JE #7

I was raised Catholic and still call myself Catholic but I do not consider myself a hardcore practicing Catholic. I did not begin to question my religion until I got to my first year of college. Most of my family is Catholic but when my uncle changed religion everyone began to talk bad about him saying he was becoming a trader to the religion he had grown up with. I am a strong believer that everyone must have someone/ something to believe in or else they feel alone. This is why I still consider myself Catholic. Even though I do not agree with many things. I do not like the idea of having to get married if you are living with someone or else it’s a sin. I do not like that it is very patriarchal based where the women must be the home wife and the man, the hardworking man of the house. I do not like that only males can be priest and everyone must listen to them. Overall I feel that the Catholic religion just continues to push sexism because in history and most of the bible, it is about males and what they found and what they said. It completely disregards women and puts them in a place below men, and/or serving the men. However, I find it very difficult to say I completely disregard religion because I feel I need something to believe in. Every night I pray before bed because I feel it is something I NEED to do or else God is somewhere up there watching me and shaking his head. This may sound bad but it is kind of like praying for luck. Also, when times get hard or people are sick or my family is in a difficult situation, I find that praying is essential. I find the thought of having someone or something bigger than ourselves out there looking over us very empowering. Sometimes I think of God being a light, or a flower or even a womyn. Also, I find the Virgen de Guadalupe to be empowering not just because she is a mujer but because she is a representation of Mexico to me. I like going to church to celebrate her birthday and I am not sure why. I just find the overall thought and image of her freeing. I also think that shows like “La Rosa de Guadalupe” (which I watched a lot over summer) have influence my faith a little. The show is about miracles that have happened to regular people because they prayed to the Virgen. Overall, religion is an identity I have not taken the time to explore and I have not yet found the need to.

Enjoy this episode of La Rosa de Guadalupe and her miracles