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So, what have you been reading recently? | π Weekly book discussion, review, and recommendations thread, June 28th, 2026
(lemmygrad.ml)
Fiction or Non-Fiction, academic or casual, theory or non-theory, feel free to mention books of any genre and on any topic.
FOR SURE. sertraline is the glue keeping my mindparts together rn. AND hyperfixating on translating videos
my anhedonia is balancing the uuuuh, i have UUUUUUUUUUUUH orthodox coping mechanisms (taht's the FORCED catholic & their guilts istg) that soothe my nervous system(s) so i gotta be careful not to travel too far into the Pleasures of the Flesh.
i hast been burntout. i'm a liability. i have to set Hyperfixation on default rn bc of...stuff
I grew up in a mostly Catholic household but never really learned about Islam that much despite father being Turkish.
I have religious trauma, especially since around 2013 to 2014, linked to my OCD. I am currently doing ERP after "toughing it out" for so long.
Same here, it sucks. So I understand where you're coming from. Are you interested about learning about Islam? I'm just saying, because you mentioned it, do you have family from your father's side that isn't catholic? Maybe you can begin your search there, ofc this in context of assuming you are interested in the first place.
Ty for sharing with me, I have the catholic guilt still attached deep within my bones too. I'm happy in the sense that you could pinpoint part of what worsens your OCD, the ERP will def help with alleviating symptoms. It's gonna work out, I know it will, comrade. You can rest and you can breathe in safety now.
I have read the Qur'an but not the hadiths except maybe a few excerpts.
Also, my dad is literally a Kemalist and hates any Syrian, Qatari, Saudi, Lebanese, Omani, UAE, etc. immigrants to TΓΌrkiye.
He is not Catholic lol he is actually pretty atheist last I checked, even if the Ottoman aristocratic nobility that he ultimately hails from (no, I shit you not about that part lol) had at least ostensibly Muslim adherents.
My Mom is Catholic. She is Dominican. My family treats her like shit. ππ
Also, I only really "like" (or I guess am somewhat interested in again now) Catholicism due to Pope Frank and now Pope Leo (especially with what he wrote recently)... but honestly? Most Catholics, especially the born-again variety like J. D. Vance, really suck. Tbh, I did really like the baroque stuff and other aesthetics of Catholicism throughout the centuries... but that's because Protestant churches are so drab in comparison.
Also, Protestant churches have a big problem with not only pedophilia and sex pestery like the Catholic Church but also millennarianism too and other really bad apocalyptic belief systems, especially nowadays.
Tbh, I don't know what to think about the Catholic Church at this point, but honestly, I look at the Unitarian Universalist church near me and have even thought about attending some events to see what social clubs they have (which I feel like I should at le4do since I may never come back to Virginia).
They also tend to be leftwing or even kinda leftist depending on the area.
And I kinda think "Damn, kinda wish most churches were a bit more like that one."
But honestly, I am really anti-religion at this point.
I might actually prefer Khruschev's policy towards religion over Stalin's ngl ππ
And the religious trauma I experienced back in around 2013 or 2014 DURING EXAM WEEK MIND YOU honestly fucked me up more than even I seem to really know.
Filled me with dread, anxiety, raw fear, panic, etc.
Anyway...
I guess I should also say that my Mom is also kind-of a "New Age-y" lapsed Catholic and literally loves the Cathars lol
Ahhhh...
Yes...
Those damn Cathars...
At first, when you read about them in some history book, you're kinda like "Oh, very cool"
Then one of your friends, your Mom, someone you know, etc. can't shut up about them and you're all like:
"Girl, we don't even know that much about them!!" ππ
im just an atheist pagan now. the contradiction serves a purpose.
have you considered uuuuuuh, not needing a church?
yeah, i heard about atheist pagans
I am deeply interested in paganism now
especially since paganism never really dissappeared from 19th century or even 20th century Europe at all.
It's still there.
The Druidic order in England seems interesting
But honestly, the Turkish groups kinda fascinate me
That said
I agree on the church bit
but I do kinda want a "religion" or "spirituality" or whatever the fuck we call it now
just to experiment
nothing more
then u have a whole spectrum to research from, considering where you're from, where your mom is from, your roots wat you're looking to experiment with, what you "want/need" out of the practice, if u want community or doing your spirit work on ur own, etc i refuse to influence u, u gotta do the research urself, be wary of cults, use the marxist framework of "who benefits from this?" and does it align w ur marxism, stuff like that. i dont mix my knowledge on marxism w my spirituality just an fyi, i mean, could i? sure but there's alot of baggage around why i practice what i practice which uuuuh idk might be a liability to the path.
edit: wait actually, the marxist-leninist framework deeply influences my spiritual practices, not the other way around....so maybe...not a liability? who knows.
Oh kewl
Yeah, definitely be wary of cults, especially now.
Oh, and what is "spirit work"?
spiritual rituals tied to my practice <3
Oho kewl