Hey, if I can't talk about it, I must not be too committed to my belief in it, eh?

I'm Episcopalian, born, baptized, confirmed, and raised. I love the liturgy, the beauty in both the words and the surroundings. In high school, I would make the crass joke that I was "Catholic lite", because the experience was much the same, except that our bishopric did not terminate with the Pope, and confession was not a sacrament.

I don't love the recent controversy about gay marriage, and the schism it's apparently caused. I am so proud every time I hear that one of our priests or bishops took the risk of marrying an unorthodox couple.

Not comparing people to animals, but how can someone be comfortable with our St. Francis' saint day tradition of blessing our pets at the altar, but be appalled at two loving people standing before God and their fellow congregants at that same altar and taking vows relating to that bond? I can walk our iguana up the aisle on a leash to be blessed, but my friend cannot stand where Morph creeps and receive a sacrament? I don't get it.

So, I'm an Episcopalian according to the following description:
I'm not "high church" (the people who want all as it's been, and don't attend any fanciful church event as a rule--pets' blessing, the Shrove Tuesday pancake supper; liturgy is strictly Rite 1 from the Book of Common Prayer). I support gay marriages in our church. I cried with happiness when I found out that our new Presiding Bishop (head of the church in the US) is a Book of Thomas, lift a stone or split a piece of wood, He's there.
I believe all faiths based upon some version of what's known as the "Golden Rule" are paths to God, which, yes, includes Islam. I was taught in confirmation class that my church's official response to many questions is "We don't know"--Is the Bible the divine word of God? Is it infalliable? We don't know.
I believe my witness to others is my behavior and my happiness. I don't believe in witnessing by approaching others--that's invasive, in my opinion.
I don't believe God smotes anyone, or sends anyone to hell. I believe hell is created by we people, and it's separation from the holy, from the spiritual side of yourself and the world around you.

Basically, take a hippie-dippy open-minded person who just wants to care for others without stepping on anyone's toes, mix in the images that come to mind concerning the Catholic Church's liturgy, architecture, and art...and shake vigorously. :D

I hope this wasn't too rambly.If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me. You can also check out the online Visitors' Center. If I've offended anyone, please expect my heartfelt apologies--and please tell me, so that I can learn from that mistake, and hopefully remedy it.