DEAR ABBY: I recently had a child and would like to join a church for the community, moral messages and the music. I grew up going to one and got a lot out of it.
However, exploration throughout my 20s made me realize that I didn't believe what was being taught. I tried hard to accept the doctrines, but truthfully, I doubt I ever will. Would it be dishonest to start attending again? -- NEW MOM IN ARKANSAS
DEAR NEW MOM: Many people consider themselves to be more "spiritual" than "religious." And I'm willing to bet that in many congregations there is a range in the intensity of belief among the attendees. I encourage you to select a denomination with which you feel most comfortable. Some -- like the Unitarian Universalist faith (www.uua.org) -- have no dogma or creed and support their members in following their own spiritual paths.
Incidentally, some of my own advice regarding plastics was recently featured in the column.
