NationStates Jolt Archive

And why do you go to church? I go because partly I'm pressured to go by my fundamentalist parents(2 more months before I head out for college!), and because it's a great place for a relaxing nap. I'm agnostic btw.

I pray, but I haven't gone to Mass in nearly six years. I don't see the reason to go through the motions anymore, especially since I have such problems with what the Church stands for, willingly or not, in my mind.

I do, also as a sort of agnostic, because I find some of the preachers to be very wise people. If more people listened to them on social issues, we'd be a lot better off.

Of course, we don't have that sensationalist nonsense as much over here. Our pastors are calm, thoughtful and open, even with their staunch belief, they've given serious consideration to the issues of their faith and come out of them all the stronger.

While I don't agree with some of the conclusions they have arrived at, it is a genuine pleasure to hear them put their cases forward.

Is it just me or are there more religious threads around than there usually are?
I don't go to church (or equivalent), I used to go once a year because my mom wanted me to but then I moved out a couple of years ago and I haven't set foot in a church ever since.

i want to go to church most sundays but unfortunately i always manage to sleep in and miss the later mass. i still manage to go, though, on special religious occasions

Nope. Last time I went was ages ago, for some horrible easter service.

No.

I go to 'equivalent' - my religion is one of total and utter disinterest and apathy, and every day, I spend most, if not all, of my time totally disinterested about the whole thing. I find it's possible to do this absolutely anywhere.

my parents make me go to church every week since i was really young. I guess i am just use to it now, it is not that bad. BUt i would really like to sleep on Sundays! I mean I swim every single morning from 5:30-10:30, :headbang: and Sunday is the only day I don't have it. Ugh it would be so much easier if I didn't have to go, so I can totally relate to not wanting to go!!
~meg~

Nope.

i go to church every sunday i can. i go coz im a christian and i want 2 c my friends.

** B4 ne1 starts, i know u can b a christian and not go 2 church. My fiance's family r like that. **

And why do you go to church? I go because partly I'm pressured to go by my fundamentalist parents(2 more months before I head out for college!), and because it's a great place for a relaxing nap. I'm agnostic btw.

No, I don't go to church and I haven't had to put up with such nonsense for more than 30 years now. But since you have no choice, you might want to make use of your time there by highlighting all the bad stuff in the bible, keeping at it until there are no bibles left unmarked. It's what I would do if I were being forced to attend church, at any rate. Matthew 10:34-36, Luke 12:49-53, and Luke 14:26 are some of my favorite New Testament passages to mark. In the Old Testament, I highlight pretty much all of chapter 19 in the book of Genesis. But since I don't go to church, my activities are limited to making notes in the Gideon's bibles in the hotel rooms where I stay. And I'll keep at it until they quit shoving their damned religion down everyone's throats. If I wanted to read a bible in a hotel room - or any other religion's holy book, for that matter - I'd damned well bring one with me!

i tend to enjoy the warm embrace of my bed, sunday morning till about 2 in the afternoon instead.

I'm not religious but I have an equivalent. Everyone needs to believe in something so I believe I'll have another pint! My church is the pub! :p

No.

But I do go into churches/temples/mosques (where permitted) to look at the architecture and religious art when I am travelling.

i go to church every sunday i can. i go coz im a christian and i want 2 c my friends.

** B4 ne1 starts, i know u can b a christian and not go 2 church. My fiance's family r like that. **

In case you weren't aware of this, it is also possible to be Christian and use the English language when posting here.

I don't deny that the preachings of people at the head of the congragation are wise, and often founded on the basis of love and humanity, but the ideals that bring about a church: obligance to god, guilt and forceful oganisation insult me.

No god that created the wonders of the universe from a flower to a galaxy denies the love that exists in humanity and a god that realises all that should realise that they do not require responsbility on the peoples part to worship, because, i believe an omipresent god should value the progress of humanity and love over that of church. It infuriates me that people feel obligated by their religious oganisations teachings to attend chuch under the pretence of acceptance into the realm of heaven. But what angers me more is that billions of people never question their belifes to find what is good for them, when they could start by asking, Does a god with inifinte love for all life value me more because i attend a material location, or is it possible that i can better myself through enacting the teachings rather than listening to them?

I prefer not to be bound by a doctrine of existance, and would rather see spirituality as part of our experience, rather than something which can be enacted or materially valued. I guess in that way i am agnostic.

It doesnt matter what you believe in, as long as you believe - Chris Rock

I'm not religious but I have an equivalent. Everyone needs to believe in something so I believe I'll have another pint! My church is the pub! :p
Damn Straight! TO THE PUB!

Anyway. No I do not go to church, and havent in over 2 years (When my parents finally stopped dragging me in)

In case you weren't aware of this, it is also possible to be Christian and use the English language when posting here.

im going 2 choose to ignore u as this is blatent flaming. plz keep 2 topic and the method of my use of txt is my choice.

im going 2 choose to ignore u as this is blatent flaming. plz keep 2 topic and the method of my use of txt is my choice.

Actually I think you'll find most people would rather you didn't write like that. I don't care much myself, but I would hardly say his comments constitute flaming.

Damn Straight! TO THE PUB!

Anyway. No I do not go to church, and havent in over 2 years (When my parents finally stopped dragging me in)


i know the feeling! it took my mom years before finally letting me stay away from her money-grabbing church. lol, now even she doesn't go.

Church? No. I do, however, go to the Mosque as often as I can and at least every Friday.

Our whole family goes to Church weekly (family being me, my wife and two children).

We also attend Sunday school more often than not.

Christians can be perfectly good Christians without ever going to Church. However, that's not a very Christ like mentality. People of faith that never go to church fail to either learn more of their faith with the support of others more experienced than themselves, AND they are less likely to be exposed to other points of view regarding their faith. In addition to that, they are selfishly denying their experiences to less advanced people of their faith that could be inspired from their example if they would share it by attending and volunteering their time at their Church.

Many people who have stopped going to Church but still call themselves Christians are less likely to understand and remember 'why' they believe what they believe and 'why' they should share the faith with others…

Without worship there is a void in the spiritual life of a Christian. Especially in the ones that deny the importance of worshiping as a group the most, the young adult Christians who think they are old enough to not need it anymore, they have misunderstood the reasons, the point of it, and have forgotten that they are both valuable to the Church as much as the Church should be valuable to them.

I try to go every week. During the school year I'll usually go to church or church activities 4 times a week including Sunday.

On another note, does anyone have any ideas for making my sister go (she won't go unless my parents do)?

No, because it has no benefit. I do things like volunteer or just help others on Sundays instead of sitting there listening to someone else talk about how good it is to do these things.

No, I don't go to church and I haven't had to put up with such nonsense for more than 30 years now. But since you have no choice, you might want to make use of your time there by highlighting all the bad stuff in the bible, keeping at it until there are no bibles left unmarked. It's what I would do if I were being forced to attend church, at any rate. Matthew 10:34-36, Luke 12:49-53, and Luke 14:26 are some of my favorite New Testament passages to mark. In the Old Testament, I highlight pretty much all of chapter 19 in the book of Genesis. But since I don't go to church, my activities are limited to making notes in the Gideon's bibles in the hotel rooms where I stay. And I'll keep at it until they quit shoving their damned religion down everyone's throats. If I wanted to read a bible in a hotel room - or any other religion's holy book, for that matter - I'd damned well bring one with me!

You sound like a barrel of fun. Are you always smiles? I pity someone as angry as you.

You sound like a barrel of fun. Are you always smiles? I pity someone as angry as you.
I can't say he sounds that angry...maybe because I agree with him. Does that make me angry too?
Besides - never underestimate the wonders of having a Bible in your hotel room. Ok, it may not be the softest of paper, but in the middle of the night, what else are you going to do when you run out of bog roll?

I stand in the woods rain or well... rain mostly (this is the UK) 8 times a years and pay my respects to the earth and realign myself to the season.
Church is where YOU find it.

Oh, then we go to the pub.

i began attending church about 2 years ago on a consistant basis. Not because i was a christian but rather just to here the pastor speak, he is still one of the best public speakers I've ever seen. At that time i guess i would have been and agnostic, but over time I gradually became a Christian, being baptized about 8 months ago. Now i attend church every chance i get for the same reason, i have never been forced to go but once (the first time).