would you give up?

[mommyoftwinboys]

This may be more of a vent than anything, but I would appreciate any advice if you have some.

I live in the South. We have lived here for 6 years, but a new area of town for the last year. It's truely been awful but I'm resolved to making next year a great and positive year. The problem is we haven't found a church we like. We have went almost every weekend(except for vacations and when I needed a break) to every church imaginable. I can't find anything I like. Either it's not accepting of us(we are from up North), it's way too conservative(I'm pretty crunchy and ap and homeschool)or it just feels like luke warm-watered down Christianity just to get members. The church we came from was a contemporary church but it was real, ywim? Not watered down, the pastor was the real deal,they were accepting, etc.
Churches that have been recommened here to others on the boards(like UU church are too far) Should we just go back to our old church? It's a 45 min drive. I really want the boys to meet some friends here. We live in a historic district now with not many children (except for the really elite who live in the large mansions and for some reason don't feel that we are good enough to hang out with) Please help, I really want to make this move work. i really want to find a church, but I don't want to compromise my beliefs..or should I? (a little background-I was baptized in a Russian Orthodox church as a child-)Thanks for reading all this..
Any suggestions? Would you go to a church where you didn't believe everything in the doctrine, but believed most things? Would you go if you felt it was watered down? I've contemplated going to the Catholic church because some of the Orthodox and Catholic doctrine are very similar. In fact, I'm aloud to take communion in a Catholic church. But, I don't believe in some of their beliefs-not all, just some...what do you think?

[kdabbler]

Any suggestions? Would you go to a church where you didn't believe everything in the doctrine, but believed most things? Would you go if you felt it was watered down? I've contemplated going to the Catholic church because some of the Orthodox and Catholic doctrine are very similar. In fact, I'm aloud to take communion in a Catholic church. But, I don't believe in some of their beliefs-not all, just some...what do you think?

You've already been to quite a few churches in the area, what's a few more? Try the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Sometimes, its more a matter of finding the place that feels right rather than the one where you agree with each and every thing they teach.

[Arduinna]

So you are Orthodox? Not trying to tell you what to do but IIRC, while the Catholic Church will accept you for Eucharist it's not acceptable to the Patriachate for you to take communion outside of an Orthodox parish. I could be wrong, but that is what I'm remembering. It would depend how important it is to you to stay in communion with the Orthodox Church. If that it of utmost importance to you then I'd make the drive to my previous parish. Otherwise you could find a Catholic parish and try it.

I personally love both the Orthodox and Catholic churches.

[NicaG]

If I were in your position, I'd probably just keep going to the old church, even if it's 45 minutes away. I understand the desire to become more connected with the new neighborhood where you live, but sometimes there just isn't a great church nearby. For years after we moved out to the 'burbs we kept driving into NYC for church (about 45 minutes on a good day). And we didn't even have many friends there anymore--we just liked the service and the music.

[onlyzombiecat]

It sounds like you'd be really unhappy with something you felt was watered down or not in full agreement with. You could try the remaining churches.
I would probably just go 45 minutes to the church you like and find other outlets for your children to meet other kids.

[mommyoftwinboys]

Gosh..I just reread my post and I was all over the place on that one..forgive me.
Ireally want to make it work here, I really, really want to find a church here.
I really want my kids to become connected. Not generalizing but here in my southern town,especially for homeschoolers-church is your outlet for activities, co-ops,etc.
Ireally want to make some Christian friends myself. I think I would feel mostly at home in the Catholic church(the Orthodox is far away as well) meaning that most folks who attend are new here as well-mostly from the North so they understand what it feels like..ywim?
But, can you attend..and even become a member(and would it be right to do so) if you just didn't believe in some of the things they believe? I believe in alot of it but I think because of my upbringing I still have very Orthodox beliefs and even some Protestant churchs I connect with(my last church was a Presbyterian church) I guess my question is this: if you had 2 choices..one being a Catholic church where in you agreed with most,not all, of their beliefs or an evanglical Christian church that feels a little watered down but has great childrens programs..which would you choose?

[Arduinna]

I think it's fine to attend even if you don't believe everything. For one thing spirituality and religion are practices. You are where you are. If everyone was expected to believe it all before they even set foot in a church then no one would be there. You know. You learn about God and the teachings of the of church at church.

I guess my question is this: if you had 2 choices..one being a Catholic church where in you agreed with most,not all, of their beliefs or an evanglical Christian church that feels a little watered down but has great childrens programs..which would you choose?

I would choose the Catholic church or the Orthodox church ( I'm including that because I already attend a Catholic church ) over any protestant church personally.

[phathui5]

I'd choose the church where the beliefs lined up. Particularly for things like children's programs, I'd want the theology being taught to be something that I agreed with.

[lolar2]

Watered down, I probably would be OK with if I liked the other aspects of the church. If there are parts of it that are actually morally objectionable to you, I'd keep looking.