Thank you for giving voice to your journey, offering to me & others—windows & mirrors for our own. I bow to the conversation/s created and feel freshly akin with Nelle Morton—The Journey is Home, 1985. I send you hugs & respect.
Your words are incredibly relatable. I grew up in Evangelical churches, and attended a Christian school run by a Southern Baptist church K-11th grade. While I loved God and the Bible, something always felt off for me in these spaces. So, I tried harder to do things their way and then in my early 20s was deemed "a natural leader" and ended up in volunteer leadership positions for years. I kept trying harder, but always felt there was MORE to The Sacred than what was being taught. In fact, felt that a lot of what was being said was wrong because I just simply didn't find it in scripture. I started seeing the problems and when I spoke up about them it was clear that was unwelcome and I was expected to be quiet and obedient. It took me a long time and lots of anxiety to realize *I* wasn't the problem. I am eager for this series you are writing as this is where I find myself ... After Church, not really sure where the path will lead, but knowing God is bigger than Western Christianity. Thank you for this. <3
Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023Liked by Kaitlin Curtice
Your words and perspectives are so profound and piercing for me, Kaitlin. Among the many writers, thinkers, activists and humans I read, your offerings are the most important and valuable to me. I am not completely sure why. I am just savoring receiving and reflecting and learning.
This informs how I, a privileged person and Christian minister (albeit from what many would call a Progressive or liberal theology) take in all that your writing stirs up. I have felt something amiss in my own response to “church” since I can remember, and that unease is still there. When I found myself contemplating ministry after a lifetime of questioning, suspicion, outrage and perplexity about church, it felt like a paradoxical irony difficult to understand. Sometimes it still is. After 20 years in the public sector and 27 in some form of ministry it sometimes still does.
I welcome this series, what you and colleague journeyers offer, and the invitation to go deeper, listen, feel pain, and not be preoccupied with “ answers.” I am grateful beyond measure to be here.
I am deeply grateful for your sharing. To hold the nuance of what is gained and lost what is loved and what is asked to be set aside in spaces that hold that complexity. I look forward to entering the space with you over the next few weeks and exploring its complexity.
Knowing we are not alone in this journey is so important. I hear my own experience paralleled in this piece.
The anger rises up and has no place to go.
I continue to write in my own fashion, using creative methods, have hit a steep, rocky path which feels desperately hard to navigate. Will follow this dotted line on the map in hopes of getting to a better place.
Hi Kaitlin, I am a new subscriber here, although I attended the same small Anglican church in Atlanta that you did before we moved to Nebraska. I recognize parts of my own story in yours and and agree that this conversation (and the actions that spring from it) is essential to healing and wholeness. I don't attend church any more and and don't feel an authentic affiliation with any particular faith. When I left established faith communities, the world became my "church," each person a family member. I have had concerned individuals ask me if I still "believe in Jesus," I point to my hand, my chest, or some other part of my body and tell them that he's "right there." Belief doesn't really seem that important- I can't choose to believe or not believe in something that inherently is. How can I move toward or away from my essential self? This has been my particular path, one that, for me, has been incredibly expansive and a relief (and also very scary and requiring much courage and support). I really appreciate you making space for this discussion and for the many paths. Thank you!
I really appreciate you sharing these stories, Kaitlin. Thank you.
Thank you friend for being here.
Thank you for giving voice to your journey, offering to me & others—windows & mirrors for our own. I bow to the conversation/s created and feel freshly akin with Nelle Morton—The Journey is Home, 1985. I send you hugs & respect.
Your words are incredibly relatable. I grew up in Evangelical churches, and attended a Christian school run by a Southern Baptist church K-11th grade. While I loved God and the Bible, something always felt off for me in these spaces. So, I tried harder to do things their way and then in my early 20s was deemed "a natural leader" and ended up in volunteer leadership positions for years. I kept trying harder, but always felt there was MORE to The Sacred than what was being taught. In fact, felt that a lot of what was being said was wrong because I just simply didn't find it in scripture. I started seeing the problems and when I spoke up about them it was clear that was unwelcome and I was expected to be quiet and obedient. It took me a long time and lots of anxiety to realize *I* wasn't the problem. I am eager for this series you are writing as this is where I find myself ... After Church, not really sure where the path will lead, but knowing God is bigger than Western Christianity. Thank you for this. <3
This is beautifully said, Megan. Thank you!
Your words and perspectives are so profound and piercing for me, Kaitlin. Among the many writers, thinkers, activists and humans I read, your offerings are the most important and valuable to me. I am not completely sure why. I am just savoring receiving and reflecting and learning.
This informs how I, a privileged person and Christian minister (albeit from what many would call a Progressive or liberal theology) take in all that your writing stirs up. I have felt something amiss in my own response to “church” since I can remember, and that unease is still there. When I found myself contemplating ministry after a lifetime of questioning, suspicion, outrage and perplexity about church, it felt like a paradoxical irony difficult to understand. Sometimes it still is. After 20 years in the public sector and 27 in some form of ministry it sometimes still does.
I welcome this series, what you and colleague journeyers offer, and the invitation to go deeper, listen, feel pain, and not be preoccupied with “ answers.” I am grateful beyond measure to be here.
Thank you for holding this space, Larry.
I am deeply grateful for your sharing. To hold the nuance of what is gained and lost what is loved and what is asked to be set aside in spaces that hold that complexity. I look forward to entering the space with you over the next few weeks and exploring its complexity.
♥️♥️glad you’re here
i offer this piece of my own writing - from 35 years ago - with respect for the journey and how listening deeply to others can bring us useful "windows & mirrors." https://nationalseedproject.org/Key-SEED-Texts/curriculum-as-window-and-mirror
Thank you!
Knowing we are not alone in this journey is so important. I hear my own experience paralleled in this piece.
The anger rises up and has no place to go.
I continue to write in my own fashion, using creative methods, have hit a steep, rocky path which feels desperately hard to navigate. Will follow this dotted line on the map in hopes of getting to a better place.
When that anger rises up and has no place to go…yes! It’s so hard. You’re not alone.
Hi Kaitlin, I am a new subscriber here, although I attended the same small Anglican church in Atlanta that you did before we moved to Nebraska. I recognize parts of my own story in yours and and agree that this conversation (and the actions that spring from it) is essential to healing and wholeness. I don't attend church any more and and don't feel an authentic affiliation with any particular faith. When I left established faith communities, the world became my "church," each person a family member. I have had concerned individuals ask me if I still "believe in Jesus," I point to my hand, my chest, or some other part of my body and tell them that he's "right there." Belief doesn't really seem that important- I can't choose to believe or not believe in something that inherently is. How can I move toward or away from my essential self? This has been my particular path, one that, for me, has been incredibly expansive and a relief (and also very scary and requiring much courage and support). I really appreciate you making space for this discussion and for the many paths. Thank you!