I think I was born a hipster. What these guys describe is my life long personality.

Oh wait, enthusiasm!
Gwen, you’re hot.

I think I know what you mean about “make-believe.” I have felt that way pretty often, and in many ways still do. I don’t really have any belief, but I do sometimes exercise faith. (The distinction between Belief and Faith is the subject of an essay I’m working on now.)

One reason I tend to speak and think in terms of practicing Catholic traditions, rather than “being a Catholic” or “believing in God,” is that for me it’s a lot like that (hilarious) South Park episode “All About Mormons.” Putting aside questions of truth and belief, the traditions of the Catholic church and the community of our parish was a major factor in making my family a strong and happy one as I was growing up, and these things seem to be serving similar functions for my current family. I tend to see the “make believe” parts as metaphor — sometimes useful, sometimes irrelevant.

–Matt.

my 15 YO daughter hates that a make her go to CCE and says she gets nothing out of it. I did tell her yesterday, after listening to the episode about Religion with her, that if she made some efforts to research and learn about other spiritual options, i wouldn’t force her to go anymore. was that good advise?

do i need to stop worrying about what my parents think and believe? They are super-Catholics!

-Patrick

Thanks for listening. Patrick was also raised Catholic. I don’t know how “good” he was, but I’m sure he could offer some “insight.” Right, Patrick?

-Gwen

I can definitely relate to your situation. I was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, and I have added zen buddhist practice to my path without abandoning that earlier family tradition. See my comment to Episode 47 for more. I don’t know — or much care — if this makes me “a good Catholic” or “a good Buddhist,” but for be it seems to be a useful approach.

Peace –Matt.

Just started listening from a link from Twitter. I decided to just start from the beginning. On #3 about Unplugging and love the idea.

Just want to say I really like what you’re doing here, after only 3 episodes. Been fascinated by budhism for a while but raised catholic and married to a catholic and raining 2 kids catholic but I question it daily.

Very eager to see how 1 month of being unplugged went.