Ryan finds the minister’s sermons “pretty interesting.” The coffees afterward are “pretty average,” he said. “We sit around and talk to a few people, talk to the priest a little bit.” When asked if he knows why his dad stopped going to church, Ryan said, “He probably just one day was watching a Mets game, said ”˜I don’t want to go to church’ and just stopped going.”
Among the many reasons Ryan wanted to go: he’s a big reader, enjoys fantasy literature and has seen theories suggesting the world may end in 2013 due to the configuration of magnetic forces. In that case, he said, it would be nice to be on good terms with God.
“I’ve come to look forward to Sunday morning,” Mr. Sweeney said. “The newspaper, the chores ”” all the other plans and good intentions can wait. It is a nice way to spend a couple of hours with my son and get him out of his room and off the computer. I reflect on the week.”
Int’resting. I’m one of that 53% of people raised without any religion who turned to the fold. That gives you a different perspective. For me, religion was never the source of rules or obligations. It was alien, exotic, interesting and forbidden–a guilty pleasure, a thrill. I seriously considered raising my kids secular but chickened out because I was obsessed with giving them the 1950s sitcom childhood that I’d always wanted, including churchgoing. I’m not sure that I did the right thing.
I have heard similar stories. I know two older women who got themselves (and in one case, her siblings) to church with no encouragement from their parents when they were extraordinarily young. They are both still faithful Catholics.
I believe that many people are pulled into religious worship precisely because it is “not of this world” and because it is beautiful (or at least, it should be beautiful). That is, the two together revealing Truth.
However, they all need a heavy dose of religious education. Good feelings alone don’t take you very far. It is just a start. They are in my prayers.
“And a little child shall lead them.” (Is. 11:6)
The parish I attend to has been well known for its VBS presentations. The children enjoyed it so much that they brought their parents to church for the closing on the Sunday following. A number of these families stayed.
What are these after sermon “coffees.” Does no one have Sunday School or Christian Education anymore?