Do You Go To Church

I was brought up in church as a child-unexpected and tragic things happened to my family when I was six years old and I had to move to a new environment. Because of that I was not able to go to church regularly. As I have grown older I feel this overwhelming feeling that there is something missing in my life. People say that God is in your heart and your mind and that you don't have to attend church to know God I'm looking for a church home now. I said all of this to ask your feelings about attending church and God in general? Sorry for the long post

No, I do not attend church. I have no desire to. I have no desire to be around people who cry holy holy and then go out into the world and treat their fellow man like garbage.

Stymie said:

nurseV said:

Stymie said:

No, I do not attend church. I have no desire to. I have no desire to be around people who cry holy holy and then go out into the world and treat their fellow man like garbage.

That is a big part of the reason why I have stayed away from church so long I have seen it in action to many times-people sitting up in church acting the role and then going out into the world and doing other wise. But I am ashamed of feeling that way because we are supposed to be there for God not for other people

Stymie said:

nurseV said:

That is a big part of the reason why I have stayed away from church so long I have seen it in action to many times-people sitting up in church acting the role and then going out into the world and doing other wise. But I am ashamed of feeling that way because we are supposed to be there for God not for other people

We are also to be there for fellowship but how can I do that when the people are too busy talking about each other and other crap?

I have been fine in my own private relationship with God. I don't need man messing that up for me.

Church will not fill the void if you have such an overwhelming feeling that something is missing in your life. Do something positive that you enjoy - get a hobby, volunteer to help those more needy, study to better yourself, hit a few social networks and make new friend, learn to play a musical intrument...The list is endless.

You dont have to find meaning in theocracy - find it in something that will ACTUALLY benefit you and those around you. All of the above take effort and its easier to sit in a hall with like minded people every week while someone reads from ancient texts. Trust me, this will not help. Do yourself a favour and live life!

yxl1 said:

Stymie said:

i tried going to a UU church for a while a few summers back. it was cool - the people were nice and i really appreciated the progressive/inclusive vibe - but I still felt out of place. I'm just not into singing the hymns and making the way I recognize my spirituality into some kind of communal activity. It's great for the people who get something from it, but I think "worship" is something I do best in solitude, and my UU experiences just reminded me of that.

once in a great while i attend a quaker meeting. but for the most part i don't go to church at all.

the goddess/god can hear me just fine when i give thanks in a meadow somewhere

Anxiety said:

XxAxX said:

once in a great while i attend a quaker meeting. but for the most part i don't go to church at all.

the goddess/god can hear me just fine when i give thanks in a meadow somewhere

Personally, I prefer the Christian Fellowships or the non-denominational churches, they seem to get away from the our doctrine is the right way, and everybody elses doctrine is completely wrong attitude. There are some beautiful sincere people mixed in with "weeds", they seem hard to find sometimes, but when you find them it is so worth it.

nurseV said:

I was brought up in church as a child-unexpected and tragic things happened to my family when I was six years old and I had to move to a new environment. Because of that I was not able to go to church regularly. As I have grown older I feel this overwhelming feeling that there is something missing in my life. People say that God is in your heart and your mind and that you don't have to attend church to know God I'm looking for a church home now. I said all of this to ask your feelings about attending church and God in general? Sorry for the long post

nurseV said:

Anxiety said:

i tried going to a UU church for a while a few summers back. it was cool - the people were nice and i really appreciated the progressive/inclusive vibe - but I still felt out of place. I'm just not into singing the hymns and making the way I recognize my spirituality into some kind of communal activity. It's great for the people who get something from it, but I think "worship" is something I do best in solitude, and my UU experiences just reminded me of that.

Do you think you felt out of place because of "something" within or you just didn't like the atmosphere? I know I have had felt like I wasn't ready to be there

nurseV said:

Stymie said:

No, I do not attend church. I have no desire to. I have no desire to be around people who cry holy holy and then go out into the world and treat their fellow man like garbage.

That is a big part of the reason why I have stayed away from church so long I have seen it in action to many times-people sitting up in church acting the role and then going out into the world and doing other wise. But I am ashamed of feeling that way because we are supposed to be there for God not for other people

You don't need directions and you don't need cash. From your Jimmy Choos to your Ultralash. ~ Prince
And when the groove is dead and gone, you know that Love survives so we can rock FOREVER. ~ RIP MJ

XxAxX said:

once in a great while i attend a quaker meeting. but for the most part i don't go to church at all.

the goddess/god can hear me just fine when i give thanks in a meadow somewhere

Look in this and follow it:

yes I do and it's great.
Church is a powerful transit for reflection, community interaction and listening.
I recommend it to most people.

JDODSONandFlashpointe said:

Look in this and follow it:

The last time I went to church was when I was in the ninth grade. That was 1981.

RC, baby. I was even on my Parish Council for one hot second.

Presently looking for a new church. My experiences at my last church were hit-or-miss. I learned a lot about ministry, but I'm a bit burnt out from the co-dependency-fostering dynamics there.

That experience has yielded a bit of a struggle for me sometimes, to not grow jaded with the institution just because of the mess I've seen. Because I've seen a lot of good in church, not to mention doctor-verified miracles.

So, I'm trying to keep Hebrews 10:23-25 in mind, these days, especially before football season rolls around...

Hebrews 10:
23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I grew up going to church. Why I don't go anymore covers a few bases, but it's not all that complicated.

From my experience, all church really amounts to is a bunch of people dragging themselves out of bed Sunday morning to a place few of them want to be, to sit around in uncomfortable pews with people they can't be bothered to talk to but will waste no time in talking about, to go through the motions of reading old poems out of a book or The Book and call it praying, and sing songs they neither understand nor appreciate and call it praise.

At this church in particular, there was a very staunch old guard very much set in their ways about liturgical matters. Any suggestions or ideas for change in the service style were shot down without consideration. I know this from experience as I once belonged to the Youth Group. When asked directly for suggestions on how to make the service and church in general more appealing, we were told our ideas were too radical and might upset the older members of the congregation who were used to things being done their way.

Think this was some conservative, evangelical church? Think again. It was one of the United Church of Canada -our nation's second most left-leaning denomination.


On the other hand, I suppose church can provide a sense of community for some. Though I don't quite understand how that's lacking in other relationships like work, school, family, or friends.

The United Church does a lot of good work, in spite of it's sometimes peculiarly backwards ways. They're one of the more socially active churches, and are often at the forefront of social justice actions and movements, the clergy and lay people often being spotted at protests and volunteer-focused movements. Theologically, they've got a pretty open interpretation of Biblical matters, which has led many with more conservative leanings to denounce them as not a "real" church or not "true" Christians. Whatever. I know in this town at least, it's not the so-called true Christians I see working for social change or doing, well, anything for anyone but themselves.

I used to go to church on average twice a week, but after I had my second child, I was just too tired to get up on Sundays and go and I had to just forget about Wednesday night service, no way. I never stopped going altogether though. I still go to Saturday/Sunday services, but not regularly. In fact, now that my kids are older, there is no reason for me not to go more often.

To those who don't go to church because of the people, remember that we should go because of Jesus. Don't get hung up on the bad behavior of some, keep your eyes on the Prize (Jesus).

Also, church attendance is needed if for nothing else than keeping us grounded in the Word. It's easy to get off track with our understanding.
[Edited 5/20/08 18:16pm]

meow85 said:

tmo1965 said:

I go to church, until they try to control what I do, then I stop going and then I find another church.

I attend much less now. I prefer to read the Bible myself. From time to time I select a different religion and attend one of their services. I suppose I'm still looking for a church home. The main church that I attend is good, but the last couple times I went, the Pastor wasn't there and the substitutes weren't very good. I'ts important for me to hear the word and specifically it's practical application to life, now. The other ministers revert to talking about what you shouldn't do rather than what you should do. Turns me off.