I was raised a Catholic with a very church active family. I was an altar boy (now called a server) as soon as I was age eligible. It seems that at that time most boys were. This is way before equal rights and gender equality so “girls didn’t want” to be servers. So please no comments on that issue. I agree totally with the equality and rights of all.
Later in life for a variety of reasons I left the organized Catholic religion. It’s not for reasons that I feel need to be explained, nor will I argue about the merits of one religion over another. I think all people deserve to “feel comfortable in their own skin” and have the right to believe and worship within their own comfort.
I still consider myself to be of Catholic heritage, but I find it hard to follow the doctrine and the obvious conflicts with the organized Catholic religion. I have always been a spiritual person and I find peace and comfort believing in a higher power. I do believe in God and speak to him often, I do it quietly and in my own way.
I thank Him frequently each and every day for my blessings in family, friends and health.
I also believe strongly in the inherent goodness of man, the power of prayer and positive thought. I have visual / emotional ties with good gospel music, many prayers and sermons. I feel that I’m a good person who has lived a good life outside of structured belief.
I’m not looking for validation of my beliefs or actions.
I’m very “comfortable in my skin”