A wild idea. . .

Shelagh,

You are still there!

I remember Peter Marshall and Catherine's book. My foster mom was Presbyterian and a fan of the Marshall's. She did out grow them when she lost all ties to any particular church. What a searcher of wisdom she was. She took me to meetings of people who spoke in tongues. If you are 17 and see someone speak in tongues, it is a bizarre experience. It takes prior belief to understand those emotions. I had none and found the meeting a pagan kind of ritual. My foster mom, Barbara Anderson longed to speak in tongues. To her it was people chosen by God who could do it. She never could and always felt that she displeased God in some way.
She was the kindest person I ever knew.

I think that religion is a bunk, a white wash and an emotional brain washing engine. I must make myself clear, here. Organized religion is the bunk.

People have a spirit that flows without any help from churches. Chruches are there to make money like Microsoft only bigger.

One thing that religion does do is control societies. That is, perhaps, a good thing. Maybe, They do it with guilt. Well it has been that way since Eve.

Love,
Betty

Betty,

It is so sad.

God is not honored by organized religions as they stand now.

I hope it changes. A church can be a force for good. They have gotten into politics and everything but what they were intended for.

Betty,

First, I agree that organized religion can be a deterrent to genuine spirituality.

Was the Presbyterian church your foster mother followed a Cumberland Presbyterian Church? It is my understanding that they are a very fundamentalist group.

I grew up in a Presbyterian church, too. It was very different. These Presbyterians were a very quiet group. I remember a guest minister, a Dr. Stitt, I think, who, at the time, was president of Austin Theological Seminary (I was in my very early teens and this time, so I don't remember it clearly) He was talking about how quiet and staid Presbyterians were. He said, "Once, in the middle of a prayer, someone in the congregation said, 'Amen!' I quit. I thought I was through." Those are the Presbyterians I remember.

I didn't mean to support the Presbyterian Church, any denomination, or even being part of an organized religion.

I wanted to reinforce Carol's experience of "acceptance and surrender," which sounded to me like what Catherine Marshall was describing in that book (I think it was called A Man Called Peter. I couldn't remember that when I made the post. It seems like I don't remember a lot these days.)

I do think that prayers can be like directed thoughts, and that the Universal Mind can hear them, just as s/he hears all our thoughts, because, like you said, "People have a spirit that flows without any help from churches."

Nobody, not even a church, to my way of thinking, has the right to control anyone with guilt. Carrying around that burden of unnecessary guilt can block our connection to our spirits.

Just me.

Love you, too,

Ann

My brother-in-law has been sending me articles about how the vatican is spending over $1,000,000 for a study of Catholic women's religious orders. The women are insulted, think the questions are invasive and are refusing to answer. They say that they gave up much of their identities to follow Christ, but through this process are finding their new identities as women spreading Christ's love. They said they follow Vatican II principals of sharing Christ's love across religious lines. The man in charge of the investigation of the nuns is saying Vatican II was the worst thing that happened to the church, that it disrupted the control.

To me all of this is unbelievable. All the problems in the world. All those who need love. All those women who gave their lives to the church.

Carol

Very sad and such a waste of money.

I am really enjoying my caringbridge site. I think I've found the place to be.

Watching Julie and Julia the other night inspired me. I realize blogs are kind of egotistical, but so be it. I'm not just going to be doom and gloom, but mix in these family stories I keep thinking of.

So check out http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/caroltroestler

Carol

The film inspired me, too, Carol. Just think, she started with a blog, and ended up with a commercially published book and a movie.

Ann

Dear Carol,
I have been reading your journal on CaringBridge. Anne Frank's Diary came to my mind. I think you have found a place to put it all down, the living and dying stuff.

I like the way you can print your whole journal.

Love
Betty

Thanks Betty. I feel I have found a home.

Carol

12/11/2009

Carol...

I love your blog , I get updates every day,
I look forward to it..

Cheers..Joe

You belong here.

Dear Carol,
I wondered if you would consider putting your journal entries here.
Just put a new topic called Carol's Journal.

Post it it here. You are well loved.

Love,
Betty

Carol,

Do as Dick did; post on your blog and paste a copy onto a new thread here. if you look at the top poster of new topics, you will see that Dick is way ahead of everyone:

Statistics

Carol, sounds like a call is being made for you to take Dick's blogging place!

Thanks for the encouragement. I'll give it a try,

Carol

You will never take Dick's place, but you will make your own.


As Betty said, "You are well-loved here."
We should know here what is going on.

Thanks!

I'd never even try taking Dick's place. He was one of a kind.

But thanks for asking about my life.

Carol

I have found my writing life at this time. I searched for what to do with my words, but the place found me.

My granddaughter signed my guestbook with a message of love.

All your messages and encouragement mean the world to me.

Love, Carol