Autism and Religion

Oh the old favourite. Grandmother was lapsed Catholic converted church of Scotland. other Grandmother Plymouth Brethren. She was Pentecostal like the rest of the family but they weren't you know weird enough so she went all in with the Brethren and tried to ram it down my throat as a kid.

For a Christian and i use that in the loosest possible manner she was a self righteous evil cow. But then again the ones who think they have god on their side are usually the worst aren't they?

Although not a religious group and in fact religion is a banned topic along with politics. I found Freemasons to be the most welcoming and accepting group of people who engage in 'ritual'.

You believe in god? Great, worship your god as you see fit not the way the church tells you too. If as many Christians say god is everywhere then they (god) are not going to care if you worship them in a church a bedroom or a skip.

the kraken!

I have noticed a few posts, sprinkled about the forum that seem related, and oriented towards christians or god worshiping inn general. What's the endgame there, It presents as grooming, but for what I wonder. My guess is a cult fishing for recruits. Let's see when they drop the other shoe. Some of us are very vulnerable.

Oh right. Got you. Thank you.

RachelO said:

Hi the thread is quite old, but it has recent discussion.

Actually RachelO......it doesn't have discussion (by my definition = humans exchanging ideas and conversation)......it has me studying the "Bot life" and it's behaviour on this forum.  I find it fascinating.

I do this "Bot life" analysis for my own learning but also to try and prevent good people like you from entering into conversations with non-sentient "Bots" who are little more than "clever automated adverts" in 75% of instances.

How very interesting 92325......I now note that your "smooth" first ever post has now been EDITED to incorporate an advert for "God graffiti" to the face of a wall.  That is very sneaky !  I've not seen it done that way before.....I begrudgingly impressed by your strategy to try and circumvent the "automated" systems of this site.

Thankfully, you forgot that there are ACTUAL humans around.

Your actions are against the rules of this forum.  I trust our vigilant MODS will make the necessary amendments to your standing post.

HOUNDS - Please.

Hi the thread is quite old, but it has recent discussion. I'm a Christian as well. Discussion is good, but I wrote my witness on my Christian faith and posted it on my blog. You can read it here on the link below.

https://racheltestimony.blogspot.com/

The original post was written 11 years ago. Don't know if still vist etc. But I would have said try a shorter church to manage. I attend an Anglican Holy Communion service it is only 30 minutes and smaller no music but you could listen to worship music on Youtube etc when you feel like it find  the right one for you at your own time. There are some I like when I feel like it.

Best wishes everyone

I like empty gothic churches.

What an amazingly "smooth" first ever post from you, 92325.  Do you have experience with "church communities" where you are from?

In my experience…. 
most Christian’s have been the most unchristian natured people I have ever met. Not very forgiving or accepting.

I have found pagans to be very accepting and willing to forgive.

is it really okay to believe in a single creator god in these modern time?
Faith for me is something different. 
it’s okay to have faith, it’s probably not okay to believe in a creator god. 

Having grown up in a traditional Irish Catholic background in the days in Rural Ireland where the Priests and the Nuns controlled everything, I remember hearing that one should not try to do anything on one’s own nor live alone, nor do anything for oneself, that you had to get the Priest or the Nun to do everything, including if you were disabled in any way, especially if it involved anything “complicated” and people with this traditional mindset would even misrepresent the Church’s teachings in the Irish culture that we had prior to the 1970’s where our grandparents totally rejected the “new ways” of the 1960’s and firmly stuck to the traditions long before Vatican II 

Before I continue, I do not consider myself to be a religious person. It has to be said that the only occasions when I *willingly* set food inside churches is when I'm attending the likes of Christenings, weddings, and funerals.

However, I do think it is sad that there are people with ASD with strong faith who want and feel a need to regularly attend church, but don't feel welcome. Except for their homes, I feel it is the one place where they should feel welcome and accepted.

I think, perhaps, in a congregation that is friendly toward gay people you will also find them friendly toward AS peeps?

This is what one of my gay AS friends has done and he's so much happier and confident in his faith now!

Me 3.

Pegg said:

I like churches, ancient and silent

Me too. They are interesting places. Ancient designs, a lot of interesting history and awesome to photograph.

Hello. I see this is eleven years ago, well, if you happen to come back I hope my reply helps in some way.

I feel for you I really do. You shouldn't have to stay away but I understand why when there's so many closed minded individuals out there who judge and don't understand. A lot of the problem is people don't even try to understand, if they did, they would see we are trying hard to fit in to this mad old world of ours.

What I would suggest is to keep going and make adjustments for yourself. Sit at the back if you want to. When I used to go to church I always sat at the back, that way if I got overwhelmed for whatever reason I could quickly nip out for some air and return when I felt better. This worked for me and reduced anxiety.

I also kept an anxiety squeeze ball on me which I still use now when I go shopping. Just having it on me reduces my anxious thoughts and feelings.

It might also be beneficial to get yourself an autism identity badge or bracelet. Something that clearly expresses you have autism. Though this can be a little unnerving to wear the first couple of times I have actually been better understood by people and they're more willing to adjust and help when they see it.

I hope this helps mate. Take care and look after yourself. 

Regards, Teknoid.

Pegg said:

But to me, it's in the very fact of life.

Yes.  This.

When I was a child, I went to church, because I was in the choir. My mum wanted me to 'join in' and it was one of the things available in our small community. I minded it less than other joining in activities imposed on me, because I like singing.

Also, it was quite interesting, because it was pretty much empty most Sundays. The few people who came were old, and dressed up. Some of them weren't especially nice, the rest of the time. I wasn't sure then, and am not now, what all of that meant.

At Christmas and Easter, everyone came, although they never did the rest of the time. 

Ritual is strange.

I like churches, ancient and silent.

If I was looking for any God, maybe I'd find it there. But to me, it's in the very fact of life. I don't feel the need for religion to see the wonder of that, personally.

I have known religious people, that's ok too - everyone believes as they do, who really knows what's right, and what isn't? 

Live and Let Live.

I no longer go to church as I have found, throughout experiences in a variety of settings, that questions are not welcomed.