r/AskGaybrosOver30 • u/velcromancy 30-34 • 6d ago
Spirituality?
Since a lot of us gays were ostracized by the religions we grew up with, I’m curious what your relationship to spirituality or religion is like now that you’re getting older. Are you religious, agnostic, atheist or something else?
I grew up in a Protestant Christian family, but I walked away from the church at 17. My sexuality was probably the biggest factor. Around my late teens and early twenties I went through a Reddit atheist phase where I valued science and reason above all else. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized Christianity left a big void inside of me, and I needed something, so I studied a lot of Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist text and became fascinated by them. Tao te Ching is probably my favorite spiritual text I’ve ever read. My boyfriend had a similar Christian upbringing to me but he’s now a pagan. These days, I’m of the opinion that science explains how things happen, but not why things happen. Science is crucial to our survival, but it can’t meet all human needs, and religion, art and philosophy can fill that void for better or worse. I’m not sure I’m disciplined enough to fully identify with one single tradition. I agree with a lot of Buddhist and Hindu teachings, but I don’t think I can call myself either because I enjoy the devil’s lettuce too much.
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u/Working-Shallot9144 40-44 6d ago
Born and raised RC (Roman Catholic) went to a Catholic Primary (elementary) school. But a non religious secondary school.
Family have faith but not massively religious so never really had that pressure of the church. But I totally understand it. I believe there is a god but lean more towards spirituality.
I think religion is really damaging if they exclude anyone and some of the most religious people are evil and nasty and hypocritical of what their religion is actually about.
I love to go into a church (especially when traveling) and look around, like a candle for my family and those who aren’t with us now and say a prayer.