Catholic?

[Jack]

You tobogganed through the gravestones?

  There was a really steep drop down a hill into a lower section of the cemetery.  No stones were harmed. 

[Queen Victoria]

You tobogganed through the gravestones?

  There was a really steep drop down a hill into a lower section of the cemetery.  No stones were harmed. 

But I bet you tickled some bones.

["couldbecousin"]

You tobogganed through the gravestones?

  There was a really steep drop down a hill into a lower section of the cemetery.  No stones were harmed. 

But I bet you tickled some bones.

  If so, the bones are keeping their secrets.   

[Al Swearegen]

Religion is such a non-issue to me.
I find it,  for the most part, quaint and mildly interesting to view from a distance.

["couldbecousin"]

Religion is such a non-issue to me.
I find it,  for the most part, quaint and mildly interesting to view from a distance.

  I went through a period of missing the trappings.  I toyed with the idea of resuming some of
  the traditions, particularly the keeping of an Advent wreath, attending Mass just to bask in the nostalgia
  and the beauty of the churches, and to feel connected in some way to my childhood faith community.
  The thought I had, and I knew it was stupid, was "I'd love to be Catholic again, I just wish I didn't
  have to include the Christianity parts of it."  It really was a kind of homesickness for the past. 

[Jack]

I went through a period of missing the trappings.  I toyed with the idea of resuming some of
  the traditions, particularly the keeping of an Advent wreath, attending Mass just to bask in the nostalgia
  and the beauty of the churches, and to feel connected in some way to my childhood faith community.
  The thought I had, and I knew it was stupid, was "I'd love to be Catholic again, I just wish I didn't
  have to include the Christianity parts of it."  It really was a kind of homesickness for the past. 

Went through a similar phase no too long ago of considering re-visiting the church. Haven't really spent much time at all in church, could probably count on fingers and toes, so it's not nostalgia but simply liking the eerie electricity of a large congregation. Though wouldn't feel right about attending church regularly without paying tithe, and decided that's not something I want to do.

[Queen Victoria]

Religion is such a non-issue to me.
I find it,  for the most part, quaint and mildly interesting to view from a distance.

  I went through a period of missing the trappings.  I toyed with the idea of resuming some of
  the traditions, particularly the keeping of an Advent wreath, attending Mass just to bask in the nostalgia
  and the beauty of the churches, and to feel connected in some way to my childhood faith community.
  The thought I had, and I knew it was stupid, was "I'd love to be Catholic again, I just wish I didn't
  have to include the Christianity parts of it."  It really was a kind of homesickness for the past. 

Why not do it?  No one is taking attendance or seeing who puts in the collection plate.  Go for the tranquility and relaxation.  PA has been Lutheran for so many years he could give the sermon himself.  He just works math problems during the sermon.

[WolFish]

I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school through 8th grade. The nuns pegged me as a trouble maker, but really they hated me because I didn't need to study. They were even more upset when I was the only one in the school who got into the high school for the gifted. They made excuses for the other students in my class.

I mostly like the sameness of the rituals and the singing in other churches. I stopped being Catholic when I went away to college and became a born again christian. Now I would say I am some hybrid of eastern religions.

[El]

I went through a period of missing the trappings.  I toyed with the idea of resuming some of
  the traditions, particularly the keeping of an Advent wreath, attending Mass just to bask in the nostalgia
  and the beauty of the churches, and to feel connected in some way to my childhood faith community.
  The thought I had, and I knew it was stupid, was "I'd love to be Catholic again, I just wish I didn't
  have to include the Christianity parts of it."  It really was a kind of homesickness for the past. 

Went through a similar phase no too long ago of considering re-visiting the church. Haven't really spent much time at all in church, could probably count on fingers and toes, so it's not nostalgia but simply liking the eerie electricity of a large congregation. Though wouldn't feel right about attending church regularly without paying tithe, and decided that's not something I want to do.

Go Unitarian?

[Jack]

I went through a period of missing the trappings.  I toyed with the idea of resuming some of
  the traditions, particularly the keeping of an Advent wreath, attending Mass just to bask in the nostalgia
  and the beauty of the churches, and to feel connected in some way to my childhood faith community.
  The thought I had, and I knew it was stupid, was "I'd love to be Catholic again, I just wish I didn't
  have to include the Christianity parts of it."  It really was a kind of homesickness for the past. 

Went through a similar phase no too long ago of considering re-visiting the church. Haven't really spent much time at all in church, could probably count on fingers and toes, so it's not nostalgia but simply liking the eerie electricity of a large congregation. Though wouldn't feel right about attending church regularly without paying tithe, and decided that's not something I want to do.

Go Unitarian?

No. Prefer the large-scale old-school evangelical Christian environment. Explained it once.

Part of the preference for the large crowd is because there's less of a likelihood of being directly mistaken as belonging. The creepy factor is the draw and the size of the group certainly lends to that, with the borg drone of massive congregation repeating in unison. It's like sitting in the epicenter of a mass hypnosis while being the only one awake. It's very interesting, exciting, and enjoyably creepy.

Also enjoy the environment of a large congregation atmosphere with a high spirited evangelical preacher, just not as favorite; though definitely second favorite. It's easy to get lost in the crowd. The electricity generated in the air is truly palpable and makes the hairs stand up on the skin; it's easy to see how others might sense it too and find it to be something meaningful.

["couldbecousin"]

  I understand what Jack is saying about the "borg drone" of the congregation repeating lines. 
   Mass is full of that repetition, plus endless raising and lowering of kneelers. 
   Sit, kneel, stand, rinse, repeat.  During Holy Week it gets really ridiculous. 

[Parts]

  I understand what Jack is saying about the "borg drone" of the congregation repeating lines. 
   Mass is full of that repetition, plus endless raising and lowering of kneelers. 
   Sit, kneel, stand, rinse, repeat.   During Holy Week it gets really ridiculous. 

Just think of the possibilities  of combining a gym and a church with a priest/coach it would be a work out for the body and soul 

[renaeden]

It is the only thing that keeps you from being absolutely bored shitless as a kid (all the sitting kneeling, standing that is).

[WolFish]

i grew up catholic. went to catholic grade school through 8th grade. as a child i knew the difference between what was written and what was practiced which got me into a lot of trouble. that and the "experimental" public phase of my art career.

[odeon]

Always thought catholicism was the least bad of the christian varieties. Or maybe I'm just weird.