne structure is gonna provide you with the propers.

    Here’s to your poetic preach, girl. 🙂

    B

    Liked by 2 people

  9. One never knows how much of these things are autobiographical, but I’m going to assume there is some truth to this one. 😉

    I was raised Catholic an went through all of the sacraments and had to go to church every Sunday and holy day until I turned 18, when I was free to make my own decisions about such things. Since then I’ve walked into places of worship for the following reasons: (1) other people’s weddings and funerals; (2) my own wedding, which was in a synagogue, so it was more like a science experiment for me than an exercise in faith; (3) support my kids in raising them in my wife’s faith; and (4) moments when I need peace, quiet, and an opportunity for thought and reflection.

    If I had to do it over again, I would have done a lot less of #3. As I grow older, I become even less interested in faith and organized religion.

    But it’s that #4 … I work a couple of blocks from our city’s “downtown Cathedral.” There have been times when I’ve felt the need to sit in a back pew and just wallow in the silence that exists there when nobody else is present. It’s been awhile since I’ve done that, but there definitely is something about churches and other places of faith that fascinate me and draw me in.

    Like

    • There is definitely an element of truth. My mother gave up on the church but still made us do our Catholic rituals to make us “official”. I can’t think of a single time we went to church just to go to Sunday services. And Midnight Masses I can count on one hand.

      Oy, how did your folks take you marrying a Jew? Did it bother them?

      Nothing wrong with using places of worship to centre yourself if it brings you peace, I say.

      I honestly believe organised religion is a business more than anything else and I just can’t get behind their hypocrisy. I know, I am totally generalising here.

      I think it’s rather cool that you feel compelled to go in and soak (not wallow) in the silence.

      Liked by 1 person

      • We always went to church because it was what you were supposed to do. My Mom continues to go every weekend because of what was drilled into her head by the nuns about the horrors that would occur if she stopped going. Nobody else in the family goes.

        Regarding my marriage — not really. They just want me to be happy. A friend of my wife’s who is Catholic talked to my mom around 20 years ago about trying to get me back to church. My mom’s response was “why? He’s fine just the way he is.” Or something like that. She has no issues about my faith decisions.

        It’s funny. I was driving to work today and was driving down a stretch of road that has a Vietnamese church, a Tongan church, and another church all on the same block. And I was thinking about how cool it would be to go into each of those churches and just get a sense of them. The peace and quiet of a church is unrivaled.

        Liked by 1 person

        • My first boyfriend’s family was like that. In the little villages where my mom was brought up, the nuns were awful and would beat kids who didn’t go to church (even if, like my mom, they suffered migraines). I think, even more so, my mother stopped believing after her brother was killed in a car crash at the age of 16. My grandmother didn’t go all that often either after a time.

          That’s great. And I love your mom’s answer! She understands it’s a personal thing.

          I think it would be worthwhile to visit each one and get the vibe for it. (You could be like Pi in “Life of Pi” who is curious about various religions…)

          Liked by 1 person

  10. I think it must be comforting for some people to have that faith and trappings of religion, but I don’t. I did not have a religious upbringing at all. There’s a cultural heritage that I’m mindful of, but that’s it. Our holiday celebrations are all about food. 🙂
    But that window is beautiful!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Dear Dale,

    When push comes to shove it’s all about what’s in your heart. I’ve known some ugliness within church and synagogue walls. Well written story. You said a lot in a few.

    Shalom and lotsa hugs (because that’s what the love of God is about)

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Rochelle,

      I absolutely agree with you. There is ugliness everywhere as much as there is beauty. Some need/want the rituals, some could care less. It’s what’s inside of the individual that counts.

      Shalom and lotsa love and kindness,

      Dale

      Like

Comments are closed.