I am 'jumping' in here, that is, I have not read all the preceding posts. Minimus is skilled at creating threads that everyone has an opinion on.
Anyway, here's my observation. (I am an atheist.)
If I were to embrace a religion it would be Cath. Lots of iconic, physical elements. Crosses, rosaries, crucifixion statues, Mary and the saints images, rituals up the kazoo for everything from birth to death. Feasts and observations, total deathbed forgivenance for anything you are ashamed of, meaning Al Capone is in heaven.
In other words, you get a lot of bang for the buck. You can get involved as deeply as you want but you don't have to do anything. Maybe wear a nics blingy crucifix.
Glander, I appreciate your post.
Though I am a Universalist, I love the beauty of the rituals of the Roman Catholic and Anglican Catholic/Episcopal Churches. I love the music and shared history of the two. In old England, under one king or queen the buildings, bishops, priests, monks & nuns would be Roman and the next they'd be Anglican Catholic. Queen Elizabeth I finally came up with the Via Media, which means in Latin middle road. She took the best of the Roman church and added the best of reformation to form the Anglican (Catholic) Church, in order to stop the bloodshed between Roman and Anglican supporters. Today the Episcopal Church of the Americas, Church of Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and others are part of the Anglican Communion.
Rituals and RC and AC music aren't for everyone. My mother, raised in the Presbyterian Church, chose my father's Episcopal Church when they were married. She was a classical pianist and soprano and became the music and choir director at our tiny church in Morgan City, LA. She sometimes played the organ, too. She brought her parents to church with us, one Sunday when they had come for a visit. I remember Mom asking Grandma how she enjoyed the service. (She wanted grandma to comment on her music and accomplisments.) Grandma said, "It was okay, but I don't like too much ritual." Mom looked kind of crushed. As an adult, I realized that she really wanted her parents to be proud of her beautiful musical contributions to our services.
In May of 2011, I went back to that sa,e church for the first time since 1970. I had such wonderful memories of Trinity Episcopal Church and I wanted to take communion there for the first time. In 1970, the organ was not visible to the congregation. Here's a 22 second video of the pre-service music. The second video is one someone else made with two of the Kyries and some RC buildings, etc. The music can be very moving.
