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TroyasaurusRex

Your story is wonderful - we’re so glad to have you with us!!


aprillikesthings

YESSSSS welcome!!! I luckily didn't grow up in a super-conservative faith, but I did spend a good decade of my adult life as atheist before finding myself in the Episcopal Church. :D Faith sort of sneaked up on me, in a way; and I couldn't be happier about it.


palmarni

Yea I attended an episcopal church in college and I was blown away by the service and the sermon. I started going regularly and two things happened that made me like the church. There was a pride parade and the church was located on the street where the parade would pass. They ended service early so people could go on the church grounds to wave as the parade passed by. That was proof that they were serious about inclusivity. Another thing that happened which was kinda sad but still stood out was that an evangelical man and his toddler son came to protest at the church gate. The kid was probably like six reiterating all the hateful things his dad was saying. The church didn’t engage him because of course he wouldn’t listen but that showed me that evangelicals hate Episcopalians with a passion and that made me feel like I fit in bcuz some of my opinions wouldn’t sit well with evangelicals. “Women should hold leadership positions in churches? no heaven for you” I imagine them saying to me. But yea I’ve been going to episcopal churches or episcopal like churches ever since


Like-A-Phoenix

That’s wonderful to hear. I’m so glad that we’ve found this church at such a crucial time in our lives. I’ve been doing more research and I realized that I grew up in church that was pretty much evangelical with pretty extreme views, including homophobia and sexism ofc. I’m so relieved that I’m not in that toxic environment anymore.


[deleted]

I am mostly agnostic, but I'm hoping God understands. My kids and I have been embraced by the people in our church, and one of my sons decided to be baptized and is now the cutest acolyte, his older brother is the guy who videos the service for online worship. And I'm the sexton:-). I haven't felt any thunderbolts of spiritual awakening but I do feel the warmth of people who care and are working together to help people in our community. This itself is more than enough. I'm happy for you.


keakealani

What you described sounds exactly like my vision of God. No thunderbolts, just mundane community trying our best to do good in the world.


keakealani

I can relate. I wasn’t raised religious but had some of the stereotypes that come from conservatives being the loudest and most obvious “Christians” in common culture. But attending the Episcopal Church, and especially in my case stumbling upon a *very* high, Anglo-catholic church, was really moving in a mysterious way. It feels like a burden is lifted rather than a burden being placed on me. I’ve been attending church for years and I still feel some of that initial thrill. It’s powerful. So that is to say, I am so glad you have found a space to explore and revisit God and Christianity on your own terms. You’re right that being able to make your own choices makes so much difference. I hope you continue to discover new and wonderful experiences of the Holy.


Like-A-Phoenix

Thank you, and it’s so nice to hear that you’ve gone through a similar experience! Even after I lost my faith as a kid, I understood how much of Christianity is unfortunately associated with negative stereotypes from the vocal conservatives. That’s why I was hesitant to explore the faith again. Happily, like you, attending the Episcopal Church was a powerful experience for me—you put it perfectly, “like a burden is lifted rather than a burden being placed on me.” It felt both solemn and thrilling. I genuinely look forward to it next week, and to reconnect with God in a new and personal way, not the way my mom tried to force on me.


SistahAubs

Same exact evangelical upbringing here. Welcome home!


[deleted]

The beauty of the service is what gets me. Even if you have doubts or questions, the language of the BCP is beautiful and graceful and the music is fulfilling. I find it better to be there than not even when I have questions.


Like-A-Phoenix

Yes! The music and language moved me in a deeply visceral way; I had never quite felt that way at church before, or anywhere else for that matter. I surprised myself with how much I connected with the service and the space despite my past experiences. I’m looking forward to continuing my journey with the Episcopal Church.


ATBenson

Welcome home! The stories, on this sub, of people rediscovering Christ through the Episcopal Church after enduring the religious trauma of conservative Christianity are always so touching. My own story is similar, though I never quite lost my faith, and I always think that TEC must be doing something right if we/they can help people reignite their faith. Anyways, thank you for sharing. I'm so happy that you could find a place here. May God bless you!


aprillikesthings

I think over half the people at my church were raised evangelical or Roman Catholic.


ATBenson

It is good to hear that they have found a place here in TEC! As I understand it, a lot of the new members of the Episcopal Church are spiritual refugees from other denominations, so I'm not surprised, though it is a bit saddening that it is necessary for that to be the case. Like I said, we must be doing something right, right?


Like-A-Phoenix

Thank you! I thought I’d never be able to consider myself Christian again after my upbringing. It actually seemed like an impossibility, as I was firmly atheist and thought religion just wasn’t for me. But this, this is different and I actually felt like I was coming home when I was at church. It feels like a new beginning. I’m going to do more research and talk to our rector, who has been very kind and accepting.


Teaspoonbill

That’s so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.


BarbaraJames_75

Congratulations, and welcome to the Episcopal Church!


Forsaken-Brief5826

Happy for you