Male Bonding2
For those who like to explore the concept and dynamics of male bonding. Men are socialized in different ways in different societies, and so many men would like to have close male friendships, yet after spending time establishing a career, primary relationship and live in general, find themselves without close male friends. Many of us want male friends with whom we can share openly without...
- created by AZdesertman
Religion
Return to DiscussionsJust wondering - what is everyone's religious background?
Raised in a strict christian based religion myself and still practicing. Social nudity is not accepted and have never hung out nude with anyone in my faith.
Anyone want to discuss? Would really be interested in anyone from a "non-streamlne" religious background.
I was born a Catholic, didn't start going to church until I was 11, when my father died. My mom has a strong faith.... which amplified when we started wintering in Florida, almost evangelical. I went to a university, with Jesuit roots, that was a very liberal chaplaincy, but when I graduated and entered my own community, I realized that Catholics were behind the times. I did try United, and others. I do believe Jesus was a man, who lived his experiences, and I believe in God, and I believe in mutual respect and communication. I don't go to church or belong to an organized religion. I feel like Faith is believing in a higher power, and religion is a business.
I was born a Catholic, didn't start going to church until I was 11, when my father died. My mom has a strong faith.... which amplified when we started wintering in Florida, almost evangelical. I went to a university, with Jesuit roots, that was a very liberal chaplaincy, but when I graduated and entered my own community, I realized that Catholics were behind the times. I did try United, and others. I do believe Jesus was a man, who lived his experiences, and I believe in God, and I believe in mutual respect and communication. I don't go to church or belong to an organized religion. I feel like Faith is believing in a higher power, and religion is a business.
I was born a Catholic, didn't start going to church until I was 11, when my father died. My mom has a strong faith.... which amplified when we started wintering in Florida, almost evangelical. I went to a university, with Jesuit roots, that was a very liberal chaplaincy, but when I graduated and entered my own community, I realized that Catholics were behind the times. I did try United, and others. I do believe Jesus was a man, who lived his experiences, and I believe in God, and I believe in mutual respect and communication. I don't go to church or belong to an organized religion. I feel like Faith is believing in a higher power, and religion is a business.
I was raised in the pretty conservative Nazarene denomination. Basically, a more conservative offshoot of Methodism. I'm still very much a Christian, but began to recognize that I had internalized a lot of shame about my sexuality and also my body. I'm finding that naturism has helped me in pushing back against that shame, though I'm still not open about it or had any nude experiences with any members of my faith community.
There's a disconnect between Jesus teachings and Christianity. Jesus was about living without fear and Christianity finds fear a helpful tool for motivating and controlling people. That doesn't make it all bad, just a human condition along with the divine teachings. It does make living in faith - which I see as both a personal and community act - a challenge.
I grew up Evangelical and am currently attending a Presbyterian Church primarily for my kids' sake. I tend to feel like an outsider in churches but haven't given up yet. I'm learning to live fearlessly while also adapting myself to being appropriately constrained as necessary, which is confusing but a pragmatic way of being myself in society.
I grew up Catholic, but I have been an "evangelical" practitioner since I was 17 and an appreciator of Nazarene Jewish culture and faith. I have also been bisexual and nudist for a few weeks and I really enjoy sex and masturbation, which is sometimes difficult to reconcile. But I'm going through my life trying to figure out how to organize all this. However, I do not give up on God and the Messiah, and I continue to trust them.