Quote:
|
Originally Posted by rosiegirl
I have a Christian family, at least on my mother's side. My mom is Christian, but also believes in spiritual, hippie stuff. I don't know what to call it. My aunts are very open-minded with different beliefs, but my grandparents are conservative southern Baptists.
I've been exploring my spirituality more and more, which is great at helping me find substance in it. However, I feel like I'm being alienated from the people around me. I'm starting to not take parts of Christianity seriously and the cynical part of my mind keeps on shooting aspects of it as false or silly and pushing it away. It's not a great feeling inside. I'm becoming one of those "spiritual, but not religious" people, and I'm having a hard time with it. I hope I've explained my conflict well enough. Does anyone have advice on finding peace between the religion that I grew up with and my family still practices, the religious nods that I see out and about, and my inner spirituality? Has anyone else gone through a similar experience?
|
rosiegirl,
First, utilize the resource that is immediately available to you. I mean your mother and your aunts. From what you said they have found a way to balance or reconcile the conflict between religious and spiritual. Apparently they have been able to do this. Personally I reject catergorising anything as either/or situations. There is room on any path for inclusion of seemingly contradictory approaches. I would also suggest that conflict can be a good thing. It demonstrates a desire to be open-minded and is also a recognition of potential good in both religious and spiritual paths. To discard either has the inherent danger of becoming judgmental about the rejected approach. You will find that this will hinder your ability to be forgiving and loving. Good luck!!