Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I love my church community. It's a very giving group focused on service. I feel well cared for as well as having opportunities to be in service.
I was shocked recently because I'd kept my rather liberal views to myself but as I heard more of the well-established members talk, I realize they're socially quite liberal as well. They're also GLBT friendly which is nice. Very accepting group with their hearts in the right place.
That said, when I read parts of the bible I'm like, "WHAT???" Like the story of Soddom and Gomorrah where the innkeeper says something to the effect of, "Don't have sex with my male guests because that's just wrong. I'll send out my daughters and you can party with them." EXCUSE ME? Did you ASK them if they wanted to be with these guys? Do you CARE what happens to them?
And today there was a story about Jacob the deceiver who wanted to marry Rachel and the father of Rachel said "you can have her if you work for 7 years as in indentured servant" and then hooked him up with his other daughter Leah instead and Jacob felt ripped off.
So what did Rachel think about all of this? How about Leah? No idea.
It's not mentioned. I mean, who cares what a woman would have to say about it?
Anyway, it just infuriates me. I don't know if I should just tell myself "It was that time in history" or something but I can't get past that the religion seems steeped in this horrendous inequality and downright abuse of women.
I'm a fan of God. I also think Jesus and Buddha and other revered religious leaders have something wonderful to teach us.
I also like my church and all we are involved in. And I like the leaders of my church and the community as well as the opportunity to serve.
But I am really having issues with the bible.
Anyone else grappling with religion?
I was shocked recently because I'd kept my rather liberal views to myself but as I heard more of the well-established members talk, I realize they're socially quite liberal as well. They're also GLBT friendly which is nice. Very accepting group with their hearts in the right place.
That said, when I read parts of the bible I'm like, "WHAT???" Like the story of Soddom and Gomorrah where the innkeeper says something to the effect of, "Don't have sex with my male guests because that's just wrong. I'll send out my daughters and you can party with them." EXCUSE ME? Did you ASK them if they wanted to be with these guys? Do you CARE what happens to them?
And today there was a story about Jacob the deceiver who wanted to marry Rachel and the father of Rachel said "you can have her if you work for 7 years as in indentured servant" and then hooked him up with his other daughter Leah instead and Jacob felt ripped off.
So what did Rachel think about all of this? How about Leah? No idea.
It's not mentioned. I mean, who cares what a woman would have to say about it?
Anyway, it just infuriates me. I don't know if I should just tell myself "It was that time in history" or something but I can't get past that the religion seems steeped in this horrendous inequality and downright abuse of women.
I'm a fan of God. I also think Jesus and Buddha and other revered religious leaders have something wonderful to teach us.
I also like my church and all we are involved in. And I like the leaders of my church and the community as well as the opportunity to serve.
But I am really having issues with the bible.
Anyone else grappling with religion?
Religion is human not godly. I would love to just concentrate on spirituality without all the messy human stuff. But then again, having church families can be comforting and loving places to be. Just haven't had that place in a long time. My church is giving me more anxiety instead of taking it away.