I like churches and other religious places. I don't really like going there to hear sermons--I think one's spirit is intensely personal, and it cannot be "instructed"; inspired and helped along by others, sure, but not really "instructed"--whatever. But I like being around churches. They always have the most gorgeous architecture; there's a Methodist church in Greenville that I always liked being around. It was right next to the library, and whenever I visited Grandma, we would usually go to the library at least four times in the two weeks. It looked almost like a red-brick castle. There was another in St Pauls--probably the biggest building in that town--that had bells you could hear from all over the place. (Which goes to show you how small that town was.)

There was only one church that ever actually creeped me out. The one we actually WENT to when I was little--Cumberland United Methodist. I'm not sure what it was that creeped me out so much about that place, but I was often afraid to go anywhere in that church alone. I would always drag someone else along with me.

But all the other churches I've been around, even if they're unfamiliar, feel friendly, even if the people inside can be hateful. The Baptist church up the street is like that; I liked being there for Vacation Bible School. I went there with my friend at the time, Kristen; we would meet at her house at about nine in the morning, walk from there to the church, then hang out around Vacation Bible School all day. I remember the theme was called Climbing Mount Extreme. But as I recall, we didn't do anything "extreme." We built lamps. But that was about as extreme as it ever got. And the lady across the street who used to babysit my brother and I would sometimes take us to the Baptist church "Scouts", the Awanas. Sort of like super-religious coed Scouts. Since Josh and I weren't part of them (and, often, nobody really wanted me around to annoy them), we would wander the church for a couple of hours while Connor and Amber did cool Scouty-type things. The people in that church were kind of scary. The pastor was friendly. I liked him. But the people inside can turn a dirty eye at you if you do anything out of the ordinary.

The other church I really liked was Saint James Methodist in Greenville. The people there were pretty nice. I didn't go much--being as I didn't live in Greenville--but when I visited Grandma, it was usually nice to visit there. I liked the unusual design of the church--it was like an A-frame house with a steeple slapped up top. And it was right in front of thick forest. Always a plus!

I don't really like being in a church unless I'm feel to explore it alone (unless it's Cumberland United!) Not sure why I like being alone in churches. I just do.

I'd like to visit other places of worship, too. Just to expand my mind, y'know~?