O World Invisible, We View Thee

[poliphilo]

I haven't done any religion since I walked away from church. There's a baptism coming up. I said I'd go to that and take photos. Ailz is being godmother so I need to lend support.

As I just wrote in a comment on someone else's journal, I can't rest easy inside anyone else's system. Draw lines around me and the thing that interests me most will be the thing that lies outside them.

And yet, in a general sort of a way, my faith has never been so strong. Now that I no longer believe in God my belief in God is unshakeable.

Comments

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Tony, I kept thinking about you while I was reading the latest book by Bishop John Spong--here it is on Amazon UK.

It's his most thoughtful book, very honest. I'd be interested in what you think about it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's difficult.

I spent a fair bit of my life doing what Spong is doing, trying to reconcile my continuing attachment to the church with beliefs that set me outside it. This year I walked away from organised religion for good- or, at least, I hope I did. That final, last ditch attempt to reach some sort of accomodation with it was making me ill.

I'm not looking forward to going to the baptism of our friend's child. In fact, the more I think about it, the more it gives me the heebie-jeebies.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

We had two baptisms yesterday morning.

Really, a baptism is just a way of saying the group will protect the child and teach it the group's beliefs, keep it from falling into heresy--it's drawing those lines around him.

But it's also setting him into a protected place where he can learn how to get along in the world, be a part of a community that accepts and guides him--he is like us and will continue to be like us and will someday bring his own children into the group.

The God part of it--well, no one needs this outward and visible sign, because imo the child is God already, filled up with God.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

At the moment the idea of attending any church service makes me edgy.

[sovay]

At the moment the idea of attending any church service makes me edgy.

Can you ask out of the baptism at this point? You take beautiful photographs, but would they be worth the stress?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't know. It might be worth the stress. It's only an hour and a half out of my life. We'll see. :)

[sovay]

It's only an hour and a half out of my life. We'll see.

Best of luck either way, then!