How to Find a Sense of Community After Leaving Christianity

I don’t really miss the days of my childhood when we would go to church and be forced to memorize bible verses and sing lame songs about Abraham and his sons. I don’t miss the constant feelings of inadequacy, the fear, and the boredom of sitting, standing, singing hymns, the monotonous ranting of the preacher, and taking communion. I especially don’t miss the awkward fake smiles, gossip and backstabbing rumors, which all happen within a Christian church.

The only thing I really miss about Christianity is the sense of community; people of like mind coming together, sharing a bond, working together for good causes. Since I’ve left Christianity, I have come to find other ways of filling that void, and you can too! I will tell you how.

Although it’s still a church-like organization, with songs and lectures and such, you might consider joining a Unitarian Universalist group. Unitarian Universalism is a community of congregants that support people in their individual, personal searches for truth and meaning. They accept people from all religious backgrounds, are active in community and environmental projects, and quite an easy going crowd.

Another way to find that sense of community is to volunteer for a non-profit organization or charity. Find an organization that benefits a cause that you believe in, and find out how you can help. Some of my favorites are my local food pantry, Salvation Army, United Way and Habitat for Humanity.

If you don’t feel as though either of the first two options is right for you, there are some online communities that you can join, designed to cater to the needs of people just like us. Spiritual But Not Religious or SBNR is an online community for those who are in need of spiritual nourishment and fellowship. Another good online community is Religiously Confused, a blog and forum for people who are searching for answers they have been unable to find elsewhere. Both of these communities encourage and help members to find their own spiritual truths through research and meditation.

Whichever avenue you chose, know that you are not alone. There are many other people out there who are going through the same struggles, and there is no right or wrong way to explore your spirituality. You need to find what works best for you.

References:

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, http://www.uua.org/

SBNR, http://www.sbnr.org/

Theresa M. Apsey, Religiously Confused, http://religiouslyconfused.webnode.com


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