I had an incredible experience when I was losing a much wanted baby (it turned out I lost one of twins so all ended with a happy event) and a Muslim doctor saw my cross necklace and offered to pray with me if I welcomed it, her view was that we all shared one god in our own different ways, all equally valid.

As for RC priests, to tell a woman who had been raped that they are a sinner because of sex outside marriage is beyond the pale. When said priest is later sent to prison for child abuse, well…..words can’t say what I thought of that. Hell is too good for people like him.

I haven’t been to church for many years except when my job demands it. I have no time for the clergy except one, my former vicar who is the kindest person I know. I haven’t seen her for 12 years though we are very loosely in touch.

The idea seems to be you can’t get to heaven unless you kiss God’s ass. Its a religion for hypocrites and sycophants.

It’s sad, because the Christian Scriptures are filled with wonderful, empathic philosophy, one that has survived endless translations and edits. (Not to mention downright censorship.) They are inspiring reading (and great drama!) even for a burned out old atheist like myself.

There is enough beauty and truth, and yes, grace, there to have survived two thousand years of crimes and lunacy by Christ’s followers.

Stopped attending mass a few years later. Still go, now and again. Only for funerals and weddings. Not even a Christmas/Easter Catholic (C&E) anymore.

But much depends on the priest. Get A Jesuit up there for the homily and you might actually learn something.

I have known many priests over the decades, and without exception they have been smart and caring individuals. The ones that gave last rights to my father, mother, and uncle were wonderful people who helped our family during those difficult times. The priest when I was in middle school was a cigar smoking, whiskey drinking Irishman with a wicked sense of humor.

But my own spiritual perceptions evolved. And as I became educated on the history of the Vatican and the church I could no longer view them in a favorable way. And the abuse scandals were the final straw.

I like the philosophy of Jesus Christ in the four main Gospels. But starting with his apostles, I don’t think many of his followers actually got the message. I don’t need a church to strive to be a good person. Christ said as much.

The Garden of Love

BY WILLIAM BLAKE

I went to the Garden of Love,
And saw what I never had seen:
A Chapel was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.

And the gates of this Chapel were shut,
And ‘Thou shalt not’ writ over the door;
So I turn’d to the Garden of Love,
That so many sweet flowers bore.

And I saw it was filled with graves,
And tomb-stones where flowers should be:
And Priests in black gowns, were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars, my joys & desires.

There’s not a prophet among them. They ride the coattails of the man called Jesus for their own gain.

https://sagradafamilia.org/en/virtual-tour

Too early for me to rant about the church.