Hello everyone! My name is Jenn and I joined this site in the hopes of finding more like minded people to share my journey with. I was "raised" in a Lutheran church but attended only here and there, when my parents were in the "mood" for church. In my teen years, my father remarried to a woman who believed she was very religious. I say that because she didn't live a life that in any way was a faithful life, she just attended a Wesleyan Church every Sunday. Church was forced upon me for a few years and I rebelled. As a result I essentially grew up without any real answers on religion and was left to come up with my own beliefs. Looking back, I couldn't have asked for a better situation honestly. I feel blessed to not have had religion and beliefs forced upon me and to have been left to make my own decisions and choices.
I found some feeling of belonging when I discovered Wicca but Wicca, like many non-traditional beliefs, can be a lonely religion to find yourself in. While I didn't necessarily fit every bit of the Pagan religion beliefs, I felt more comfortable in Wicca than I did in Christianity. Unfortunately, my parents, being uneducated, scoffed at me and told me what I believed was just plain wrong. My new step-mother telling me I was going to hell for believing in a false religion. This was a quick lesson in the path less chosen and I learned to keep my mouth shut about my beliefs.
In 1999 I made the decision to move to Alabama, for a job. Talk about a culture shock! If I thought I had to keep my lips closed when I lived up North (in NY), I CERTAINLY had my hands full now that I found myself in the "Bible Belt". I had accepted that my beliefs would never fit anything traditional and I would be a "church of one" forever... until I read about Unitarian Universalism in the early 2000s while living in Florida.
I attended a couple services at a local UU church but I didn't get that "this is it!" vibe so I eventually backed out and returned to my feeling of never belonging in a community.
A few weeks ago I decided to start my search again. I read some information online and even took a few religion quizzes... you know the sort that determine based on your answers, which "religion" you fit into. After taking 5 separate quizzes and having all 5 return the answer of UU, I decided maybe it was time to try again.
This past Sunday I attended my first service at the UUC of Charlotte. I walked out feeling empowered and excited. My 3 year old son enjoyed his time with his class and we both left happy and full of some sort of energy that I couldn't explain. I woke up this morning realizing that I may have finally found it... that place of belonging... that place I can fit my unconventional religious beliefs into and still feel like part of a fellowship. All I can say is I'm excited.
So here I am... welcome to my journey!