And, I doubt this will have you in Hell. There is something "lost" there and you're right to feel that way. It is so sad when clergy forget why they were called and instead, look at their positions as some sort of popularity contest. At the Synagogue we rarely get to attend, the Rabbi is so wonderful and she makes a real point of letting you know she sees YOU. Not a walking donation. For that I fell pretty lucky. Hell, she even encourages baby-bad to run around during services! And, I know ALL about trying to listen and fuss with a little one in that crying room!

It sounds like your Pastor is more interested in the favor he's gaining from certain parishoners and that's sad.

STALKING EDGAR ON MYSPACE

HOME OF 'STALKING EDGAR' THE MOVIE

If you watch any of the mega churches they are Cash Machines. They have become the ATM's for the Faithless power/hate monger of our time. I have no use for them or their nasty tactics. I do hope your child gets past this problem. Many grow out of these things.

I am always amazed at organizations such as the AFA (American Family Association) more like the religious whack jobs!!!! Family my ass.... I don't know about most peoples families but all of them I am aware of have members who are Not "straight" or Have been divorced or have had multiple sexual encounters.... I don't think the word of god should be used as a weapon against those who are different than they perceive themselves to be. Mr. Haggard of "new life church" thought it ok to preach his hate against the very community where he found his pleasure. Isn't that par for the course?

These preachers love to pick on the Gay and Lesbian community and yet they have been divorced, having sexual relations with the choir boys and hiding babies in the church walls.

Totally NOT what I expect from someone representing god. Where is the love? Where is the caring for the hungry, the sick, and the downtrodden?????

NOT IN THE CHURCHES OF TODAY!!!! GOT CASH?????

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I grew up as the daughter of a church secretary. When I was homeschooled, both of my parents were employed. So, my mom took me to church and that's where I did my lessons. I got a really intimate view of how preachers act when they aren't standing in front of a congregation. And it's because of those experiences that I will never set foot in a church again, except for weddings and funerals. I'd rather keep company with Satanists, because at least they aren't bullshitting you about how evil they are! And I'll go one step beyond that and right into blasphemy... If I am to be condemned to hell because I speak out against the lack of humanity I saw in church, then I welcome it. If those are the kind of representatives that God approves of, He can keep Paradise.

I condemn and damn preachers of this sort. If you want money, go to Wall Street. If you want power, run for office (I have to at least give Huckabee credit for that). If you want to counsel people, become a lawyer or a psychiatrist. But it seems that nobody wants to be a minister or a representative of God.

I have been a Methodist all my life. I even worked summers as the church secretary when I was in college, so I too, have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in terms of pastors. Your pastor sounds like a money hungry poop. I would be unhappy if I had the same thing happen to me. My parents, through their example, taught me that you just need to hold fast to what you know is right for you, regardless of the pastor. Pastors come and go, as you stated, in the Methodist church. . .the way my dad dealt with it was to volunteer to be on the Staff/Parish relations committee, and move the bad pastors out more quickly. Hang in there.

It's not just a line from a song anymore and they don't just hand them out, they sell them. I grew up in the Methodist church and was very active in their youth groups in CA and then in TN. I loved those groups. But I got my first taste of the church "business" when, at age 12, all the kids were scheduled for a meeting with the Associate Pastor so that they could become full-fledged members of the church. And in that meeting with the Assoc. Pastor we didn't talk about what the church meant to me, what it could mean to me, what I could mean to the church, etc.; none of the countless things that you would expect a spiritual leader to talk about. Instead we talked about tithing and ways that I could earn enough money to give to the church. Seriously, I walked out of that meeting almost in a panic because I had no idea how I was going to earn enough money to pay for my right to attend that church and I honestly expected someone to turn me away from those group meetings when I didn't come up with the money. I spent the next 4 years feeling guilty about continuing to attend those youth groups because I didn't always have money to give to the church. I felt like I was stealing.

Now, nevermind that I attended that meeting in frayed and faded hand-me-downs that were 20 years out of style and that I had clearly visible bruises all over my arms and legs from one of my father's beatings - and those bruises were clearly in the shape of the belt that he used on me. Nevermind that I was hoping that finally an adult would look at me closely enough to see what was happening to me and do something. I don't think he paid the slightest bit of attention to me - just called me by the name on his appointment schedule and then went on with his prepared pitch. Let's just focus on the fact that, at 12 years old, I was told, point blank, that my spiritual life came down to dollars and cents. Apparently the bible was wrong, Jesus only loved me as long as I gave him money.

I'm so sorry that you have been slighted and ignored by the church that should have been helping you. The members of your congregation should have been in constant contact with you, sending over food when you were too exhausted to cook, helping with babysitting so you could get a few hours of sleep (much less personal time), offering help with everything from medical advice to help on cutting through red-tape with your insurance company. And yes, above all, glorying in your beautiful daughter with you. That's what churches do - don't they?

But then, in my opinion, true churches are the exception, not the rule, in this day and age. True churches that rely on bake sales and freely given contributions, whose members look out for each other, help when help is needed even without being asked, and teach the love and compassion and hope that religion is supposed to bring to your life - are those just a myth?

of yet another "church tale"! My best friend growing up was the one who lived in Big Spring and helped us get there after the hurricane. When she and her husband were still living in California (right around the area I'm in right now!) they attended a GREAT church.

When he was fighting in Iraq, the church would often - almost on a weekly bases - bring by groceries to help her and her two kids who were struggling alone. They never asked for help, this is just what the church did.

When he came home from the war, he was asked by the church pastor to do renovations on his house. He had his own business as a contractor. He said ok and even let them have it at a deep discount. The poastor happily agreed and was very much ok that he could only do the work in his spare time.

Ya, well here's the things I left out for this little story. All those groceries, all the nice little things they did, all without being asked because it was the Christian thing to do; well, it turned out that the church expected to be REPAID once he got home from the war! NOT that they help out another family in need as they'd been helped. Not something reasonable like that. Nope, the church wanted cold, hard CASH for something they claimed was Christian their duty. And, this bomb was dropped on them as if they'd been begging in the street!

The work on the pastor's house??? Well, he suddenly decided that the work needed to be done on a time limit - something he'd agreed not to have - so that he could hold an event at his home. Instead of holding up his end of the agreement, he SUED them!!!! Yep, he sued the man who'd volunteered his time and effort! Time he could have been spending with his family who he'd been away from for over two years!

I *do* believe that there are good churches, that there are good Priests and Pastors out there. The problem is that they are so much harder to find than they used to be.

STALKING EDGAR ON MYSPACE

HOME OF 'STALKING EDGAR' THE MOVIE

I'm overwhelmed by your comments. NOW I FINALLY understand the bias people have against organized religion. It's sad and depressing. Not your comments - those are fascinating. But the state of affairs, THAT'S just amazingly sad.

Thank you all for sharing. I'm impressed also by the fact that even though some of you have had just horrid experiences, you've pretty much kept the ability to see that all churches aren't bad, and in particular that Christianity isn't always bad. Kudos to all of you for participating in a fascinating, civil, and fair discussion.

This is not the response I thought I'd get after writing this post. I'm really amazed that negative experiences are so widespread.

Thanks again and please continue to share if you feel so inclined.

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