3 ms·

I see you say you’ve lived in America and it sounds like you’ve emigrated. May I ask why? I’m also from America and this couldn’t be further from my own experie

I see you say you’ve lived in America and it sounds like you’ve emigrated. May I ask why? I’m also from America and this couldn’t be further from my own experience. I come from a more religious family from the Midwest, but grew up in the suburbs of nyc. Through my community I’ve never felt alone and my dad is actively involved in the church. In nyc amongst the yuppies especially I see a dog eat dog mentality and how everyone is fighting for themselves. But once I step out of the hustle and bustle and go back home, I have the community that is there for me and our family. I don’t intend for this post to be an advertisement for the church, but I think in America it will be more and more important to form a community aspect, like a church, but not a church where people feel like they belong and get to know their neighbors. Without knowing your neighbors and community it’s easy to feel isolated.

PopeDotNinja 7y ago
I had a friend who moved to Texas with his family to take a job. He didn't go to church, and said that alone made it pretty hard to make friends there. He moved back to CA for that reason. So I guess going to church is one way to make friends, if you're into that.
hestipod 7y ago
I am not OP but I will answer as I have relevant experience. I grew up in Midwestern US suburbs and rural areas and find the problems he/she mentioned to be accurate. "Church" is always trotted out by people there as THE community but not everyone is a religious person or finds that arrangement suitable. Transportation is a huge problem regardless as there are no buses or trams or trains in large swaths of the country. Culture, politics, and lifestyles in the bulk of the Midwest, while possibly ideal for you or others, are NOT for equally as many people. My "neighbors" are not nearby, not sociable at all, and not people I would choose to be around anyway for a number of reasons. I have heard your opinion of cities my entire life growing up, and believed them until I lived in one. For me it was life changing and gave me access to people like me and culture I enjoyed and awareness that not everyone had the politics I was told were "correct", and being dragged back here was equally life changing in a negative way.
- bigred100 7y ago
  As someone who doesn’t practice any religion but grew up around them I’m confused about the role church seems to play for many folks. Instead of being about spiritual advancement it seems like a lot of the people are just interested in a very accepting social club with some fantasy elements. I saw very little of people sitting around talking about eg humility and how to mortify their desires rather than hanging out or reading an epistle and then interpreting it with (frankly) self-help ideology

PopeDotNinja 7y ago

I had a friend who moved to Texas with his family to take a job. He didn't go to church, and said that alone made it pretty hard to make friends there. He moved back to CA for that reason. So I guess going to church is one way to make friends, if you're into that.

hestipod 7y ago

I am not OP but I will answer as I have relevant experience. I grew up in Midwestern US suburbs and rural areas and find the problems he/she mentioned to be accurate. "Church" is always trotted out by people there as THE community but not everyone is a religious person or finds that arrangement suitable. Transportation is a huge problem regardless as there are no buses or trams or trains in large swaths of the country. Culture, politics, and lifestyles in the bulk of the Midwest, while possibly ideal for you or others, are NOT for equally as many people. My "neighbors" are not nearby, not sociable at all, and not people I would choose to be around anyway for a number of reasons. I have heard your opinion of cities my entire life growing up, and believed them until I lived in one. For me it was life changing and gave me access to people like me and culture I enjoyed and awareness that not everyone had the politics I was told were "correct", and being dragged back here was equally life changing in a negative way.

bigred100 7y ago
As someone who doesn’t practice any religion but grew up around them I’m confused about the role church seems to play for many folks. Instead of being about spiritual advancement it seems like a lot of the people are just interested in a very accepting social club with some fantasy elements. I saw very little of people sitting around talking about eg humility and how to mortify their desires rather than hanging out or reading an epistle and then interpreting it with (frankly) self-help ideology