The role of faith...

This is such a personal and touchy subject that I was almost tempted not to blog about it...

Here is the bottom line: Your family, when you were a kid, did their best to instill inside you faith (or in some cases, lack there of) and religious practices that they deem acceptable. Most parents feel that they were successful if you continue to have faith and practice when you become an adult... but what happens when you decide that you want change?

You open pandora's box, that's what happens.

Of course you take a big risk, you will recieve reactions, most negative... but if it is something you truly feel you MUST do, then be prepared to accept the chaos that will follow.

There is "Joey" who is a 30 something, homosexual man who was raised Southern Baptist in a church that spoke out about homosexuality as the devils work. "Joey" knew that he was going to break his family apart when he both walked away from the church and announced that he was gay. When the day came for him to do it, it most certainly did tear apart his family. His younger sister accepted him for who he was, but his mother and father stopped speaking to him and cast him out of the family functions. "Joey" relocated to another state because the distance made accepting his parents silence easier, and began a life that he wanted to live, which included a more progressive church and a boyfriend. 10 years later, "Joey" is a happy person. He truly is. He and his sister have a great relationship and although he lost his parents, he doesn't regret his choice.

And then there is "Beth" from New York who was raised as an Orthodox Jew. I will admit, I had to look up what was involved in being an Orthodox Jew... let's just say they are very conservative and strict in their religious beliefs. "Beth" opted to leave her family and her religious upbringing to live the fast life of a free lance artist in New York City. 4 years later, she wishes nothing more then to be able to go back to her family (who cut her out) and her religious upbringing and regrets it every single day of her life.

So, there it is... I am not saying it is right or wrong to walk away from your religious background. I am saying that there will be a reaction if you decide that you need to walk away and to consider the reaction before you make a move. This is an adult decision, and shouldn't be made lightly.

There is nothing more touchy then religion... what a hot topic. Think before you act.