Just joined and thought I’d introduce myself a bit. Maybe someone will resonate with my short story.
My grandparents were Byzantine, but I was raised Roman Catholic. My religious education was rather cartoonish, let’s call it. Sometime in high school I started listening to the New Atheists, I thought they made sense. In college I studied philosophy and enjoyed the Continental school more than Analytical. I also discovered Buddhism, though the incense during zazen always reminded me of the times I attended the Byzantine services with my grandparents.
I think I rekindled my Christianity via Jordan Peterson’s soundbites and lectures. Eventually I reasoned my way into disagreeing with everything I had read from the New Atheists. I decided on a few theological points that were non-negotiable for me.
For example, I decided that “heaven” must be achievable on earth, not some place that is only accessible after death. This is incompatible with some versions of Buddhism which believe that enlightenment is only achievable after literal death.
Around the time I decided on this, my wife and I decided to try going to the Byz church that my grandparents used to attend. I distinctly remember the homily by the deacon discussing this very theological point, and he said something like heaven is a state of mind that you create through words and actions - I wasn’t totally listening, but I snapped to attention at that point because it is exactly what I needed to hear. I have come to understand the Eastern Catholic perspective is that heaven consists in a relationship with God, to be experienced during and after life.
Anyway we now go to that same church every week, our daughter is baptized and asks for “more Amen” every night. It has brought our family closer together. I have a lot more to learn but it all feels right, feels like home.
