Attended church for the first time yesterday!

[Farang]

mind if i do a j

 

[CKent]

I had a similar experience, though I didn't seek it out... in high school I went to Florida for a week with my friend and his family on vacation. I had / have no particular aversion to church or religion, though it isn't what I believe, so I got dragged along to their Sunday mass. It was kinda freaky how the entire congregation would say the same thing all at once when I wasn't expecting it, just the priest droning on and on and then a chorus of "and peace be with him" or "amen" or whatever. The cashbasket being passed around didn't escape my attention, nor did the size of the building, its great condition or the fact it was located on prime real estate.

The freaky part of the experience was the look my friend's grandmother gave me when we were done and on our way out. I think she thought I had been "saved", she had this glassy-eyed smile on her face not unlike the look I see from people who are high or drunk.

It was the first time I'd been to a church since I was a little kid (6-7) so it was almost like a new experience. Not one I'm inclined to repeat, though it wasn't horrible or anything.

 

[Nik]

I'm convinced that churchy people's heroic and undying attempts to justify god and the bible are so strong because, at a fundemental level, each time they defend/advocate god/the bible, they are trying to prove to themselves that they really truly buy that steaming pile of shit, while some tiny part of their being, repressed deep down inside, knows the truth that it's all a lie, and that they don't buy it at all.


OP, I recommend you stop your search, it's a waste of time.

True.

 

[SKORPI0]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

 

[mrkun]

As many non-denominational groups have grown and spread their core beliefs, approach, and culture, along with a hierarchy of authority thru new churches/church plants, they actually have become denominations imo, whether they like to market it that way or not.

Yeah, "non-denominational" is a euphemism for evangelical Protestant.

 

[totalnoob]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

Thank you for finally acknowledging the one true God.

 

[AreaCode707]

Yeah, "non-denominational" is a euphemism for evangelical Protestant.

Pretty much. Non-denominational simply means they don't report in to any authority hierarchy or formally agree to a shared set of values and beliefs with other churches. While I know a few liturgical churches that are technically non-denom based on their lack of authority structure, they still identify as "Anglican" or "Lutheran" or whatever, despite the fact that they aren't part of those denominations, because to them it means a worship style and adherence to (usually a timebound) that denomination's interpretation of scripture.

 

[tcsenter]

Yeah, "non-denominational" is a euphemism for evangelical Protestant.

Ehh...no. Like I said, it depends on the culture of the community. A non-denom church in an evangelical Protestant community is going to be evangelical Protestant. A non-denom church elsewhere may be completely different.

 

[Analog]

I applaud you for going. I think we need more open minded people like you, it would serve our tolerance if we all did something like this.

Question though - are you trying to find a religion that fits, or are you just curious in a platonic way?

 

[meltdown75]

I applaud you for going. I think we need more open minded people like you, it would serve our tolerance if we all did something like this.

Question though - are you trying to find a religion that fits, or are you just curious in a platonic way?

:thumbsup:

 

[Analog]

BTW, here is the ultimate Christian Thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=12649

 

[alfa147x]

Everyone knows that the only way to choose a religion is by how much you enjoy the services.

I'm not looking for a religion...

 

[alfa147x]

I'm a Catholic and will say it will heavily depend on where you go. For instance, the priest on a school campus is probably going to be a little bit more laid back than at the church in some neighborhood full of senior citizens. I'm guessing thats true for most religions though.

I really want to go to the Cathedral of St John-Baptist in Savannah, GA
but the problem is that I don't know anyone who is Catholic, would this be a problem?

 

[alfa147x]

I'm convinced that churchy people's heroic and undying attempts to justify god and the bible are so strong because, at a fundemental level, each time they defend/advocate god/the bible, they are trying to prove to themselves that they really truly buy that steaming pile of shit, while some tiny part of their being, repressed deep down inside, knows the truth that it's all a lie, and that they don't buy it at all.


OP, I recommend you stop your search, it's a waste of time.

I'm not searching for a religion.

 

[alfa147x]

It looks to me like you're visiting other religious services out of interest, not out of faith-seeking, so my post is written in that mien.

If your goal is to experience some diverse worship styles, you should attempt to try:

- an evangelical modern-style service (basically what you already tried at the Baptist church) These usually include "modern" music (1970s to now), how-to style sermons, communion every couple of weeks, and many elements that are meant to be seeker-friendly.

- a liturgical traditional-style service (some Catholic churches will offer this, others will have a liturgical service that is more modern in style; do a little online research beforehand. Traditional services are often offered earlier in the day and are mostly attended by older people.) These are usually more structured, with printed historic prayers, more ritual like candles, robes, hymns and an organ, organized scripture reading, communion every week and shorter sermons. An Episcopal church would offer a similar experience.

- an orthodox-style service (Eastern/Russian/Greek etc service.) I don't have as much experience with this style but it's a bit different; the Greek Orthodox church I visited had people standing and people shifted around (and came and went0, there was a lot of chanted scripture, lots of images of saints, and the experience was more centered around worship than than teaching, especially in contrast to the evangelical style of service where it's very much about teaching.

Lots of churches these days are borrowing a page from the evangelical model because of the evangelical growth that occurred over the last 50 years, not realizing that the generation that model appealed most to is pretty much past. If don't want to walk into a Catholic service that feels much like the Baptist service, definitely look for a service advertised as traditional and be willing to go earlier in the morning.

I've attended lots of different churches and found something of value, and things to dislike, in all of them. I'm currently attending a liturgical church that incorporates more traditional than modern elements (and when they try to do modern stuff they do it so badly I cringe...)

Thanks a lot! I'll take note of this for future visits

 

[alfa147x]

After going back and reading the responses in this thread, I don't get why people are so worked up about the OP attending a religious service. He's clearly not seeking a new faith and isn't out there because he's considering becoming a Christian, he's just trying to expand his horizons and know firsthand how other people live and what they experience. What's the big effing deal? Are you guys that freaked out about religion that anyone whose butt touches a pew for any reason is instantly an idiot? At the very worst the OP knows something about the life of others that he didn't know before, and the only cost was an hour or two of his time, a price he seems fine with even if it's not something any of you would ever want to do.

FINALLY!

also i would like to note that i prefer more traditional religions

 

[alfa147x]

I applaud you for going. I think we need more open minded people like you, it would serve our tolerance if we all did something like this.

Question though - are you trying to find a religion that fits, or are you just curious in a platonic way?

Hahaha thanks!
I'm curious in a platonic way

 

[alfa147x]

Also I was glad that I was able to start a new trend in the ATOT

 

[alfa147x]

I had / have no particular aversion to church or religion, though it isn't what I believe, so I got dragged along to their Sunday mass. It was kinda freaky how the entire congregation would say the same thing all at once when I wasn't expecting it, just the priest droning on and on and then a chorus of "and peace be with him" or "amen" or whatever.

This is exactly my experience with going to Catholic Mass. Most of my childhood friends were Catholic, as well as my grandmother, so I've been to Mass maybe 10 times in my life. There is no signal to say anything, but somehow everyone else in the room knows when to speak, what to say, how to move, etc. It's very weird for the uninitiated...
btw, this is alfa147x's girlfriend

 

[AreaCode707]

I really want to go to the Cathedral of St John-Baptist in Savannah, GA
but the problem is that I don't know anyone who is Catholic, would this be a problem?

No, not at all. You will be welcome in the service regardless. Catholics do closed communion (meaning that they only give communion if you are a baptized member of the Catholic church) so if you do decide to go up to the rail (and you by no means are required to do so), cross your arms across your chest, hands on your shoulders, to indicate that you only wish to receive a blessing.

Based on their website they're doing hymns, not modern worship music, so you probably will like that better than your last church visit. They also do a Latin mass which is an interesting experience. The entire service is done in Latin instead of English. Not sure if that would be something you'd want to sit through or not.

 

[AreaCode707]

This is exactly my experience with going to Catholic Mass. Most of my childhood friends were Catholic, as well as my grandmother, so I've been to Mass maybe 10 times in my life. There is no signal to say anything, but somehow everyone else in the room knows when to speak, what to say, how to move, etc. It's very weird for the uninitiated...
btw, this is alfa147x's girlfriend

There actually usually is a printed version of the service, which is how people learned what to say when. Look for the book in the pew holders that isn't a Bible and isn't a hymnal/songbook. In the Episcopal church this is called the Book of Common Prayer. Not sure how it would be labeled in a Roman Catholic church.

 

[lxskllr]

Go to a Quaker meeting. Quakers are the most Christian, of any of the Christians imo. It'll also be very different from the other churches. Low key, and plain.

 

[AreaCode707]

Go to a Quaker meeting. Quakers are the most Christian, of any of the Christians imo. It'll also be very different from the other churches. Low key, and plain.

Are Mennonite services similar? I've never attended at either a Quaker meeting or a Mennonite service.

 

[zerocool84]

Seriously do NOT go to any Orthodox church at all. Super rigged and super structured and long as hell. I didn't not like any I went to and yes Catholic church sucks just as bad. Hell at least many of the Baptist churches are fun. Church should be fun and should make it enjoyable to go to church. Not just sit there and be quiet the whole time.

 

[AreaCode707]

Seriously do NOT go to any Orthodox church at all. Super rigged and super structured and long as hell. I didn't not like any I went to and yes Catholic church sucks just as bad. Hell at least many of the Baptist churches are fun. Church should be fun and should make it enjoyable to go to church. Not just sit there and be quiet the whole time.

Different strokes for different folks. OP has indicated a preference for traditional services, and is just checking out what different denominations are like.