Who the hell are you and why are you here?

[carolinayellowdog]

32. Enthusiast of 19thc US religious history, especially non-Christian and "alternative" groups

Last edited Mon Dec 29, 2014, 09:09 AM - Edit history (1)

Raised Methodist, through high school and college explored many phases of religious interest, gave up on organized religion by age 20. Was a New Age dilettante more interested in exploring practices than embracing belief systems, through my 20s and 30s. Increasingly developed an interest in history, pursued historical research and writing, in my 30s and 40s. Became more skeptical of all things New Age as a consequence of understanding their historical roots.

UUism is the best fit for my general outlook these days and I show up once a month or so at the nearest UU Fellowship.

on edit-- the "why here?" question has two parts. In the late 90s I began what turned out to be a 15-year break from religious topics and focused on more secular aspects of history. 12/12/2000 and 9/11/2001 combined to make the New Age optimism of the 1980s and 1990s seem tragically misguided. This is not the Millennium we starry-eyed woo-woo types were looking forward to! DU offered much more of the kind of Internet fellowship I needed at that stage than any online forum devoted to spirituality. Since I've returned in recent years to research and writing about religious history, this group attracted my interest very recently.