Help me find other people who are questioning their faith
October 30, 2019 9:55 PM Subscribe
I was quite serious about my Christian faith until my late twenties. Now I’m not sure what I believe, and I find that for me the first step is to take some time to reexamine what evidence there is for and against God’s existence/the Bible/etc. I think it would be healthy to talk to other people who are in a similar situation, but I don’t want to join a group that will try to persuade me in one direction or the other. Any suggestions? (Also open to your own stories and more general advice.)
After more than twenty years of what I would describe as a serious, thoughtful faith in the Bible, for the first time I can really imagine that God might not exist – that that version of reality makes as much sense to me as a reality where God exists. Suddenly all the evidence I thought I had for believing in God feels like information I’d gathered to support what I already believed.
Maybe it’s because I went to grad school, or maybe it’s because my upbringing taught me that there is and should be Scientific Evidence for belief in God, but the approach I’m taking this time is to reexamine All The Data. (Starting with historical context of the Bible and, I suppose, moving on to evolution, etc. I made a list.) I’m excited to do this without the fear I used to feel, which even in times of doubt kept me from fully exploring the potential that I might be wrong. I know that I probably won’t be able to prove God’s existence or non-existence, but I want to collect more evidence before I make a commitment this time. (I also have issues I’d need to resolve about the church’s teachings, but that’s for later.)
I’ve been slowly reading books on Old Testament archaeology, and I’m going to see a counselor in January. I think it would also be helpful to talk to other people. I have trouble discussing these things because it’s hard to express my thoughts (especially in a debate), because I’m afraid of being misunderstood, and because maybe I would cry? For now, I would like to talk to others who are questioning their faith (especially people with a similar approach), to compare notes and for emotional support. When I search online for these kinds of groups, I get all kinds of Christian and atheist websites trying to be persuasive, which isn't what I'm looking for. Are there any groups, online or in person, what would meet this need? In-person would be amazing. I live in Columbus, Ohio, USA. (I’m also open to other advice and stories, especially from people who have been in a similar place! Thanks for reading.)
After more than twenty years of what I would describe as a serious, thoughtful faith in the Bible, for the first time I can really imagine that God might not exist – that that version of reality makes as much sense to me as a reality where God exists. Suddenly all the evidence I thought I had for believing in God feels like information I’d gathered to support what I already believed.
Maybe it’s because I went to grad school, or maybe it’s because my upbringing taught me that there is and should be Scientific Evidence for belief in God, but the approach I’m taking this time is to reexamine All The Data. (Starting with historical context of the Bible and, I suppose, moving on to evolution, etc. I made a list.) I’m excited to do this without the fear I used to feel, which even in times of doubt kept me from fully exploring the potential that I might be wrong. I know that I probably won’t be able to prove God’s existence or non-existence, but I want to collect more evidence before I make a commitment this time. (I also have issues I’d need to resolve about the church’s teachings, but that’s for later.)
I’ve been slowly reading books on Old Testament archaeology, and I’m going to see a counselor in January. I think it would also be helpful to talk to other people. I have trouble discussing these things because it’s hard to express my thoughts (especially in a debate), because I’m afraid of being misunderstood, and because maybe I would cry? For now, I would like to talk to others who are questioning their faith (especially people with a similar approach), to compare notes and for emotional support. When I search online for these kinds of groups, I get all kinds of Christian and atheist websites trying to be persuasive, which isn't what I'm looking for. Are there any groups, online or in person, what would meet this need? In-person would be amazing. I live in Columbus, Ohio, USA. (I’m also open to other advice and stories, especially from people who have been in a similar place! Thanks for reading.)
While I have no personal experience with this, I do follow the therapist Tiffany Roe on Instagram, and I know that she offers an online course about navigating a Faith Transition from LDS which sounds, at least, pretty balanced in the way that you describe and not necessarily only about LDS. She also has a podcast that may have touched on these issues, in general, I find her whole internet presence really genuine and helpful.
Also in terms of "digital community".... this post, for example has LOTS of comments from people going through this / who went through this.
posted by athirstforsalt at 12:06 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also in terms of "digital community".... this post, for example has LOTS of comments from people going through this / who went through this.
posted by athirstforsalt at 12:06 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You might get in touch with a UU church. It looks like https://firstuucolumbus.org/ is a pretty active congregation, and you may have success finding other people in a similar position, as well as those who have come down on one side or the other and everywhere in between.
posted by DebetEsse at 12:33 AM on October 31, 2019 [10 favorites]
posted by DebetEsse at 12:33 AM on October 31, 2019 [10 favorites]
I enjoy this series. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, a neuroscientist, interviews philosophers, theologians, and scientists. His approach is that he wants to believe in god, but needs a rational basis for doing so.
posted by H21 at 4:24 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by H21 at 4:24 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you're interested in a thoughtful and simultaneously "Christian friendly" approach, consider the Westar Institute and the Center for Progressive Christianity.
Westar sponsors research and publishes historical and archeological research on the origins of Christianity and on Jesus as a person living in history and what reasonably can (and can not) be said about that.
CPC was founded by a retired Episcopalian priest to support those who have some affinity to or interest in Christianity but don't feel represented by more conservative, typically more evangelical approaches. They have a directory of church and other organizational members, which might also be a good source of discussion groups for you.
Neither of these is in the business of "converting" anyone, but they do start from a Christian perspective.
posted by alittleknowledge at 5:40 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Westar sponsors research and publishes historical and archeological research on the origins of Christianity and on Jesus as a person living in history and what reasonably can (and can not) be said about that.
CPC was founded by a retired Episcopalian priest to support those who have some affinity to or interest in Christianity but don't feel represented by more conservative, typically more evangelical approaches. They have a directory of church and other organizational members, which might also be a good source of discussion groups for you.
Neither of these is in the business of "converting" anyone, but they do start from a Christian perspective.
posted by alittleknowledge at 5:40 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
I have been reading God Land by Lyz Lenz who is a wonderful Midwest journalist. It may not quite be what you're looking for, but it's an investigation into small, rural churches and the overall culture of the "Bible Belt". She is a liberal person who put up with being a second-class or really non-citizen to conservative church cultures for a long time and it ended her marriage.
Also, Unitarian Universalists are good for this type of exploration IMO. I worked at a church for a few years (not as a member though I would be) and there were people from all backgrounds and beliefs who would engage in earnest, open dialogue about their beliefs and such.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 6:38 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also, Unitarian Universalists are good for this type of exploration IMO. I worked at a church for a few years (not as a member though I would be) and there were people from all backgrounds and beliefs who would engage in earnest, open dialogue about their beliefs and such.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 6:38 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
You might look to see if any of the local (secular) colleges have theology courses. Those will bring an academic bent to your search.
While you’re looking you might want to look at what groups exist on campuses. It’s not an unusual time for people to be questioning. And once again, a tendency toward an academic view.
Lastly, definitely visit the local UU congregations
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:38 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
While you’re looking you might want to look at what groups exist on campuses. It’s not an unusual time for people to be questioning. And once again, a tendency toward an academic view.
Lastly, definitely visit the local UU congregations
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:38 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
An interesting group to fall in with might be The Clergy Project, a group of priests who are no longer believers.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:55 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:55 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Also open to your own stories and more general advice.
I was raised Catholic, became an intense fundamentalist in high school (70s Jesus movement - very different from today's fundamentalism), went back to Catholic, became agnostic, seriously explored Buddhism, including taking classes at a temple, and have returned to Catholicism sort of after being frank with a priest about all of my difficulties with it. Somewhere in there, I also tried Quaker meetings (didn't go back because of Catholic-bashing, which is not a very Quaker thing, but was in that particular group). So now I go to Mass because it's helpful to me, but there are still many things that I don't feel like I have any answer for. I have an emotional connection to the Catholic church, and it feels like part of me in a way that other churches I've tried haven't. That's why I'm there now as I feel a need for a community connection to faith right now.
I mention this because I have been exploring faith and struggling with it for my entire life. Some people kind of feel like they have it figured out at some point and then stay in more or less one mindset. But some of us keep bouncing back and forth, never achieving any kind of certainty, and with luck, making peace with the uncertainty. And that's perfectly fine. The more I've thought about it over decades, the more absurd it seems to think that you can know any matters of faith for sure (and for me, this is true of atheism as well - atheists will probably object to this characterization, but I see it as another way of thinking that you know things that are ultimately unknowable, which is why I was agnostic for years).
No matter what I believe, the idea of faith is something I've always been interested in. So I like to read biographies and memoirs of deeply religious people (Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, Daniel Berrigan - all Catholics, so maybe not interesting to you), and a lot of my own writing focuses on issues related to faith as well. I often think of Thomas in the Bible, who did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead until Jesus actually showed up. For most of us, Jesus doesn't appear to convince us, so if we're like Thomas, we're left not believing.
One of my favorite novels is "The Razor's Edge" by Somerset Maugham. The main character is a spiritual explorer, and he's described at one point as "a deeply religious man who does not believe in God." That might be a good novel for you.
In some forms of Christianity, there's this idea that you figure it out immediately and you know for sure and if you waver, there's something wrong with you. I think this can be a very harmful way of looking at faith. It's totally fine to be unsure, to think, to explore, and it's also totally fine to never feel that you have a real answer because, ultimately, you can't really know.
posted by FencingGal at 6:57 AM on October 31, 2019 [8 favorites]
I was raised Catholic, became an intense fundamentalist in high school (70s Jesus movement - very different from today's fundamentalism), went back to Catholic, became agnostic, seriously explored Buddhism, including taking classes at a temple, and have returned to Catholicism sort of after being frank with a priest about all of my difficulties with it. Somewhere in there, I also tried Quaker meetings (didn't go back because of Catholic-bashing, which is not a very Quaker thing, but was in that particular group). So now I go to Mass because it's helpful to me, but there are still many things that I don't feel like I have any answer for. I have an emotional connection to the Catholic church, and it feels like part of me in a way that other churches I've tried haven't. That's why I'm there now as I feel a need for a community connection to faith right now.
I mention this because I have been exploring faith and struggling with it for my entire life. Some people kind of feel like they have it figured out at some point and then stay in more or less one mindset. But some of us keep bouncing back and forth, never achieving any kind of certainty, and with luck, making peace with the uncertainty. And that's perfectly fine. The more I've thought about it over decades, the more absurd it seems to think that you can know any matters of faith for sure (and for me, this is true of atheism as well - atheists will probably object to this characterization, but I see it as another way of thinking that you know things that are ultimately unknowable, which is why I was agnostic for years).
No matter what I believe, the idea of faith is something I've always been interested in. So I like to read biographies and memoirs of deeply religious people (Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, Daniel Berrigan - all Catholics, so maybe not interesting to you), and a lot of my own writing focuses on issues related to faith as well. I often think of Thomas in the Bible, who did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead until Jesus actually showed up. For most of us, Jesus doesn't appear to convince us, so if we're like Thomas, we're left not believing.
One of my favorite novels is "The Razor's Edge" by Somerset Maugham. The main character is a spiritual explorer, and he's described at one point as "a deeply religious man who does not believe in God." That might be a good novel for you.
In some forms of Christianity, there's this idea that you figure it out immediately and you know for sure and if you waver, there's something wrong with you. I think this can be a very harmful way of looking at faith. It's totally fine to be unsure, to think, to explore, and it's also totally fine to never feel that you have a real answer because, ultimately, you can't really know.
posted by FencingGal at 6:57 AM on October 31, 2019 [8 favorites]
I could have written this exact post twenty years ago, with only minor changes to details (I was in my mid-twenties when starting grad school). The combination of having my faith tested (full disclosure: I ultimately chose to move on from this as part of my life) and the demands of school made for an extremely difficult time. Because (like mine) your faith was part of your upbringing, there will be some ramifications (at the very minimum, continued assumptions) for how this plays out within your family. I am really hoping you find support for this, no matter where your heart leads you!
To answer your question, I am mostly here to recommend/affirm that you NOT do a deep dive in the literature from an atheist perspective (stuff like this from Hitchens, Dawkins, etc...). I found the work of Bart Ehrman far more beneficial in the long term, as it presented some ideas for building bridges between my previous faith and a data-driven mindset. I spent a long time resenting the way I had been raised-something that has not entirely disappeared-and part of this is due to the books I chose to read.
posted by El_Marto at 7:01 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
To answer your question, I am mostly here to recommend/affirm that you NOT do a deep dive in the literature from an atheist perspective (stuff like this from Hitchens, Dawkins, etc...). I found the work of Bart Ehrman far more beneficial in the long term, as it presented some ideas for building bridges between my previous faith and a data-driven mindset. I spent a long time resenting the way I had been raised-something that has not entirely disappeared-and part of this is due to the books I chose to read.
posted by El_Marto at 7:01 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
UU is great, but can sometimes (depending on the congregation) be a bit anti-Christian. Which doesn't mean it couldn't be helpful; just something to be aware of. UCC (United Church of Christ) might be another one to check out -- very liberal and progressive Christianity, and the UCC minister I just talked to said he "doesn't believe in supernatural explanations" for things, which I'm guessing means they'd be fairly open to discussions about the existence of god. (I live in liberal California, but this particular minister just moved here from the Midwest, so I don't think that's just a geographical effect.)
posted by lazuli at 7:04 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 7:04 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
The Good Christian Fun podcast is mainly about poking fun at Christian pop culture, but every episode begins with a "guestimony" where that week's guest talks about their religious upbringing (or lack thereof) and personal journey/struggles with faith issues. Their stories are all over the map (fundamentalist, liberal, Christian and non) and I think you'd enjoy it.
posted by Flannery Culp at 7:32 AM on October 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by Flannery Culp at 7:32 AM on October 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
The podcast The Litergists talks deeply about this. The hosts are formerly very religious Christians who are working their way through their journeys/crises of faith. Very interesting and thoughtful.
posted by rue72 at 7:37 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by rue72 at 7:37 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Like El_Marto above, I could've asked this question 20 years ago too.
Just wanted to say kudos for even entertaining the possibility that what you've believed your entire life is possibly not true.
I don't have specific recommendations for non-pushy resources but my experience was that after trying to dig through all the facts and history, what ended up help me come to my decision were a couple of very basic questions:
1. Does my belief make me a better person?
2. Does my belief make me a happier person?
posted by tillwehavefaces at 7:58 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Just wanted to say kudos for even entertaining the possibility that what you've believed your entire life is possibly not true.
I don't have specific recommendations for non-pushy resources but my experience was that after trying to dig through all the facts and history, what ended up help me come to my decision were a couple of very basic questions:
1. Does my belief make me a better person?
2. Does my belief make me a happier person?
posted by tillwehavefaces at 7:58 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Honestly, anyone who thinks about this in any depth has to admit that we Just Don't Know what's at the other end of that metaphysical tunnel. In that respect, I find the belief/evidence argument deeply flawed, because for me, that which we call the Divine is something to be experienced rather than proven or disproven. I say this having been raised an atheist, with a lifelong curiosity about the things I Just Don't Know, a healthy (dis)respect for the role of faith in culture, and a sense of awe and wonder at the natural world. In other words, I think there is something of value in more or less every spiritual tradition out there, but I am also very glad that I had the freedom to make up my own mind about it.
The more I read Spinoza's Ethics, the more it makes sense, but to a friend in a spiritual crisis, I usually recommend the Tao Te Ching.
posted by Elizabeth the Thirteenth at 8:44 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
The more I read Spinoza's Ethics, the more it makes sense, but to a friend in a spiritual crisis, I usually recommend the Tao Te Ching.
posted by Elizabeth the Thirteenth at 8:44 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
The musician David Bazan, known for many years for his recordings with the band "Pedro the Lion," had growing doubts about his Christian faith that played out in songs and occasional interviews. I don't think he sees himself as a Christian anymore. A new documentary explores this period of transition in Bazan's life. I haven't seen the film (it's still making the festival circuit), but Bazan is a thoughtful, intense man, and you might get some fellow-feeling from watching it. It's called "Strange Negotiations," and it will be available mid-November on iTunes.
posted by baseballpajamas at 9:22 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by baseballpajamas at 9:22 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
I enjoy Madeleine L Engle's memoirs as her approach was to be a part of church as a nonbeliever for various personal reasons.
posted by aetg at 11:07 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by aetg at 11:07 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
This course Metaphysics and Mystery may be interesting/helpful. You can check out the groups associated with the course for others who may be in similar situations.
posted by hannahelastic at 11:49 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by hannahelastic at 11:49 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
the first step is to take some time to reexamine what evidence there is for and against God’s existence/the Bible/etc.
Faith is - by its nature - personal and not falsifiable. I don't know how familiar you are with liberal Christianity or Judaism, but I'm in that world, and I don't think many people who are liberal religious would think of God as anything for which there can be evidence or not - and that's not important to them. They believe because they wish to believe - if there were any evidence, that wouldn't be faith.
That said, it can help someone make decisions about their faith to better understand the history of their own religious tradition, as you are already doing.
If you're looking for more sources on ancient history and biblical archeology, I've really enjoyed these lectures on ancient Israel by Eric Cline (academic archeologist and author of the "very short introduction" to biblical archeology). He finds a middle ground between the two extremes of biblical archeology (thinking the bible is all "correct" in its historical accounts, and thinking that there is no historical material in it).
For the Bible - well, for the first few books at least - I would recommend Richard Elliot Friedman's Who Wrote the Bible? which is a scholarly analysis of the biblical texts.
For the history of Christianity and some of the really important aspects of belief (and conflict over belief), I would recommend Diarmuid MacCulloch's Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years.
If you are seeking people to talk to, I might suggest finding some liberal and non-evangelical Christians, perhaps in an interfaith context: someone who is knowledgeable about Christianity (since that is the religion you are interested in), but also not at all invested in convincing you to believe or not. That's one reason I would suggest an interfaith context: it's really a huge faux-pas to get evangelical (whether for or against a religion) in these settings. The cultural norm is to share without preaching.
posted by jb at 2:30 PM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
Faith is - by its nature - personal and not falsifiable. I don't know how familiar you are with liberal Christianity or Judaism, but I'm in that world, and I don't think many people who are liberal religious would think of God as anything for which there can be evidence or not - and that's not important to them. They believe because they wish to believe - if there were any evidence, that wouldn't be faith.
That said, it can help someone make decisions about their faith to better understand the history of their own religious tradition, as you are already doing.
If you're looking for more sources on ancient history and biblical archeology, I've really enjoyed these lectures on ancient Israel by Eric Cline (academic archeologist and author of the "very short introduction" to biblical archeology). He finds a middle ground between the two extremes of biblical archeology (thinking the bible is all "correct" in its historical accounts, and thinking that there is no historical material in it).
For the Bible - well, for the first few books at least - I would recommend Richard Elliot Friedman's Who Wrote the Bible? which is a scholarly analysis of the biblical texts.
For the history of Christianity and some of the really important aspects of belief (and conflict over belief), I would recommend Diarmuid MacCulloch's Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years.
If you are seeking people to talk to, I might suggest finding some liberal and non-evangelical Christians, perhaps in an interfaith context: someone who is knowledgeable about Christianity (since that is the religion you are interested in), but also not at all invested in convincing you to believe or not. That's one reason I would suggest an interfaith context: it's really a huge faux-pas to get evangelical (whether for or against a religion) in these settings. The cultural norm is to share without preaching.
posted by jb at 2:30 PM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
Rachel Held Evans' book Searching for Sunday deals with leaving then returning to the church.
I have some other resources but can't post them publically; I'll send you memail later.
posted by lharmon at 3:16 PM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
I have some other resources but can't post them publically; I'll send you memail later.
posted by lharmon at 3:16 PM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
reading 'A History of God' by Karen Armstrong was an enlightening experience for me. She reflects spirituality and dogma in organized religions (and atheist philosophies) in a thoughtful style. I found her writing very useful for putting things in perspective, for seeing the good and useful aspects of belief systems, while acknowledging problematic aspects in a non-judgemental way.
posted by ovvl at 4:43 PM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by ovvl at 4:43 PM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
for and against God’s existence
Before I can say if "x" exists or not, I have to define "x." Studying the nature of God is an entire academic discipline. How can one person be expected to singlehandedly get All The Data Necessary for an Accurate Conclusion as to the existence of "x" if the theologians haven't managed to agree on a definition of "x" after all these centuries? It just seems like a lot of pressure.
Would it help to reframe the question as "what ideas or metaphors about God do I want to explore?" (and it's ok if the answer is "none, the whole concept of God is uninteresting to me at the moment") or "what religious practices resonate with me, and which ones would I rather set aside?"
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 6:32 PM on October 31, 2019
Before I can say if "x" exists or not, I have to define "x." Studying the nature of God is an entire academic discipline. How can one person be expected to singlehandedly get All The Data Necessary for an Accurate Conclusion as to the existence of "x" if the theologians haven't managed to agree on a definition of "x" after all these centuries? It just seems like a lot of pressure.
Would it help to reframe the question as "what ideas or metaphors about God do I want to explore?" (and it's ok if the answer is "none, the whole concept of God is uninteresting to me at the moment") or "what religious practices resonate with me, and which ones would I rather set aside?"
posted by Former Congressional Representative Lenny Lemming at 6:32 PM on October 31, 2019
My favorite readings/thoughts for this subject are, in increasing order of length:
- if everything in the universe is just a deterministic consequence of everything prior (dominoes falling) then there's no point in talking about it with someone else, since their opinions are the results of their dominoes just like yours are the results of yours... so if you believe this, you can save yourself a whole ton of time
- if you are objecting not so much to who God really is, but the tons of cultural and dogmatic trappings that have been heaped on him/her through the millennia, then you should really read this relatively short paper.
- if you want a very well thought out (but not necessarily perfect) investigation into God and Christianity, I think you should read Mere Christianity, Miracles and the Four Loves by C. S. Lewis, and Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton.
I do not personally have any experience with in-person meetings, but if you just want to bounce ideas feel free to Mefi Mail me. This is a long standing area of interest for me.
posted by forthright at 6:32 PM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
- if everything in the universe is just a deterministic consequence of everything prior (dominoes falling) then there's no point in talking about it with someone else, since their opinions are the results of their dominoes just like yours are the results of yours... so if you believe this, you can save yourself a whole ton of time
- if you are objecting not so much to who God really is, but the tons of cultural and dogmatic trappings that have been heaped on him/her through the millennia, then you should really read this relatively short paper.
- if you want a very well thought out (but not necessarily perfect) investigation into God and Christianity, I think you should read Mere Christianity, Miracles and the Four Loves by C. S. Lewis, and Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton.
I do not personally have any experience with in-person meetings, but if you just want to bounce ideas feel free to Mefi Mail me. This is a long standing area of interest for me.
posted by forthright at 6:32 PM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
When I was in a similar position, I really, really enjoyed listening to Julia Sweeney's "Letting Go of God" as an account of someone who eventually left the church albeit quite reluctantly. It does not attempt to be persuasive at all, it's more a personal account of her journey that happened over time, and it was very interesting for me to stand back and consider which pieces resonated with me and why. It's available to listen here.
posted by anderjen at 12:14 PM on November 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by anderjen at 12:14 PM on November 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Hi everyone, I just wanted to say thank you! I will be visiting my local UU church in the next couple of weeks, and I look forward to reading/listening to the resources you've recommended. I was surprised at how deeply touched I was to hear from people with similar experiences. Hearing from you helped me to feel less isolated and more hopeful.
posted by a huckleberry at 4:22 PM on November 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by a huckleberry at 4:22 PM on November 2, 2019 [3 favorites]
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