Post by Susan Peabody on Dec 10, 2023 15:52:24 GMT -8
Summary
My new ministry is to introduce spiritual people to the joy and benefits of the Catholic religion. This blog is not for everyone because I know it is controversial.
Religion
When I got sober in 1982, I did not believe in religion. To be honest, I thought it could be harmful and based only on speculation. AA, on the other hand, allowed me to pick and choose what I believed. I really needed this at the time, and most of the people in my life today still do.
I then decided that religion could enhance our lives but was unnecessary to recover and to be happy.
Today, I have changed my mind. I now see 12-Step programs as a gateway to something even better which can only be found in religion.
To each his own, of course. I would never tell someone that spirituality is not enough. It is enough for recovery from addiction. However, if you want more from your relationship with God, I believe that religion is important. Religion has taken me from happiness (and enjoyment of the world) to JOY, which is not only better emotionally, but lasts longer, gets us through difficult times, and is the true source of serenity.
This journal is for those who also want to join me in my exploration of my newfound belief in Catholicism. For me it is a religion that brings the fullest joy possible for human beings here on earth.
My Journey
In 1983, I found God at an AA meeting. I was convinced that God was real; that he loved me; that he was working in the world to restore us, and finally the only way to free myself from addiction.
In 1984, I found religion, but I was confused for a long time about everything. I went from denomination to denomination searching for the truth. Was Christ real or imaginary?
In 2015, I got my answer. Christ talked to me in a dream and said that he was "real and had died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected."
In 2022, I got curious about the Catholics. Were they a church full of pedophiles or the one true church?
Today, I am studying to be a Catholic and so far, I like it. I like the sacraments. I like the elaborate churches. I like the reverence for the sacred feminine (Mother Mary & the Church which is considered the bride of Christ), and purgatory which is neither heaven nor hell. I also believe in the supernatural and only Catholics believe in this. By supernatural, I mean miracles that cannot be explained by science or psychology.
This journal is my way of documenting my new adventure. I want to separate the wheat and the chaff. I want to understand the divine mystery of Catholic Church which remains, while the human side of the church struggles to reform. It is also my own personal evangelism. You do not have to agree with me of course. We all have our own spiritual path. I just want you know that this path I am on is available for everyone and it is guaranteed to help you feel love and safety in a chaotic world.
Comments are welcome. Just click on the replay button.