Karolina
Member
Not sure where else to post this.
I'm making my peace with the fact that I'd be happier if I focused more on my spirituality than my religiosity. Truth be told, I consider myself both, but I'm disillusioned with my attempts to fit in religion-wise.
I'm coming from a Catholic background. What I see as religion is the rituals and traditions, the moral and ethical rules, the prescribed prayers and holy days. Generally speaking, I think of religion in terms of rules, obligations, and limitations.
On the other hand, spirituality to me is about the inner experience of God. Meditation, contemplation, reflection, and anything that induced deep thought and emotion, including scripture study and singing of hymns. Generally speaking, I think of spirituality as freedom, potential, and connection to the Divine.
I recognize the need (for my sanity) to focus much more on the Spiritual, but I am both, spiritual and religious, so I'm not prepared to abandon all religious expressions of my faith. However, I want to distance myself from the religion and draw closer to the spirituality.
Any (serious) advice on how to do so within the context of the religion? My first step is to think of church teaching as food for thought, not binding on everyone. To take such teaching into consideration when discerning God's plan for my life.
I will need to hold my tongue around other Catholics, and that's perhaps my biggest worry. I don't want to hear their dismay at my "apostasy", but I also don't have an alternative group of theists to go to for community.
The groups that come to mind come with their own set of traditions, and I don't want to replace traditions I'm already comfortable with. Other groups are so open that there's no guarantee the people even believe in God, and that's pretty central to my beliefs.
So I'm trying to make due where I am and work with what I've got. And I'm not really sure how to proceed, other than "with caution".
Thanks for hearing me out. I welcome advice for being a more spiritual but less religious Catholic (or just person in general).
I'm making my peace with the fact that I'd be happier if I focused more on my spirituality than my religiosity. Truth be told, I consider myself both, but I'm disillusioned with my attempts to fit in religion-wise.
I'm coming from a Catholic background. What I see as religion is the rituals and traditions, the moral and ethical rules, the prescribed prayers and holy days. Generally speaking, I think of religion in terms of rules, obligations, and limitations.
On the other hand, spirituality to me is about the inner experience of God. Meditation, contemplation, reflection, and anything that induced deep thought and emotion, including scripture study and singing of hymns. Generally speaking, I think of spirituality as freedom, potential, and connection to the Divine.
I recognize the need (for my sanity) to focus much more on the Spiritual, but I am both, spiritual and religious, so I'm not prepared to abandon all religious expressions of my faith. However, I want to distance myself from the religion and draw closer to the spirituality.
Any (serious) advice on how to do so within the context of the religion? My first step is to think of church teaching as food for thought, not binding on everyone. To take such teaching into consideration when discerning God's plan for my life.
I will need to hold my tongue around other Catholics, and that's perhaps my biggest worry. I don't want to hear their dismay at my "apostasy", but I also don't have an alternative group of theists to go to for community.
The groups that come to mind come with their own set of traditions, and I don't want to replace traditions I'm already comfortable with. Other groups are so open that there's no guarantee the people even believe in God, and that's pretty central to my beliefs.
So I'm trying to make due where I am and work with what I've got. And I'm not really sure how to proceed, other than "with caution".
Thanks for hearing me out. I welcome advice for being a more spiritual but less religious Catholic (or just person in general).