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OceanCityGirl wrote:I am a former catholic. The feeling that I was being hypocritical over issues like birth control made me decide to leave. My first daughter was baptized in a catholic church. My sons were not. I have a hyper catholic mother who goes to church 8 days per week. She believes my children and I are condemned to hell because we don't receive communion from a catholic priest. And yet she goes to church every day because she isn't sure of her future after death.
You don't need to earn God's love.

See, I agree with you completely! My grandma and mom-in-law feel wonder why I don't go church...like you and I say, too hypocritical. If I could find something like you attend, I'd go. I have even considered Judaism...but I like Christmas.

I just want to say how thankful and humbling this response as been. I have read and will continue to read and pray over these responses and I have learn much from each of you. That being said, not being a person who would ask someone to do something that he wouldn't do himself, I want to share my own views of the Church.

I grew up in a small rural Church of Christ and this church was "hellfire and damnation" and every Sunday I would leave (now I was just a kid) fearing God's eternal punishment and so after a while we stopped going. Another thing about that church is I never felt welcome, people would always give me dirty looks, I think because I had been going there for a while and had not been baptized.

So anyway most of my teens I never went to church, even on Christmas and Easter, but I never lost my sense of God and Jesus has always been my homeboy. When I was 18 I started attending youth group at my friend's United Methodist church and after a while I tried my hand at a church service. I was amazed and I was hooked. I was in a positive atmosphere and was welcomed with open arms, something I had never experienced at church. The next year I was baptized as a Methodist and here I am today.

Church for me is about rejuvination and most importantly about worship. I leave church recharged and ready to face another week. I have a community that I can laugh and cut up with and a community that I can get serious and even cry with. I have people that hold me accountable and I able to keep my eyes on the prize so to speak.

I believe the Church is the body of Christ. We are the hands, feet, eyes,a nd ears of Christ and it is our responsibility to spread "the GOOD NEWS" to all the world. In this we are called to love our everyone as we love ourselves. The Church should be an active voice of justice and peace in the world. But most importantly the Church should be like Christ. People should be able to tell I am a Christian not because I have a "I Heart Jesus " t-shirt or a fish on my car, but because of my words and my deeds, and I feel that is true evangelism.

Once again thank you all for sharing and if anyone wants to talk to me about these things please feel free. I am always ready to engage in "God-talk".

isn't it ironic that people who believe in an invisiable man in the sky are considered spiritual and people of faith but people who believe in spaceships are considered nutjobs

I'm not buying what your selling

phjrsaunt wrote:Just an obsevation: I see a common thread in these posts, to which I will add my own stitch (trying to have a "thread" analogy, work with me! )
Small, community churches seem to be....what's the word I want....not "preferred"....but where people find more comfort and sense of belonging? Still not sure I have the right words.

"Large" churches seem to make people feel farther away from their God, and like they just want money to "feed the machine."

It's much like that in businesses and community groups as well when you think about it. I guess it's part of the dynamic of organizations.

I belonged to small AND large Presbyterian congregations in my youth, up through college. At the large "uptown" congregation we belonged to in my teens, it seemed like everyone was there to impress everyone else. There was point where the church decided they just HAD TO HAVE a set of handbells so they could have a handbell choir to travel and impress other churches. You would be AMAZED how much a decent set of handbells cost! I remember my parents (and I) were pretty disgusted that that much money would be spent on what considered "froo froo crap," although we didn't actually call it that. Shortly after that, our beloved minister passed away, and his replacement had ZERO charisma.

The small congregations to which I belonged always made me feel like I counted. I get warm fuzzies thinking about it. The preacher took care of his flock. When a family member was ill, he was there to help. When a baby was born, there was a dedication ceremony, not just a Baptism. The congregation came together and dedicated themselves to nurture the child as he grew up.

All I can say is that when the preacher doesn't know your name, it doesn't tend to make you feel like he can really "minister" to you.

You hit the nail on the head! When we lived in a HUGE CITY and went to a church with 2500+ members, we were totally lost. Where we live now, the whole congragation is 150. Therefore, when people need and extra hug or prayer, they get it. My Mom had surgery 2 days ago. Our preach has come by more than once. Lots of church friends stopped by and I've been up there 3 or more time a day. When the kids (her grandbabies and the lights of her life) come (mostly in the evening trip I make) She sits up and talks like she's fine. All these have helped in her attitude and in turn, her recovery.

Church is very important to me. I feel like some of the people there are not just other members. They are truely my family. My kids really enjoy Sunday school and it's abnormal for us to miss.

Wow Religion.....

I was born and babtized into both the Lutheran and Catholic churches. And grew up in probably 50 other denominations. A couple of the things that I have noticed over the years have shaped my beliefs and views are as follows.

Religion is personal. Many many many times people are in church to be seen. I believe that church is not a social event, instead it should be a time of personal reflection.

I have believed in God my entire life. Why do I have to experience an Epiphany before I am truely a christian. Evangelical styles drive me crazy. I am not at church to come out feeling worse. Some good friends of my family have been on a mission to South America for the last 15 years. Their eldest son is struggling right now with his beliefs because he already believes in God, but has yet to have a moment where he "Can see the light"

I grew up in an interesting religious situation, most of my family is baptized catholic, I went to a catholic school, was dragged to church for many years before mom realized it was not worth the effort. Part of my extended family, that were straight off the boat from Ireland were somewhat closet (some were, some weren't) druids, and I was taught that as well. I was taught acceptance and openness from them. I was not taught that so much in the catholic environment (school and church, not family - they have always been very supporting and open).

Everything said, I find more spirituality, warmth, and love in Thanksgiving dinner than I ever have in any church I've attended, but that's strictly my opinion.

I have certain religious beliefs, but I have always preferred not to discuss them with others.

Worship and faith should be personal things.

CaptainP wrote:I have certain religious beliefs, but I have always preferred not to discuss them with others.

Worship and faith should be personal things.

Couldn't agree more. I live right across the street from a JC of LDS church. I don't judge, but don't come knocking on my door. When I say I have a religion, go away, don't question me...drives me nuts.

UAHparrothead wrote:...and Jesus has always been my homeboy.

sorry, this phrase just made me giggle!

Thanks for sharing, and having us share!

Chez Hoy wrote: I live right across the street from a JC of LDS church..

Small world....me, too.
but then again....you can't twirl a cat without hitting one here.
They are an ambitious bunch.....but after twenty years here, they've given up on me....

pbans wrote:

Chez Hoy wrote: I live right across the street from a JC of LDS church..

Small world....me, too.
but then again....you can't twirl a cat without hitting one here.
They are an ambitious bunch.....but after twenty years here, they've given up on me....

I just don't answer the door...lol. Well, maybe when they wake me up in the morning, I should just answer the door in my birthday suit...that'll keep 'em from coming back (wait, let me think about that one...okay, it wil because I was nude, not ugly...lol).

My opinion on church?

I don't attend, my wife doesn't attend and our children don't attend any church.

I wouldn't feel right about it because I don't believe in God as presented by organized religion. IMHO too many organized religions reflect the patriarchal institutions of the cultures which gave them birth, and this has cause no end of problems for the last two thousand years or so.

I also sometimes think that SOME people who attend church believe they have been given a FREE PASS to behave as they wish the rest of the week.

I really do think that a lot of the folks who are part of organized religion have done a lot of good for humanity, on both a large and small scale, and for this I am thankful. I think the common thread among them is that they leave the judgements to GOD.

I am a spiritual person, I think the universe is an amazing and mysterious place, and I try to live by what most Christians would recognize as Christian precepts, but I don't think God as presented in the bible exists. The universe may have a creator, and we may know more about this after this life, but I don't think the God of the Christian bible is that creator. I don't think I'm alone in this.

Like others here, I don't want to offend, but your question deserves honesty.

Good luck in your new vocation!

flyboy55 wrote:
Like others here, I don't want to offend, but your question deserves honesty.

Good luck in your new vocation!

And honesty is what I want, thank you

I think church is a good thing. Besides the God aspect, I think its a good time and place for fellowship, etc.

I don't regulary attend church. I have attended several different churches though. If a friend or family member asks me to accompany them to church, and I think I can wake up early, I'll go with them. It doesnt matter what denomination it is.

The only thing that annoys me about churches is the salesman-like attitude that the officials sometimes present.

Burny Charles wrote: The only thing that annoys me about churches is the salesman-like attitude that the officials sometimes present.

I don't mean to offend anyone but here this reminds me of one of my favorite quotes...

"In the ***** Department, a businessman can't hold a candle to a clergyman.
'Cause I gotta tell you the truth, folks. When it comes to *****,
big-time, major league *****, you have to stand in awe of the all-time
champion of false promises and exaggerated claims, religion"

-Carlin

I am glad religion in the US doesn't cause problems like it does overseas. Church and State are supposed to be two separate issues. That's why we have these stupid wars, because they can't separate the two.

Hi My names Farsidecobbph,and I'm a Christian!!

I believe in a total seperation of church and state.

I am also troubled that the church has used politics in their opposition to stem cell research.

I appreciate all of your responses and how everyone has shared something that is deeply personsal. I want to shift the conversation a bit, but if you still want to go with the original question that's great.

My new question is how would you make improvements to the church? or What would your ideal church be? What I am looking for is "constructive" criticism. Thank you all again.

UAHparrothead,

I have a question for you if you don't mind. What do you think of "preachers" like Rod Parsley? Rod Parsley is associated with the World Harvest Church in Columbus, Ohio.