I have no religious home...

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I was raised protestant, but now idk.... I've bounced between wanting to convert to something else for a long time, though last Sunday I went to a protestant church again, but I didn't really like it??? Probably because they bashed JWs and Mormons... I've talked to various groups online like Atheist and New Age especially and I'm not feeling them either. I have nice Pagan and Witch friends but it's so different from what I'm used to... Heck, I have decent JW relatives and a friend and I might even check out the Kingdom Hall??? I've checked out Unitarian too but ehhh didn't like the service. The guys messeging me are Apostolic...

My husband was a mix of Catholic and protestant if that even makes sense...

Ehh.... It's a hard topic, I've "seen" evidence of the "supernatural" but maybe I'm crazy.... Etc....

I pray to God hoping I'm praying to the right God...

Maybe I'm confused because I'm intelligent and I question everything... My mind is too open???

I would suggest giving Catholicism a thorough investigation. Talking to a local priest would help. I do not know where you are located because in some parts of the country it is easier to find orthodox and right-living priests.

Your mind is not too open. It's either open or shut (like an electric circuit.) Now a mind, like the jaws of a hungry animal, have to close on something solid.

What's too open-minded is being so "open" that you would consent to living a lie. Which is why I'd say avoid the JWs, Protestants, pagans, and some of the freakishly liberal (or raging traditionalist) Catholics. Find Catholics who believe all the doctrines of the Church while at the same time knowing how to prove these doctrines. Just as a gun-barrel will stand a stout charge of powder without blowing up, so a religious doctrine must stand a proof charge just like a firearm before it can be deemed safe.

I used to be Catholic and now I'm a Foursquare Christian, which is a Pentecostal denomination. My current church is great for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that it's an organization that's a lot less rigid in its structure, and so it's not bogged down with things like traditions and doctrine. That's not to say that I have anything against those things, but you should reflect on why you go to church and what it is you want to get out of it, and I like that my current denomination is focused on the "why" of church, rather than the "what".

At the end of the day, there are many types of churches that do things in many different ways, but it's important to know why you're going to church and where you're at in your spiritual journey. It's also recommended you try reading your bible if you haven't done a lot of it, as it's a real eye-opener. While all churches are organizations and none of them are perfect, I think some are closer to what Jesus and Paul preached than others, and my current church at least does its best to get it right.

Don't underestimate the importance of community either. If you don't click with the group of people you join, you probably won't get much out of your church. Find a church with a preacher (priest, pastor or whatever) whose way of preaching clicks with you, and also one where you get along with the other people who attend. Some churches have more than one individual who speaks, but the point is, find a church that clicks with you.

Not having a church also isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you're wanting to learn more about God and the bible then a church in the building sense is great for that, as well as building that community connection. Church can be something as simple as praying together with another Christian though, regardless of where you do it. It is recommended you eventually settle into a church that works for you but that isn't something you need to rush into. At the very least, try to connect with someone who is a Christian, especially if that person can give you spiritual guidance. Perhaps finding out where friends, family, co-workers, etc. attend can help you find a home church too.

Americans forget that there is a whole third big wing of Christianity that is neither Protestant nor Catholic.

If you cant make up your mind between Catholic and Protestant then...you might check out the Eastern Orthodox family of religions. Greek, Russian, Armenian, Ethiopian, etc... Orthodoxy.

Or you might check out Episcopalianism. When the Protestants all broke off from Catholicism during the Reformation the Episcopalian (aka "Anglican", or "Church of England") were the most conservative of the new sects now called Protestant, and retained the most elements of Catholicism.

You are aware that there are far more religions than just Christianity and all of it's denominations. Islam has plenty of different branches and schools of thought, more than Christianity even, with some more spiritual such as Sufis. Buddhism is also diverse with some strands of Buddhism allowing flexibility in metaphysical ways of thinking. Hinduism isn't one religion but many different rituals and ways of thinking collectively labeled as Hinduism worth trying out. Sikhism seems to be a nice synthesis of some of the ideas of Hinduism and Islam.

Don’t go to a Kingdom Hall. I’m a former JW. It’s a bad idea. Sure, there are a lot of nice members, but the religion is very controlling and negative, especially as far as having to shun (due to disfellowshipping) loved ones, refuse medically necessary blood transfusions, and the constant push to make converts to name just a few things. They constantly bash other religions during their services, too. Other religions are part of “Babylon the Great - the World Empire of False Religion” which is run by Satan, according to their publications. They especially like to pick on Catholics.

Anyway, you’ve just gone through a very difficult and traumatic time. If you’re looking for religious comfort, I’d suggest trying to ease into something very gentle and laidback that makes you feel good instead of joining a strict religious movement that has stringent requirements and rules. A loving deity won’t penalize you for worshipping him or her the “wrong” way when your motives are good. That wouldn’t make logical sense.

People do tend to join cults after dealing with traumatic events, but it’s certainly something that should be avoided because it’s harmful in the long run even though people can seem very kind and welcoming at first. It’s called love-bombing which is a ploy that cults use to inspire people to convert. I’m not saying that’s what your family is doing. They are probably just genuinely nice people, but that’s not due to their religious beliefs.

All you want are you and God through Jesus Christ.

I don't really have a place either. It didn't matter which one I went to it was a mess. People didn't understand me at all. My fascination with languages led some with one-dimensional thinking to accuse me of being all about "head knowledge". It was very rude and I wouldn't explain anything else after that; the exact oppostie is true. I went to a few more where suspiciousness of anyone new was normal and gave me a bad feeling. I went to one about a month ago and the head guy was praying for me and LITERALLY said Aspergers was fake -sure buddy/will never go back. I used to trust religious people but it led me to trusting nobody at all. I would have to regain mental/emotional/spiritual energy again and again when stuff like that happened.

I found a decent community in a Presbyterian church. Not too stuffy, and not too noisy. Hospitable people, seemingly tolerant of my aspie 'quirks'. Services last 90 minutes. The pastors know me by name, and even ask about my relatives.

As for doctrine ... the usual conservative stuff, but no public condemnation of this group or that. They avoid discussing political topics from the pulpit, and rarely express any political preferences at all. The sermons are centered around a loving Savior of the New Testament, and not on the "Thou Shalts / Thou Shalt Nots" of the Old Testament.

Maybe you could check out one of the more 'mainstream' protestant denominations, and avoid those fringe religions, cults, and idol-worshipers that lure people in with friendly smiles and then trap them with guilt and punitive imagery.

Don't get involved in a church which overtly asks for money during services.

How this particular preacher came up with "$47" as the ideal sum a person can give at this particular service I attended----I'll never know.

What sort of theology is your "cup of tea?"

That's not what I meant.

I meant....when the preacher importunes the congregation to give money.

If a "collection plate" is passed around in a subtle matter during and after the service, I find that this is okay. There is no implication that you HAVE to give. You give if you want to. Most people are too involved in their praying or whatever to really observe whether you "gave" or not.

if it's a good church, I feel like this could be an excellent way to find community with others.

A church that doesn't give people the "hard sell" when it comes to donating.

Just reading that Corinthians verse doesn't obligate people to donate.

If some preacher gets on the pulpit and starts railing on about one's "obligations" to donate---and about he/she is some "messenger" from God or Jesus or whoever--even without reading the Corinthians verse---then that's the "hard sell."

I have nothing against religion, or against religious communities, per se.

It would be nice if I were part of a church or other place of worship----but it just cannot happen because I don't believe in religion.

Kingdom Halls don’t have collection plates. They have a couple of donation boxes that are discreetly attached to walls in the building. It’s one of the things that they like about themselves. There are announcements made from the platform if they are low on funds for the month.

Sometimes JWs ask for donations from people who accept the Watchtower or other publications. Those publications make good kindling. Just a handy tip for when one goes camping.

The fact is that churches do need money to pay for the building, electricity, water, and for the minister if there is someone who does that for a career.

The key, really, is to do this in a discreet manner.

Of course, the church/other places of worship need funds in order to operate.