Day 4 - View on Religion

Religion is a tricky subject in any social situation and my view is no exception. I was raised LDS (Mormon), but I knew even at the tender age of 8 years old that it wasn't for me. I sat there in the bishop's office before my baptism knowing I wasn't in for the long haul. I knew it was what my parents and family expected of me. After I graduated high school and moved out I drifted away from the faith. It wasn't until I was offended on church leaders words and opinions during my parents divorce I had a meeting with the current bishop and formally cut ties with the faith. For a few years I floundered, I attended many churches and explored many faiths and philosophies. I never settled down with a new religion.
In the early 90's I became close with the family across the street. Eric & Andrea Nelson (no relation), they were a young family that had two little boys during their time in the neighborhood. It was a break from the noise and chaos in my own home and being an pre-teen I often helped and babysat their little ones. Andrea was Jewish and in those evenings spent in their home I was introduces to the Jewish faith and culture. I loved it right away, the Shabbat dinners, Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I was already very familiar with the Old Testament but I grew to love the stories as part of the Jewish Culture. The amazing food didn't hurt either. Around the time the Nelson's moved away my Jewish classmates that couldn't play after school somedays due to "Hebrew School" were now having parties called Mitzvahs. I wasn't allowed to go because they were on Sunday, but finally when my best friend Shanna had her Bat Mitzvah I was allowed to attend hers so long as I also attended the Temple ceremony prior to the party. I'm not sure what my mom's reason was behind that but I truly enjoyed it, the parts when the Rabbi spoke English at least. Ever since then I have had a secret passion for the Jewish religion but they weren't exactly recruiting new members and I was very young. I don't believe I am of enough Hebrew decent to be one of the "chosen". I always figured I'd one day settle down and marry a nice Jewish boy.
In the summer on 2000 I met and fell head over heels for a nice Catholic boy named Argyle Nelson (again no relation to the other Nelson family). I have attended his family church and read independently about the faith. Unfortunately it is not for me. I assumed that when we had children they would be baptized catholic but that never happened. It was much more complicated than we thought and it is really just a formality as far as we are concerned. I may sound like a lost soul when it comes to religion but I still feel I have a relationship with G-d. I don't feel that my children will go to hell for not being baptized and I feel that only they can determine what faith is best for them. I feel that it is such a personal decision and nobody can make it for you. Out of respect for my husband I attend mass with him when he goes on holidays and observe lent, but I still like to observe Passover too. I continue to attend Jewish Holiday dinners with friends every year and enjoy it very much. Even though I'm a religious bastard I have made my own half assed peace with my own faith and I'm content at this point in my life.