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Is it wrong to “use” a religion for community?

OceanSpray

MyPTSD Pro
What I mean is I’m thoroughly agnostic, I don’t identify with any particular religion, I have some issues around religions in general.

There are two that have large populations near me that I have personal experience with. I’ve been engrained in both at different points and will never be a full on participant, I will never wholeheartedly believe the way they each do.

But they both get something very, very right. Community. To the point that there’s articles of each type living longer/fuller/healthier lives compared to other populations.

And I’m lonely. I’m so freaking lonely. They both are very big about being active throughout the week with each other, neither are a “meet once be preached to and go home to never see each other until the next sermon”. One in particular has several days throughout the week where they make a point to really be a community.

I want that. I so badly want that. But morally I feel weird basically pretending to be something I’m not.
 
I’ve worked in church leadership for many years and I would love to have you there just because you wanted to be.

I would only be upset if you lied saying yes I believe the same as you.

The right organization would not pressure you to believe either.

One church I was in, we were trying to reach and meet the town community. So we posted up free Sundaes Sundays !!

Stopped Main Street (small town) traffic, to invite people to make a completely free sundae.

Was absolutely awesome and fun
 
A lot of secular, even atheist Jews go to synagogue for this reason. It's a normal part of Jewish life! As long as you're honest about what you believe, there's nothing exploitative about exploring religious spaces for the community aspect.
 
That’s super normal in the LDS & Jewish communities, as well as a handful of lesser known groups. Very openly & thoroughly approved of normal. It’s one of the reasons, in all my travels, I know I can head to either place and know I’ll find a wealth of personalities who deeply believe in doing right by people. As long as I’m not threatening anyone/anything they’ve devoted themselves to protecting? I’m a “friend of”. And engulfed by that self same devotion. They get the same, from me. So it’s all square.
 
What I mean is I’m thoroughly agnostic, I don’t identify with any particular religion, I have some issues around religions in general.

There are two that have large populations near me that I have personal experience with. I’ve been engrained in both at different points and will never be a full on participant, I will never wholeheartedly believe the way they each do.

But they both get something very, very right. Community.
I joined a local UU and pagan group for this very reason. Twice. I'm leaving because they don't present as a welcoming community anymore. But I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Have you tried something like the UU, which doesn't have a covenant, which accepts anyone--religious or not? Ours has many, many groups you can be involved in. And I don't know "what" you are, but it doesn't matter there. You only have to be kind and accepting.
And I’m lonely. I’m so freaking lonely.
Yeah, I get this. I haven't been to the UU since Winter Solstice (and I was a leader there), and I am preparing to resign my membership, and even though it had become awful there, it's left a hole I don't know how I'll fill.
 
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