Hello everyone,
A bit about myself. I'm a 25 year old man, and very new to the world of religion. My parents both grew up as Catholics in Brooklyn, NY, however they left the Church before I was born. I grew up attending a number of Catholic services, for First Communions, Christenings, Weddings, Funerals, etc. but that was about it. My family was very secular and my father is an adamant atheists (he's even a donor to atheist charities).
My mother I don't think is quite an atheist, but is not a Christian. She did take me to a Unitarian Universalist Church from about 3rd-10th grade, where I did get an in depth education into the basics of Christianity and Islam.
Anyhow, flash forward through my college years, I lived a very dissipated life. I did very well in school but never had much focus. My main focus revolved around outdoor sports (climbing, backpacking, and caving), and then drinking and partying afterwards. It really wasn't until 2008-09, my last year and a half in college that the financial collapse really forced me to confront social issues like wealth inequality, the conditions of the poor, and reflect on my life morally.
Since graduating early in the fall of 2009 I had a real awakening on the social justice front, but not on the spiritual front. I was down at Occupy Wall St. every day after work in the fall of 2011 despite my misgivings about of some of what was being put forth, I started volunteering for weekends at Habitat for Humanity despite my packed schedule, and I donated 6 months of my time to a volunteer program focused on disaster relief.
While I was in said program, I met my current fiance who was raised as a Baptist and is a Christian. I guess she sort of lead me on the spiritual journey I'm on now. I have a lot of doubts and questions and that's why I'm here.
I've read a lot, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by Father James Martin, C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, Alister E. McGrath's Theology the Basics, and of course a lot of the Bible. Currently I'm working my way through The Screwtape Letters as well.
I'm here to look for advice, and help develop my opinions and thoughts through conversing with others.
It's hard to sum up your whole life in one post, but I want to keep it brief, I look forward to meeting you all!
A bit about myself. I'm a 25 year old man, and very new to the world of religion. My parents both grew up as Catholics in Brooklyn, NY, however they left the Church before I was born. I grew up attending a number of Catholic services, for First Communions, Christenings, Weddings, Funerals, etc. but that was about it. My family was very secular and my father is an adamant atheists (he's even a donor to atheist charities).
My mother I don't think is quite an atheist, but is not a Christian. She did take me to a Unitarian Universalist Church from about 3rd-10th grade, where I did get an in depth education into the basics of Christianity and Islam.
Anyhow, flash forward through my college years, I lived a very dissipated life. I did very well in school but never had much focus. My main focus revolved around outdoor sports (climbing, backpacking, and caving), and then drinking and partying afterwards. It really wasn't until 2008-09, my last year and a half in college that the financial collapse really forced me to confront social issues like wealth inequality, the conditions of the poor, and reflect on my life morally.
Since graduating early in the fall of 2009 I had a real awakening on the social justice front, but not on the spiritual front. I was down at Occupy Wall St. every day after work in the fall of 2011 despite my misgivings about of some of what was being put forth, I started volunteering for weekends at Habitat for Humanity despite my packed schedule, and I donated 6 months of my time to a volunteer program focused on disaster relief.
While I was in said program, I met my current fiance who was raised as a Baptist and is a Christian. I guess she sort of lead me on the spiritual journey I'm on now. I have a lot of doubts and questions and that's why I'm here.
I've read a lot, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by Father James Martin, C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity, Alister E. McGrath's Theology the Basics, and of course a lot of the Bible. Currently I'm working my way through The Screwtape Letters as well.
I'm here to look for advice, and help develop my opinions and thoughts through conversing with others.
It's hard to sum up your whole life in one post, but I want to keep it brief, I look forward to meeting you all!