A Spiritual Search

If Angela was sincere in wanting to find a religion she could believe in, why did she limit her try-outs to those listed in the Article? - there are so many more. Even within Judaism alone, she could well have found a version from the many available nowadays - whose services aren't so long, where the language of worship is intelligible American English, etc., etc., etc.

And are we to take seriously some of the "reasons" she found the various religions she tried out unacceptable, e.g. services too long? How does she choose the desirable qualities for an acceptable religion?

I hope it is clear to readers that her "final solution", whatever it is called and however it is described, is actually a personal religion entirely of her own designing, one absolutely convenient to her in terms of her own requirements. Angela is guilty of "cherry-picking". For her, religion has to accord with her own ideas on spirituality, and anything that doesn't fit in is conveniently discarded.

The story also beautifully illustrates that, if it's all a matter of personal belief, one can believe anything. As regards Catholicism itself, who's to say that the Angelan version/adaptation/sect is good and right (some of her other requirements, apart from "length of services")? Does her religious boss, Mr Bergoglio, approve of her adaptation? If not, what is she going to do about that? Or has she conveniently ditched the need for a "pope" - to me it seems as though she has set herself up as her own ultimate religious authority.

I also think Angela is dissing herself in her final assessment that "Catholics were her people". If she were to compare her convenient Angelan "Catholicism" with what any number of her friends at church actually believe and understand by their own faith/s, she could get a big surprise. For example, she need only ask any of them how they "see"/describe the god they have in common - is he an eternally, no longer aging old White man with a long white beard in a white night-gown sitting on a cloud somewhere, somehow beyond the outer limits of the universe?, is he - somehow - both a paternalistic he and a loving, soothing she?, is he only a "spirit"; what is her own view of the nature of her god?

There are so many questions which, it seems, Angela hasn't even considered, let alone resolved to her own satisfaction. Some central concerns which she, hopefully, has addressed and solved: - the church's policies on abortion? gay rights? Why is it ok for her - as I assume it must be - that the church doesn't stone gays to death, although her god demands this in Leviticus?

And how has she accommodated the view of "purgatory" which gave her such problems with her first experience of another version of Catholicism?

How does she justify her version of Catholicism by comparison to other religions' beliefs?, e.g. how does she know that the Aborigines of Australia are wrong in believing that god is a dragon living under Mount Uluru in the Northern Territory? What is the right way of treating Jews and others who stubbornly refuse to accept Jesus as their Saviour?

We can't all be right. Otherwise, why did she test out other faiths and finally design one which, as she believes, solves all the issues, one which she can accept for herself?

"By Grace are ye saved through faith, and that NOT of
yourselves, but a GIFT OF GOD.
ALL aspects of your spiritual walk are governed by God.
You can search until you're blue in the face, but if God
doesn't want to be found, He won't be found.
Why do you suppose He keeps Himself hidden from man
in the first place?

The biased generalizations about religion based on this writers opinions are offensive.

"In college, she had a Jewish boyfriend who, like most Jews, attend synagogue only twice a year, if that."

How can Marty Nemko possibly say something like that about Judaism and not think he's going to offend people?

I was raised Unitarian, and to see Christianity as a mindless religion. But I encountered atheists (including scientists) who were believers, and Christians whose lives were highly impacted by God.

So I read Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis) and Evidence that Demands a Verdict (Josh McDowell, a former atheist presenting faith as if a legal case) on the intelligence of the Christian faith. (See, too, The Case for Christ). Then I challenged God: If You are truly there, and Christ truly was who he said he was (not just a good man) SHOW me.

BAM, my life was changed, with the a first amazing answer to prayer, and I have seen incredible answered prayers over 37 years of unwavering belief. (For one true story, see A Miracle from God in an Overseas Call, at findinggoddaily dot com; story also published in the new book by Linda Evans Shepherd: Called to Pray, Astounding Stories of Answered Prayer.)

They key is finding, not a religion, but a relationship with a living God, who came to earth in the form of a human, Jesus. Realize this: Christ's disciples had no belief in a resurrection and gave up on their faith when he was brutally murdered. Then they saw him alive again and suddenly became willing to put their lives at stake, for the rest of their lives, telling others that Jesus was alive again.

Millions of people across the world, in all cultures, are finding that relationship with Jesus as a living, personal being who changes lives.

Belief in Christ is completely incomprehensible
unless God opens your heart.
There are two basic views about reality:

1) The "Greek" (Scientific knowledge) "Son of God?
What nonsense!"
2) The "Jewish" (Religious) "He is not Christ. He doesn't
perform the miracles scripture said the Messiah would."

Only God Himself can open up your heart.