Building Community

I have written plenty about the general decline of society and how displeasing it can be.

One of the ways I believe society can and will continue improving is through the building of community.  This can be done in a number of ways, including but certainly not limited to involvement with a local church.  This goes far beyond simply attending church on a Sunday.  Attending church is good in and of itself, but I am interested in further involvement with the church and the community within it.  There seems to be opportunity to meet “good people” through church.  Networking with good people is essential to building strong communities.

I am not so concerned about the brand of religion people subscribe to, but I believe the re-establishment of the sense of community among people is important in my opinion.  One of the best ways to do this in my opinion is involvement with a local church.  Yes, religion and God is a sticky subject for many of us, including myself.  Rather than focus on all the things I dislike about a religion or the person that preaches it…I’m trying to focus on all the positive things that a church community can potentially offer.

I was raised Roman Catholic and attended church weekly until I turned 18 under my parent’s direction.  That’s the way it was in our household growing up.  Like many rebellious children, I fought my parents going to mass as I grew closer to the age of 18.  Upon reaching the magic age of “adulthood,” I grew apart from the Roman Catholic church.

After a few years, like many people, I became interested in spirituality.  Yes… spiritual exploration in all ways imaginable.  In my early twenties, I got turned onto Eastern religions when I met the stereotypical college Zen Buddhist hipster.  Once the initial, exotic lure of Zen Buddhism wore off, I found myself very attracted to Taoist readings and teachings.  I read many different translations of the Tao-Te Ching.  This mindset became integral to my way of being.  It stuck with me throughout and is prevalent in my daily life to this day.

Throughout all these years and spiritual exploration, I have been drawn back to the Christian Church as well at various times.  I have explored many different facets of the Christian religion, including but not limited to: Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Anglican, Lutheran, and various non-denominational churches.  I also have explored Unitarian churches as well.

Since moving to North County San Diego as a single male, I have been feeling a stronger need for friendship and involvement in the community.  In the mornings, I found myself listening to the Mike Slater Show on 760 KFMB.  Mike was recently new to San Diego within the past year and I heard him share stories about visiting various churches in his new community.

I thought this was a great idea and I began doing it myself.  Since moving here in July 2012, I have been to about a dozen different churches, some of which I have attended several times.  This has been a wonderful process and I would encourage those of you who believe in a strong community to try this experiment for yourself.

Again, I am not so concerned about the brand of religion people subscribe to, but I believe the re-establishment of the sense of community among people is important in my opinion.  One of the best ways to do this in my opinion is involvement with a local church.  Even though I have decided to move back to Ohio, I still find value in attending different churches in the area each week until I find a church community that I want to return to and call “home.”

Yes, I know that religion and God is a sticky subject for many of us, including myself.  Rather than focus on all the things I dislike about a religion or the person that preaches it…I’m trying to focus on all the positive things that a church community can potentially offer.  I’m working hard to get over my “religion bias” and see the church for what it is…rather than what it isn’t.

Stay tuned.

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