church only provides meaning if you actually _believe_ the stuff the priest lectures about for 30 minutes at mass. Otherwise you get to play make-believe for 1 hour each week.

For me, church increases my blood pressure. I was forced to attend church as a child and didn’t believe any of the stuff by the time i was an older teen. Going to church feels patronizing to me, since i don’t believe any of it. And i’m bitter that i was “forced” into it by my parents. They never at ANY point asked me if I want to continue going, and I know for certain that even if i spoke up they would have ignored me. Ugh.

Anyway i’ve had good luck making friends at my local Y, through friends of friends, and occasionally work.