Ship of Fools: Back and forth, back and forth - is it like this for you too?

Thread: Back and forth, back and forth - is it like this for you too? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by windsofchange (# 13000) on :

Hi everyone -

It's been quite a while since I was here. Sorry about that! I used to frequent this board as well as several other religious/atheist boards. Mainly because, during my 57 years on the planet, I keep drifting back and forth across the border between belief systems.

So in case anyone remembers me at all, for the past year, I became convinced by the "Jesus never existed" arguments, and gave up any kind of personal prayer. However, because I'm married and heavily involved in the music at my Byzantine Catholic church - which I really love - I continued attending and participating in the services there.

And feeling really, really hypocritical the whole time. But here's the thing: I know myself well enough to know that sooner or later, the "winds of change" will blow me back across the border into some sort of belief, and I'll be glad I stuck around.

And - that's just what happened! During the past couple of months, my husband and I started watching "Doctor Who" on Netflix. He'd watched the older series and was familiar with it, but I'd never seen it at all, and was enthralled.

Particularly with all the British accents. And as I watched (and listened), a little voice kept insistently piping up inside my head (usually in Rose Tyler's voice): "Hey - d'you think the 'Ship of Fools' is still out there? Maybe you oughtta check!"

And today was the day - and you're still here - hooray!

So to make a long thread even longer - am I the only one who keeps vacillating like this? And do you think it's OK that I kept going to church, even when I didn't believe a word of it?

(And FWIW, when I don't believe, I try to at least behave ... [Cool]

)

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :

Hi, good to see you!!!!! [hugs]

It's perfectly fine that you kept going to church even while you were, er, mentally gone. [Biased]

Why not?

And human beings vacillate by nature--Lewis called it "the Law of Undulation." Which is why faith seems to me to be more about choices (like the churchgoing) than it is about emotions (which are not under our control).

I've had weeks, months, years, when God seemed absent, and other times when he seemed ... negative? But being a stubborn mule and staying planted in one place has served me well. [Biased]

Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :

Agreed, LC. The story isn't told until we're dead. And maybe not even then. [Big Grin]

Posted by windsofchange (# 13000) on :

In addition to Doctor Who [Big Grin]

, I must also thank the person in another thread who recommended a wonderful book called "Unapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity Can Still Make Surprising Emotional Sense" by Francis Spufford. I've been reading it most of the day and it makes amazingly good sense.

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :

Welcome back! There used to be a very long and lovely Doctor Who thread somewhere hereabouts, don't know if it still around!

Posted by windsofchange (# 13000) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sparrow:
Welcome back! There used to be a very long and lovely Doctor Who thread somewhere hereabouts, don't know if it still around!

Unfortunately it seems to have slipped away into the hidden and unretrievable past. Where's a TARDIS when you really need one? [Big Grin]

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

Years ago, 2002 I think, Himself and I were in UK and staying with my dad - we went to Quaker Meeting [for me] and then hared off to Mass [for him] and the priest's homily was amazing starting off:

Do you ever wonder what it's all about and why you bother turning up every Sunday? If you don't I suggest you check your pulse because you may well be dead...

He talked all around these issues and about how natural they are and I was pleased that it was a priest giving his flock permission to doubt.

Most refreshing.

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :

I'm sure the Dr Who thread will be restarted (or revived) again when September draws near.

I must give kudos to the people who run this place though, that they can even enlist Rose Tyler to draw people to the Ship [Smile]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Hello windsofchange and welcome back!

I think your thread might do better in All Saints, as it's a combination of "welcome back" and "do other people feel like this", so I'm just going to transfer you over there, where hopefully you'll get lots of nice replies. Here we go...

Ariel
Heaven Host

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :

Originally posted by Lothlorien:

Welcome back, windsofchange. Make yourself comfortable.

Double post deleted.

[ 21. July 2015, 07:53: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]

Posted by Erroneous Monk (# 10858) on :

I think Chesterton (as borrowed by Waugh) had it right with the idea of "a twitch on the thread".

Nice to see you here.

Posted by windsofchange (# 13000) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Hello windsofchange and welcome back!

I think your thread might do better in All Saints, as it's a combination of "welcome back" and "do other people feel like this", so I'm just going to transfer you over there, where hopefully you'll get lots of nice replies. Here we go...

Ariel
Heaven Host

Not a problem, thank you!

And yes ... yes, I have gotten lots of nice replies.
[Overused]

Posted by windsofchange (# 13000) on :

quote:
Originally posted by LeRoc:
I'm sure the Dr Who thread will be restarted (or revived) again when September draws near.

I must give kudos to the people who run this place though, that they can even enlist Rose Tyler to draw people to the Ship

Given that "Doctor Who" is indirectly responsible for helping me return to faith (kinda sorta), I'm willing to invoke Rose as my patron saint! [Big Grin]

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