ringing the doorbell of the house of god
Why is it so hard to find a church in upper Manhattan that a) speaks English, b) isn't Pentacostal, and c) doesn't treat me like I have goat horns?
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Pentacostalism; I just worry about mistaking hysteria for spirituality. Some people are strong enough in their faith that they can set up an impermeable wall between their emotions and their beliefs, and I respect that. But as half a psych major I cannot accept that a series of simple, easily observable chemical reactions are the work of the Holy Spirit, and I know far too many people who use their religion as a crutch. With the dangers in mind it can be an acceptable form of worship, but it is not for me. And it's just frustrating because there are like a billion little Pentacostal churches on my block, and all of them are far more welcoming than the more traditional churches in Harlem and the Upper East Side, and none of them speak English. And as much as I love them, well, I'd like to be able to understand the sermons without an interpreter.
And churches can claim to welcome all outsiders, but insularity is a hard habit to break. Especially in a neighborhood where people see race the way most other people see species.
It's prayin' time.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Pentacostalism; I just worry about mistaking hysteria for spirituality. Some people are strong enough in their faith that they can set up an impermeable wall between their emotions and their beliefs, and I respect that. But as half a psych major I cannot accept that a series of simple, easily observable chemical reactions are the work of the Holy Spirit, and I know far too many people who use their religion as a crutch. With the dangers in mind it can be an acceptable form of worship, but it is not for me. And it's just frustrating because there are like a billion little Pentacostal churches on my block, and all of them are far more welcoming than the more traditional churches in Harlem and the Upper East Side, and none of them speak English. And as much as I love them, well, I'd like to be able to understand the sermons without an interpreter.
And churches can claim to welcome all outsiders, but insularity is a hard habit to break. Especially in a neighborhood where people see race the way most other people see species.
It's prayin' time.
