| The "Mythbuster" series I began recently was not | | | | learned that this wasn't exactly Mayberry. Divorce, |
| created to offend entire groups of people. Moreover, | | | | adultery, and lechery were as common as in the soap |
| it's designed to get us thinking about age-old beliefs | | | | operas on television. Several of the women had |
| that are accepted without question by each generation | | | | breast implants and other plastic surgery and flaunted |
| for no apparent reason. So you can save yourself the | | | | their newly acquired material. Men were cheating on |
| trouble of sending me hate mail and allow me my right | | | | their wives with other church members. There were |
| to free speech under the Constitution and the Bill of | | | | people that continuously gossiped about other |
| Rights. So much for the obligatory disclaimer and | | | | member's family troubles. Then they bragged about |
| commercial interruption. Now I'll get to the heart of this | | | | their own finances, large executive homes, world |
| subject. | | | | travel, and their overall social status. There were |
| I've been a regular church attendee for nearly twenty | | | | certain 'cliques' of members that clung together, not |
| years: about half of those within the Catholic church | | | | allowing others to join in their little private club. Other |
| system, and the other part with non-denominational | | | | members kept to themselves, never volunteering to do |
| types. I participated, in varying degrees, in bible studies, | | | | anything church-related. They neither gave a penny |
| newcomer committees, and programs for RCIA, | | | | during the service nor wanted any part of the social |
| music, and teens. Also, in administration, fundraisers, | | | | events that were conducted monthly. They were the |
| hosting home events, and have been an usher and | | | | hit-and-run Christians, that couldn't wait to get home |
| greeter. So I'm not just the typical hit-and-run Christian. | | | | and leave the service behind. I imagine they also |
| Throughout these many Sundays and holidays, I've | | | | quickly forgot the sermon as well. |
| witnessed thousands of the faithful that profess to | | | | The pastor wasn't immune to this scenario, either. I |
| follow in the footsteps of Jesus. It's been an interesting | | | | watched the abuse of church funds that included |
| experience that I feel I must share. I call it the good, the | | | | stealing from the teen's weekly collection, using |
| bad, and the ugly. | | | | offerings for personal travel and luxury purchases, and |
| The majority of people with whom I interacted over | | | | faulty bookkeeping. It gave me insight into where tithes |
| two decades, were kind, generous, and giving | | | | go and why I won't give to most religious organizations |
| individuals. They cared about their family and friends | | | | anymore. But that's my opinion. I'm sure that many |
| and would be welcome in any household. One would | | | | religious-based charities do tremendous things for the |
| expect that kind of behavior coming from regular | | | | less-fortunate, including the Salvation Army, which I do |
| church going, God fearing, people. Therefore, it's rather | | | | donate to. But this is about people and their failures |
| surprising and disappointing to report that not all of | | | | while professing to be walking in Christ's footsteps. |
| these people fit that description. | | | | I'm not a hypocrite. I know I'm not perfect and have a |
| I first was disillusioned by the clergy of the Catholic | | | | list of faults that good churchgoers might criticize. But |
| Church. My wife was told she and I wouldn't be | | | | that's the point. They shouldn't point fingers when they |
| welcomed into the church because we weren't | | | | have plenty of their own to consider. So how can they |
| married in a Catholic church and that her first marriage | | | | go to church, pledge to follow Jesus, and then act if |
| would have to be annulled, requiring a letter for her | | | | they had never been to a service? Many do, but |
| ex-husband. That caused anguish, because we had no | | | | because of their actions outside church, shouldn't be |
| contact, and intended none, with her ex. Later, we | | | | put on any kind of pedestal. Yet the sad truth is that |
| decided to go anyway, despite the negative reception. | | | | general public probably still assumes anyone attending |
| We discovered the head priest was a nasty, vindictive, | | | | church is automatically considered to be a good |
| person with a strange and unsettling personality. | | | | person. Myth busted! |
| I also got to know many of the parishioners and | | | | |