[Magdalen] She's leaving church look

[Jim Guthrie]

From: Molly Wolf

"I think I am done with religion.  Not with God, of course, never with God.  But 
with church (except for friends), with intellectual theology, and with the 
Future of Christianity, I think I am done."

I also find myself increasingly irritated by church's narcissism, whether it's 
the idolatry of liturgy or preoccupation with the past or earnest navel-gazing. 
Fewgawdsake, church, get over yourself!

I think there's a difference between "Religion" and "Church."  I can absolutely 
sympathize on the "Church" side, especially when a particular church is as you 
described. And I'm afraid many churches are.

But there are gems out there, however few and far between they may be. And as 
I'm sure you've experienced, neither the clergy nor the congregation has a clue 
as to how toxic they are (especially since everyone is always on their best 
behavior in front of a person with the dog collar, plus the notion that "Were 
such a FRIENDLY church" which is a dead giveaway as to toxicity <g>).

But likewise, the gems out there don’t necessarily recognize themselves as gems.

And related to that, there are those "fast growing" churches  -- which grow fast 
because there are no entrenched interests, no "We've never done it that way 
before," no dragon ladies (yet) and the Pastor's salary is dependent on the 
number of pledging units rather than any diocesan rule or other bureaucratic (or 
traditional) compensation program. And any number of people who found their old 
church (however many there may have been in a mobile society) as toxic as your 
description.

Cheers,
Jim .