Priesthood

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My son became a Buddhist monk in Thailand.

He is happy there. If he had stayed here I don't know what he could have done to have a happy and fulfilled life.

Perhaps if I had known at his age I would have done the same thing.

I may become a pastor one day. Already I know for sure that I would like to do mission work.

Doesn't sound like you could get along with anyone even if you wanted to. I doubt AS has THAT much to do with it. I think what you suffer from is pretty much what most men and women in the religious upper priesthoods as well as any field playing favorites and that is an Infereriority Complex Disorder.

I can only say that from working in a job run by Catholic nuns, most adhere to the peking order of Mother Supiorority and frown upon anyone who is lower than their position...even if you ain't catholic nor a nun. Priesthood is pretty much the same thing. You have to take orders from your Alphas in order to do god's work.

Your best bet is to become a hermit or a lab scientist then again, you'll still have to get permission from your religious superior if you want to stay Catholic.

One of my cousins is in the process of becoming a priest. As a woman, there have been times when I've considered becoming a nun. However, there is a very big obstacle in that it would be very difficult for me to give up all of my earthly possessions, especially those related to my obsessions.

I'm a priest of my own religion (also a monk, prophet, messiah, demon, angel, etcetera, all wrapped in one), but I don't think that counts.

I don't like groups, especially groups of people.

Some very key parts of the religious life experience are humility, the ability to listen, and patience. These are the traits you will need if you choose parish life, and I would assume that the seminary is there to help you develop these traits, in addition to learning theology. I guess it depends on the order, but still.

Thin k about how you are approaching socializing, studying, everything. It can be very AS to basically push yourself out there without paying attention to the signs from the those you are pushing yourself against. Are you approaching at the right times? When they are open to it? Are you giving them space?

When discussing theology, are you giving respect to their opinions, or holding strongly to the sense that yours is right?

Basically, I'm sitting here imagining my son in a seminary setting and seeing how easily conflict would result. Seminary tends to attract two kinds: those who are naturally social and open, and those who are rigid. The former will make the better parish priest, IMHO, and the later will find it tough going.

I've heard dramatically different things about the atmosphere at the two seminaries in our area., so I think it would be difficult to universalize experience as being "seminary." Instead, I would look to your social skills, which are inherently problematic for an AS, and how that might be affecting your experience.

Suppose it's OK if you want to interfere with little boys if that's your thing...

But seriously, why would anyone want to? It's consigning yourself to a miserable, sexless life isn't it?

I wanted to be a priest when I was a little girl. Obviously I can't, because I'm female, but having thought about it, I'm pretty sure the bureaucracy of it would kill me pretty quickly. My mother's father was a Jesuit for 10 years, then dropped out (don't know why), and my mother's cousin entered an order for three days before discovering she was not cut out to be a nun. As my aunt puts it, nuns don't get to go skiing at Whistler whenever they want. She still lives a spiritual life, teaching physiotherapy in Nepal, but she's freelance rather than a member of an organization.

You need a vocation, plus the gifts of poverty (simplicity), chastity and obedience. In my family we appear to have a probem with obedience. But everyone's different.

I can see an ASD interfering with being able to get along in a bureaucracy like the Church, because of the social conformity required.

Could always become a nun?

Oh great, yeah, let's break out the 'priests are pedophiles' jokes.

Reeeeally mature of you.