by Jody ~ I wasn't looking for it. In fact, it caught me blindsided. After "losing my religion" and leaving my 27-year marriage, I was pretty much labeled a heretic and loser by former Christian friends. Occasionally, I was met with a friendly hello in the grocery store , but mostly, people didn't want much to do with me. That's OK. I realize what I did rocked their tiny little world a bit too much. I managed to move to another part of town and become involved in community events to fill the social gap left in my once full calendar. But, never in a million years could I have been ready for what came next. One night, while I was on Facebook, a longtime Christian friend sent me a shout out from the chat box. Sweet! That didn't happen often. It started out OK, the expected, "How are the kids? the job? your new life?" etc., and then his tone changed. He called me beautiful and wanted to encourage me as a newly single woman. OK. I think. I managed to...

by Jody -- This is a poem I wrote. I was thinking about how I love my Sunday mornings now that I walk in the freedom of free thought . Image by Pσweя σf Lσve ♥♥ via Flickr I love Sunday mornings. Slow, savory moments over my coffee.... or gathering my laptop and glasses to go to the coffee shop and write. Not rushing around to hurry off to church so I can sit in tedious silence in a big empty building full of people. This morning I am going to sit in stillness, to reflect, to ponder, to wonder. Pulling on my mud caked hiking boots, I reach for my water bottle, journal, sketch book and pens. I am ready now for my "church.” Stretching my limbs in the morning sun, I walk tall and strong into the woods.....my sanctuary. As the trees enfold me in the quiet of the early morning I pause. This is where I come to sit in awe, to appreciate the hills and trees, the woods and this moss covered ground that I love to tread. The birdsong enlivens my soul, the s...

By Jody -- I owe a debt of gratitude to the many Christians in my life who have affirmed my stance of non-belief. Even though I have read the writings of Dan Barker , Dawkins and others, my most compelling reasons to leave the faith are the actions of Christians, themselves. Allow me to illustrate. Take my former neighbor, Danielle. Our kids have played together for years. Since leaving the church, I noticed some hesitation on her part when asking if her son could come over for an afternoon of tree climbing and video games with my son. Finally, today, I asked her what was up. Her reply surprised me. "Where are you with the Lord?" she asked. Ummmm...not the answer I was anticipating. I thought maybe there had been a problem with my son, or some childish prank had gone too far. But to question my faith? I told her that I now consider myself to be agnostic . This was somewhat of a surprise to her, seeing that I had been an adamant "believer" for many years. U...