I made a comment on another member’s diary about religion. I suspect my comment went pretty much unseen so I’ve decided to write a diary relating my own evolved feelings regarding religion.
I don’t currently consider myself a Christian, yet I do harbor at least one point of view that is consistent with Christianity — I try to adhere to the simple admonition to do unto others as you would have them do onto you.
The church was part of the environment that I grew up in and I simply went along with what those around me were doing. My life view gradually changed as I reached adulthood in the Viet Nam era. There was a draft in those days. I grew up on a farm and intended to farm, yet my options upon graduating high school were either college, along with a student deferment, or a likely draft notice and deployment to Viet Nam. I chose college and despite having no career aims, I learned skills that have served me well all my life — wood carving and an overview of natural history.
During my senior year in college, they had a thing called the draft lottery. Those with low numbers were sure to be drafted. Those with high numbers were likely safe. My number was 6. So I was drafted after college. Got my orders for Viet Nam when my training days were done and got as far and the Overseas Replacement Station at Ft. Lewis Washington. Just before I shipped on out from there, I received an emergency leave when my father had a heart attack. While on leave, I managed to swing a compassionate reassignment to nearby Ft. Campbell. Daddy died before my time of service was over.
I began managing the farm when I got out of the Army and began once again attending the Southern Baptist Church that I grew up in. Then one Sunday, the preacher called me out by name from the pulpit, remarking that I might not expect to marry but that I would.
I was deeply offended by the exhortation that I was expected to conform with others in my personal life. I haven’t attended church from that day to this.
I didn’t make any sudden change in my inner life, but my feelings have gradually evolved toward humanism over the years. I suspect that others have also arrived at their current mindset through a gradual process over the years.
