NationStates Jolt Archive

This is aimed at anyone of any religion. I am curious as to what your particular worship service is like.

Is there music? Singing? Chanting?

Do you stand? Dance? Clap? Prostrate?

How long does a service usually last?

Are there sermons or teachings?

I am just wondering about the details of how various people worship!


For myself, my Christian worship service usually has about a 20-30 minute worship service. It involves contemporary christian music, so there is a band. They have a set of drums, a bass guitar, an acoustic, and an electric, as well as a keyboard and a violin. People are encouraged to sing, dance, clap. You can sit, stand, lay down. It's pretty much free to do what you want, as long as you are honoring Christ.

Now, on Sundays, after the main music stops, we then go into communion meditation, which involved soothing music, and the passing and taking of the Holy Sacraments. After that is the sermon, which is usually about 45 minutes long. And then finally we go into a final song or two, to meditate a bit on what was just said.

On our Wednesday services, its just about the same, except there is no time of communion, and after the sermon, we break off into about 10 to 12 groups and have a time of group discussion. We call them our small groups. Its basically working with the idea of discipling coming through personal relationship. And after all that is said and down, we usually have a time of fellowship at the local Taco Bell. We call it Taco Bellowship.

So that is what our worship services, for a non-denomination Christian Church, looks like. Feel free to give as many details about yours as you would like. Also, if you don't go to a worship service, you can partake in the dialog by discussing a service that you might have happened to visit once, or what type of service you would like to visit if you had a chance to.

Blessings,
Zilam :)

My life is my worship service. I honor and love my wife. I care for my children. I contribute my time every second Monday to entertaining sick children. I help organize fundraisers in my town for drug and alcohol-free graduation parties. I spend as much time as I can making people laugh and encouraging them to make others laugh. I show gratitude for every moment of my life in word and in deed.

This worship service will probably last my entire life. *nod*

And yes, there is frequent dancing though rarely to music. :)

This is aimed at anyone of any religion. I am curious as to what your particular worship service is like.

Is there music? Singing? Chanting?

Do you stand? Dance? Clap? Prostrate?

How long does a service usually last?

Are there sermons or teachings?

I am just wondering about the details of how various people worship!


For myself, my Christian worship service usually has about a 20-30 minute worship service. It involves contemporary christian music, so there is a band. They have a set of drums, a bass guitar, an acoustic, and an electric, as well as a keyboard and a violin. People are encouraged to sing, dance, clap. You can sit, stand, lay down. It's pretty much free to do what you want, as long as you are honoring Christ.

Now, on Sundays, after the main music stops, we then go into communion meditation, which involved soothing music, and the passing and taking of the Holy Sacraments. After that is the sermon, which is usually about 45 minutes long. And then finally we go into a final song or two, to meditate a bit on what was just said.

On our Wednesday services, its just about the same, except there is no time of communion, and after the sermon, we break off into about 10 to 12 groups and have a time of group discussion. We call them our small groups. Its basically working with the idea of discipling coming through personal relationship. And after all that is said and down, we usually have a time of fellowship at the local Taco Bell. We call it Taco Bellowship.

So that is what our worship services, for a non-denomination Christian Church, looks like. Feel free to give as many details about yours as you would like. Also, if you don't go to a worship service, you can partake in the dialog by discussing a service that you might have happened to visit once, or what type of service you would like to visit if you had a chance to.

Blessings,
Zilam :)

Dress is casual

Bring a Bible with you to a Pentecostal church service. A Bible will help you keep up during the sermon.

Be prepared to stand for awhile and to sing. Most people, even those who aren't religious, will probably find this part a lot of fun, because the audience is very excited, and the excitement is contagious. Praise and worship can last as long as an hour especially if it is a special service, such as Easter Sunday. During this time, you will be standing. Feel free to join in with other parishioners in clapping and singing and dancing. The music at a Pentecostal service will be far more upbeat than what you're used to hearing at your church. It can be contemporary Christian or gospel - our music pastor mixes it up. The singing often goes right into a prolonged period of prayer and praise (and sometimes, someone speaks in tongues)

The sermon lasts about an hour, and many people will take notes. You don't have to, but there it is.

If there is communion during the Pentecostal church service, feel free to partake in it. The Pentecostal church does not share the beliefs regarding communion of the Catholic or Orthodox church. Therefore, all parishioners are welcome. Most Pentecostal churches will simply pass out the bread and wine/grape juice through the pews. If you don't feel comfortable, you can simply set the communion down. We do communion once a month.

At the end of the service, the pastor invites parishioners to walk to the altar for prayer. This usually starts as a long prayer by him at the end of the sermon, leading to him asking that anyone who is troubled, or perhaps is willing to take that first step to find Jesus, can come up front.

I can say one thing - compared to most other services in different churches, synagogues, and temples I've been to, this is WARM and FRIENDLY and you can tell that everyone is very, very spiritually excited.

traditionally it has always followed that on payday I march down to the local and pray that nobody notices I left work early

I always leave with the warm glow of someone who is happy with life.

I help organize fundraisers in my town for drug and alcohol-free graduation parties.

heathen!

Now, on Sundays, after the main music stops, we then go into communion meditation, which involved soothing music, and the passing and taking of the Holy Sacraments.

so its a bit like pre-school? :p

My life is my worship service. I honor and love my wife. I care for my children. I contribute my time every second Monday to entertaining sick children. I help organize fundraisers in my town for drug and alcohol-free graduation parties. I spend as much time as I can making people laugh and encouraging them to make others laugh. I show gratitude for every moment of my life in word and in deed.

This worship service will probably last my entire life. *nod*

And yes, there is frequent dancing though rarely to music. :)

Good. You know its funny, because your post zinged me there. The other day I was making a point to someone on another forum that worship is a 24/7 thing, at least in the Christian sense. But yes, I try to live my life as a worship service. I was simplifying it down in this thread so I could include people of other faiths, and those who don't know much about worship, because I don't know if they think of life as a service of worship, or if they limit it to an actual time.

Mormon services:

These meetings are held in our chapels and anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of religion or beliefs.

We open with a prayer and a hymn, after which there may be announcements to the congregation. After this, the bread and water for the Sacrament are passed. Following that we hear from two speakers (chosen during the week from the members of the congregation, so yeah it could be anyone) and then close with a hymn and a prayer. This last about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes.

Next, we go to Sunday School. Different people go to different classes, like the kids have their own Sunday School, new members get one where they learn the basics, and there's an Advanced Gospel Doctrine class. There are also miscellaneous meetings during that time like a class for those preparing to go to the Temple, etc. This lasts about an hour.

Last, the kids continue their Sunday School activities while the men go to the Priesthood quorum of which they're a part, and the ladies to to their Relief Society meeting. This is about an hour.

So yah, the whole thing is 3 hours.

There is music at all services I attend - Jewish prayers are traditionally sung by the cantor and congregation.

The siddur has precise instructions on when to stand (for any important prayers - the shema, the amidah, the presentation of the Torah, kaddish).

The duration depends on the service. Morning prayers (selichah) last about 45 minutes. Mincha is over in 10. Shabbat or holiday services go over an hour. The general rule is that speed is proportional to strictness - the more observant the congregation, the faster the service.

Sermons are not normal for weekday services. On Monday, Thursday, and on Shabbat, the Torah is read. Shabbat and holiday services sometimes have sermons. Ironically, the Reform tend to be more into sermons than the Orthodox.

Most interesting are Orthodox services on Friday afternoon (just before Shabbat). The rabbi will speak on the week's section of the Talmud, and focus on a particular question (for instance, are non-Jews obligated to give charity). Then, he will invite the congregation to pose answers. I once answered that while non-Jews are not obligated, the Noachide laws (which everybody has to follow) would encourage values that would influence non-Jews to give charity solely out of the kindness of their hearts. The rabbi then explained that this position - which I had thought of on my own - was held by Maimonides, one of the most respected Jewish sages.

This is aimed at anyone of any religion. I am curious as to what your particular worship service is like.

Is there music? Singing? Chanting?

Do you stand? Dance? Clap? Prostrate?

How long does a service usually last?

Are there sermons or teachings?

I am just wondering about the details of how various people worship!

I worship that which comes in 440ml cans from the fridge.

Music occurs often, but singing is frowned upon.

Worshippers may stand, sit or lie prostrate. Dancing is usually reserved until late in proceedings.

The service lasts until the worshippers are unable to continue.

Worshippers are encouraged to impart their wisdom throughout the service and learning through expereince is heavily encouraged.

Every morning. I go to the upstairs back room of my house. I stare out the window. I look at Pike's Peak illuminated by the early morning sun. I look at the stand of trees behind my house, if I'm lucky a deer will wander by. I watch and listen to the birds. I walk to my bedroom in the front of the house and look out the window at a sweeping view of northern Colorado Springs, with a distant view of the Air Force Academy Chapel. I go downstairs, open the front door and take several deep breaths of pine-scented air. I thank whatever it was that brought me here for bringing me here.

It's not in a church, no one else is involved, and it may not be worship, but it is profound gratitude for being where I am and having the capacity to appreciate it.

Good. You know its funny, because your post zinged me there. The other day I was making a point to someone on another forum that worship is a 24/7 thing, at least in the Christian sense. But yes, I try to live my life as a worship service. I was simplifying it down in this thread so I could include people of other faiths, and those who don't know much about worship, because I don't know if they think of life as a service of worship, or if they limit it to an actual time.

No zings intended. I was just voicing that I feel closer to Christ outside church than inside it.

No zings intended.

No, I know that. It just hit me that way. God has a way of bringing things to light through what is said by others.

I was just voicing that I feel closer to Christ outside church than inside it.
I hear that, for sure.

heathen!

Kids need to learn how to be wild and crazy without the assistance of drugs and alcohol because they won't always be around. *nod*

Oh you know us atheists, we worship our load and screensaver Darkins through the nailing of crackers.

I consider myself an Atheist, but I was raised attending Catholic churches (even though both my parents are Atheists). I still have no idea what goes on inside church. Lots of little random bells ringing that make people stand up, sit down, sing, all without instruction. Never really understood any of it. Though, it has been thirteen years since I stepped foot in one (when I was 8).

As the goddess of chocolate and sex, I decreed services to last until everybody feels slightly sick but cannot stop smiling.
I don't encourage singing and chanting, but hey, whatever rocks your boat.
Prostrates are allowed only for men.

Before I go to sleep each night, I ask for peace and joy for the people I love, I say/think a few meditations or verses (including part of the prayer to St. Francis), and then I meditate on and send metta (loving kindness) to those people that I feel particularly need it that day, or that I've been thinking of.

The meditations/verses I say/think:

May all beings everywhere, with whom we are inseparably interconnected, be awakened, fulfilled and free. May there be peace in this world, and throughout the entire universe, and may we all together complete the spiritual journey.


May I be at peace, may my heart remain open, may I awaken to the light of my true nature. May I be healed, and may I be a source of healing for others.


Grant that I shall not seek so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand all, to be loved as to love with all my heart.

Being non-religious, I only ever attend services to listen to the music or sing it (being in a chapel choir). These are Evensong, an occasional sung Mass, and Compline.

Sometimes I feel like I really should be religious, it would make rather a lot of sense considering how much I love sacred vocal music. Although, if it was written for another purpose I would still enjoy it as much; it's only that so much good stuff has been written for the church.

Back when I was still jewish, we had the standard boring stuff responsible for Rip Van Winkle's 20-year nap.

This is aimed at anyone of any religion. I am curious as to what your particular worship service is like.

Anglo-Catholic

Is there music? Yes
Singing? Yes
Chanting? Yes

Do you stand? Yes
Dance? No
Clap? No
Prostrate? Once a year, during Ash Wednesday, at the Veneration of the Cross

How long does a service usually last? 1 1/2 hours

Are there sermons or teachings? Yes

This is aimed at anyone of any religion. I am curious as to what your particular worship service is like.


Since the largest Egyptian recon religious ceremony I've attend included, at a rough guess, three people, this limits some of the things that would otherwise be done. These ceremonies are not first and foremost for the benefit of the participants (that's what celebrations are for), but of the god. As such, there is no congregation, only those attending to the god being honoured.

What I describe is "personal" religion, as distinct from "state" religion, for which the ceremonies are vastly more protracted. It's equivalent to visiting a village church as opposed to a cathedral. In either case, however, there isn't a congregation, and as such no teachings or sermons.

The shrine is approached and opened. If there are multiple participants, there is invariably music. A single person may also provide it as recorded music, though this is less common. Either way, music is good. A hymn of greeting and reverence is made bowed or prostrated, and the ground in front of the image of the god (statue), or the base upon which he or she stands is kissed. Incense is burnt, and the image is perfumed and anointed with oil. Often, lamps or candles candles are lit, though this is not universal, and shrines are usually kept fairly dark.

Then, bowed or prostrated, offerings are presented, in an offering bowl or table, and another hymn is said. If it is a private ceremony with a request or thanks, the hymn may be a personal one, or even a simple dialogue saying whatever it is you want to say.

The end is similar to the beginning, as one prostrates themself, kisses the ground before the image with some words of parting and the shrine is closed, and you leave backward, sweeping the floor where you walked as you go.

As a very rough rule, this takes half an hour, and is generally performed daily, unless there is a celebration, in which case a different service is carried out.

Only one person will approach and interact with the image, and the others, if they are present, will assist, providing the music and generally assisting with incense, oils, offerings and perfumes, though that's heading more into the realms of state religion, which also involves song and dance. What I've described is a basic rule that applies to most private shrines. However, different gods have different exact desires.

The other day I was making a point to someone on another forum that worship is a 24/7 thing, at least in the Christian sense. But yes, I try to live my life as a worship service.

As for "life as worship". I agree. In many ways it is. I try to live a life that adheres in as many areas as possible to the ethics laid out (indirectly, due to it's nature) by my religion, and many areas of my life also have a distinct religious aspect.

Hooray for another Anglican I see up a bit!

I'm a High Church Anglican, not quite an Anglo-Catholic, although I would be quite interested in going along to an Anglo-Catholic service. I am a convert, and was originally drawn to the Religion because of the depth of theology as well as the strongly ritualised service.

It's pretty much exactly like what Nicea Sancta said except without any prostrating during Ash Wednesday and Veneration services... oh and the services only last an hour.

I'm counting the posts until some anti-religious flamer jumps in

I attend Catholic services.

There is a prayer, a few hymns are sung, there are some readings one from a section of the bible and then one from one of the four gospels depending on what year it is, the priest will have a sermon, sometimes it is related to the gospel reading it has never been about how bad we are and going to hell as some people seem to think. We then have communion (the bells for the person who mentioned it do indicate the end of a section during the communion process, but does not mean we sit down or stand up when they ring) A short prayer is then said and that is the end of the service, there may be coffee and cakes afterward or every now and then bacon and eggs are cooked up which we pay for with all money raised going to charity.

There are some hymns sung, some church's or services may have a band playing which adds a bit of razz to the hymn.

The whole thing lasts about 45-50 minutes.

I do remember one priest who for the early morning service there were no hymns and the sermon was short (he once said a sermon shouldn't go for longer than 3 minutes because people lose interest and forget what your main point i) and that would only last 20-25 minutes.

There was another priest who for the Saturday evening mass service would usually only take 30-40 minutes because he wanted to get inside and settled so he could watch Saturday night football.

I noticed Zilam mentioned a few services and my interpretation is that he attends all of them in the same week, I mentioned a few but pretty much everyone would only attend one service.

Is there music? Singing? Chanting? Music and singing.

Do you stand? Dance? Clap? Prostrate? Stand, sit, and kneel, depending on what part of the service you're in.

How long does a service usually last? Typically, an hour. Shorter in summer (un-air conditioned building not nice), longer for special occasions (Weddings, Funerals, Communions, Baptisms, Christmas and Easter services)

Are there sermons or teachings? Yep, sermons, and also readings/teachings, as well as communal prayer with call and response.

Back when I was still jewish, we had the standard boring stuff responsible for Rip Van Winkle's 20-year nap.

Out of interest, and at the risk of a threadjack, what's the position of the Jewish religion on those who "lapse" or convert to another faith?

IIRC, they let them walk away peacefully.

Which could explain why there are only fourteen million (or something) jews today.

As a Pastarfarian at the service I attend monthly we sacrifice a vrigin to the Flying Spageti Monster, before circling the body chanting for a several hours. We then go to the pub to watch the footie and have a pint.

Hooray for another Anglican I see up a bit!

I'm a High Church Anglican, not quite an Anglo-Catholic, although I would be quite interested in going along to an Anglo-Catholic service. I am a convert, and was originally drawn to the Religion because of the depth of theology as well as the strongly ritualised service.

It's pretty much exactly like what Nicea Sancta said except without any prostrating during Ash Wednesday and Veneration services... oh and the services only last an hour.

I'm counting the posts until some anti-religious flamer jumps in

I call myself an Anglo-Catholic because I live in the U.S. and need to differentiate from the predominant Episcopal Church, which still claims to be a member of the Anglican Communion. My church has left the national church, due to the rash of heresy and heterodoxy I'm sure you've heard about, and is now affiliated with the Southern CONE, the province of most of South America, which maintains the true Catholic faith of the Anglican Communion. Since I left the Episcopal Church, I've seen just how much is really lacking in that province.
As far as the prostrating is concerned, I think that's probably a parish-by-parish decision. Don't know how prevalent it is.

Out of interest, and at the risk of a threadjack, what's the position of the Jewish religion on those who "lapse" or convert to another faith?

None really. As far as the Jewish faith is concerned, if you don't want to be a part, they don't want you there. The whole idea behind Jewish conversion, and conversion away from Judaism, is the basic belief that a true Jew is a Jew from birth, and is always a Jew. In the eyes of the Jewish faith, someone who converts to Judaism was always a Jew, he just might not have known it until later in life. On the other hand, someone who converts away from Judaism never really was.

Every Sunday I wake up at 2 PM and then come on NSG. Does that count?

I am a catholic convert.

You all know what we do.

None really. As far as the Jewish faith is concerned, if you don't want to be a part, they don't want you there. The whole idea behind Jewish conversion, and conversion away from Judaism, is the basic belief that a true Jew is a Jew from birth, and is always a Jew. In the eyes of the Jewish faith, someone who converts to Judaism was always a Jew, he just might not have known it until later in life. On the other hand, someone who converts away from Judaism never really was.

The way it was always presented to me (in regards to someone leaving the faith) is that you can't. By which I mean you can stop going to temple, renounce your Judaism, and never do something Jewish again, but from the eyes of the entire Jewish world, you are still a Jew. They have a special word for it, I think apostate, but don't quote me on it...I'll check if anybody is really interested.
So far as converting others to Judaism, actively trying to convert others is against Jewish law, and if somebody does want to convert, they are rejected three times before they are accepted, to make sure there reasons are pure.

To the OP:

As a conservative Jew, we have about four hour services. They have an organ and a choir, but that is it; we don't believe in having many more instruments. It isn't so much singing (though it is easy to call it that at reform temples) as chanting, and occasionally we clap. Lots of bowing and whatnot during the prayers. We do have sermons/teachings, and I am happy to say that our rabbi is an excellent speaker, to the point that he can make stories and lessons come alive.
And because we are Jewish, we of course have food waiting for after the services. :D

*Note that this is only for Saturday morning. We have different types of services during the week, friday night, and saturday night.

I don't attend regular church services and I do agree with LG on life itself being an exercise in worship.

But when I do attend church services, I prefer services with a praise band where everyone is invited to sing, clap, whatever. Hymns are ok, and I do enjoy them, but they aren't the same. I feel closer to God in that sort of joyous, less formal setting.

And, while there certainly have been sermons that I've enjoyed and taken to heart (this depends heavily on the preacher), I tend to prefer discussions to lectures. I feel that I can learn more and get closer to the truth through that medium than simply by listening to one person voicing her own opinion. Maybe that's why I always liked Sunday School as a child more than services. It was still more of a lecture at that level, but I could at least interact and ask questions.

The way it was always presented to me (in regards to someone leaving the faith) is that you can't. By which I mean you can stop going to temple, renounce your Judaism, and never do something Jewish again, but from the eyes of the entire Jewish world, you are still a Jew. They have a special word for it, I think apostate, but don't quote me on it...I'll check if anybody is really interested.

Apostacy is the act of renouncing ones faith. As for the idea as I always understood it as judaism, it requires the faithful to respect the dicisions. If one does not wish to be jewish, he should be allowed to make his choice, but should be welcomed back to the temple at any time. Although one is "jewish", even though he may not in any way act jewish, one is still free to leave the tmple, and enter a new faith, that's what I meant.

In other words, if someone leaves the tmple, his decision to leave is respected. He may be free to return at any time, and may still be welcome into the faith, but he should not be bothered to return if he does not want to.

Apostacy is the act of renouncing ones faith. As for the idea as I always understood it as judaism, it requires the faithful to respect the dicisions. If one does not wish to be jewish, he should be allowed to make his choice, but should be welcomed back to the temple at any time. Although one is "jewish", even though he may not in any way act jewish, one is still free to leave the tmple, and enter a new faith, that's what I meant.

In other words, if someone leaves the tmple, his decision to leave is respected. He may be free to return at any time, and may still be welcome into the faith, but he should not be bothered to return if he does not want to.

Ok, thanks for clearing that up for me. You just saved me from cracking open the talmud. phew.

First, we get a goat to sacrifice. Then we get a bunch of people because the goat doesn't have hands so it takes him awhile to sacrifice someone properly. Then we eat pretzels.

Thanks for the info on Judaism, all.

The way it was always presented to me (in regards to someone leaving the faith) is that you can't. By which I mean you can stop going to temple, renounce your Judaism, and never do something Jewish again, but from the eyes of the entire Jewish world, you are still a Jew....


This is what I thought was the situation, but wasn't sure. I sounds as if different branches of the religion have different takes on it, which is understandable enough.

Either way, sounds pretty laid back comparing to leaving Islam :rolleyes:

well baha'is say a bunch of prayrs and pass arround and read from the sacred writings. myself, i put a glass of water for my invisible furry freinds in my tokonoma to make them feel welcome, you know, with the bowing a coulple of time and stuff, like i read on the net somewhere about shinto.

baha'is have, write, kind of like baha'i folk songs. the're not like hmns or anything as such, but its fairly common to sing them during the social portion at feast.

(if you've ever listened to seals and crofts, that's what the're ACTUALLY singing about, but with their more popular stuff that they did, you'd have to know the references in the writings to catch it)

the other thing about baha'i (the para-shinto thing has absolutely nothing to do with baha'i btw, just something that feels good and right to me, as do my spirit allies i've known all my life), is you don't have to renounce anything to join and you don't have to renounce anything to become inactive. signing your declaration card just means you accept that baha'u'llah was who he said he was and had some idea what he was talking about. personally i never could buy into the idea of anything having to be infallable, so maybe in that way i never should have, but i was encouraged to do so anyway, and i can't say as i have any real regrets about it. but i do see now, i don't see belief as the major part of what the healing of this world needs, more like clear vision and self honesty, though i still think faith and love of faith is a good thing, as long as it is universal and encompassing like baha'i is.

Ahh for me, it's the singing, and the free curry afterwards!:D

Thanks for the info on Judaism, all.



This is what I thought was the situation, but wasn't sure. I sounds as if different branches of the religion have different takes on it, which is understandable enough.

Either way, sounds pretty laid back comparing to leaving Islam :rolleyes:


Have you ever heard the joke two jews, three opinions? :tongue:
And how do you leave Islam?

Have you ever heard the joke two jews, three opinions? :tongue:
And how do you leave Islam?

Well, you buy a coffin, because apostasy is punishable by death.

Not that getting killed is a guarantee (except in some countries), but it's written.

My "Worship Service" Consists of me Turning off my electronics (Very hard for a nerd like me:D) and kneeling down in my now quiet room, and praying for a few minutes.

Have you ever heard the joke two Jews, three opinions? :tongue:

I have now ;)

And how do you leave Islam?

It's more difficult on a personal level, as the family and the community take it personally. It's very much a "slap in the face" to them. They try to talk you out of it. My family asked me to see both the imam of the mosque and village (well, town) elders as well. It was pretty trying emotionally, tears and pleading all around. Pleas to consider the family, the community, the afterlife, God etc.

Some even said I was crazy and should see a doctor... That's quite a common response. There is a lot of peer pressure, and that's the main reason why you get a lot of lapsed Muslims, but relatively few will adopt another religion, even another one of the religions "of the book" (Abrahamic), let alone what they consider "Idolatry"

Well, you buy a coffin, because apostasy is punishable by death.

Not that getting killed is a guarantee (except in some countries), but it's written.

Just like if you leave Christianity they hole you up in some weird cult house and force you to commit suicide.

There is no love lost between me and the religion of Islam, but just because I do agree with it's theology, does not mean I will engage in trashing it's reputation and black propaganda. It is a valid religion and the overwhelming majority of it's people are peaceful. I was never physically threatened by my family, friends or anyone else when I left the religion.

A few people are, however, and that is true of every single religion.