Giving church a try...

[johnjohn320]

I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

Go to a Catholic Church, Catholic Girls are easy (if you can ignore their mustaches)

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

Communion is when the priest gives you the wafer representing the body of Christ and you put it in your mouth. Only baptized Catholics are allowed to take Communion, I believe.

 

[pulse8]

That's God-tastic!

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

Go to a Catholic Church, Catholic Girls are easy (if you can ignore their mustaches)

I don't know what church you go to... or are those the only kind of girls that go for you...

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

Go to a Catholic Church, Catholic Girls are easy (if you can ignore their mustaches)

I went to catholic school for 8 years (poor me). They are easy, and I'll be damned if I ever saw a moustache!

 

[sobriquet]

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

I've been considering the same course of action for a while. It's getting more likely on account of my girlfriend being devoutly Catholic. She says she's going to convert me eventually, so I'm going to end up in her church sometime. I'm not sure if I can ever really say I believe in the whole package, but at least I'll be able to participate in more of her life that I can now.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: boyRacer

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

Go to a Catholic Church, Catholic Girls are easy (if you can ignore their mustaches)

I don't know what church you go to... or are those the only kind of girls that go for you...

Got that from the Frank Zappa Song "Catholic Girls" He was actually talking about Italian Catholic Girls aka Gina's

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Encryptic

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

Communion is when the priest gives you the wafer representing the body of Christ and you put it in your mouth. Only baptized Catholics are allowed to take Communion, I believe.

Communion is differently percieved depending on the denomination that you're in. Catholics generally believe in transubstantiation instead of symbolism.

Anyhow, my recommendation if you're going to check out some churches is to not get caught up in the theological arguments (they're always there and there's plenty of time to look into them) and focus on the essentials of the faith. All true Christian churches should have those in common, no matter their other differences.

 

[phreakah]

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

I grew up going to Baptist church and have recently become agnostic. I'm 20, but became agnostic when I was about 18-19. Hope you find what's best for you...

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: boyRacer

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

Go to a Catholic Church, Catholic Girls are easy (if you can ignore their mustaches)

I don't know what church you go to... or are those the only kind of girls that go for you...

Got that from the Frank Zappa Song "Catholic Girls" He was actually talking about Italian Catholic Girls aka Gina's

Well the girls in my church are cute... but the song is right about the easy part... they don't have moustaches or anything but they also don't have their virginity...

 

[johnjohn320]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: boyRacer

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

Go to a Catholic Church, Catholic Girls are easy (if you can ignore their mustaches)

I don't know what church you go to... or are those the only kind of girls that go for you...

Got that from the Frank Zappa Song "Catholic Girls" He was actually talking about Italian Catholic Girls aka Gina's

Red, you like Zappa? Might god, the world will implode soon--we have something in common.:Q

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: johnjohn320

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: boyRacer

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: johnjohn320
I'm 17, and I've been agnostic for quite some time. When I say agnostic, I really mean it, I just have no idea what I believe and I'm open to almost anything. I went to a Lutheran church/school in my younger days (til I was 7 or so) but haven't been back since, and my family doesn't go to church.

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to accomplish, it's not like I'm expecting to walk in and just walk out all of a sudden believing something. I guess maybe I'm just seeing if I find any sort of enlightenment-and who knows maybe one of these denominations will strike a chord with me. I'm gonna go to a Lutheran church for awhile with one friend, then another friend is gonna take me to a Catholic church. I'm told I can participate in everything except communion (i'm not even really sure what that is).

Go to a Catholic Church, Catholic Girls are easy (if you can ignore their mustaches)

I don't know what church you go to... or are those the only kind of girls that go for you...

Got that from the Frank Zappa Song "Catholic Girls" He was actually talking about Italian Catholic Girls aka Gina's

Red, you like Zappa? Might god, the world will implode soon--we have something in common.:Q

Yeah. I actually saw him perform a few times while he was alive.

 

[BatmanNate]

Good luck to you. I grew up in a church, and in my later years with said church I was given a great deal of grief by the institution and its members for various and sundry differences in view. Having been through all that I have, I still don't understand the animosity of most those on this board toward religion. The people who gave me so much grief were hypocrites themselves, using the institution of religion as an excuse to relieve them of guilt and give them further means to accomplish a way of life that I could never be proud of, but it was just a bunch of corrupt people and a few that were in the wrong place at the wrong time so to speak. I have a hard time imagining what some of you must have experienced to have so much blind hatred toward religion in general. Some folks are happy that way. I'm an athiest myself, but I don't need to rain on your somebody else's parade to justify my point of view.

 

[Josh]

Good to hear man! Trust me; after not going to Church for a while then going it really makes you feel better and think. It's really good, if anything you will lose an hour that you were probably not doing anything anyway, it's worth it my friend.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
Good luck to you. I grew up in a church, and in my later years with said church I was given a great deal of grief by the institution and its members for various and sundry differences in view. Having been through all that I have, I still don't understand the animosity of most those on this board toward religion. The people who gave me so much grief were hypocrites themselves, using the institution of religion as an excuse to relieve them of guilt and give them further means to accomplish a way of life that I could never be proud of, but it was just a bunch of corrupt people and a few that were in the wrong place at the wrong time so to speak. I have a hard time imagining what some of you must of experience to have so much blind hatred toward it. I'm an athiest myself, but I don't need to rain on your somebody elses parade to justify my point of view.

I think you answered your own question about why people dislike religion so much when you said

The people who gave me so much grief were hypocrites themselves, using the institution of religion as an excuse to relieve them of guilt and give them further means to accomplish a way of life that I could never be proud of, but it was just a bunch of corrupt people and a few that were in the wrong place at the wrong time so to speak.

 

[Zedtom]

Everyone is on a quest for enlightenment in this crazy thing we call life. We are all looking for answers to all those great mysteries out there.

I've never found enlightenment within the confines of a building built by an organized religion. I'm sure many people have- and I respect their beliefs. My moments of greatest inspiration and happiness have occured in a variety of locations- sometimes alone, sometimes in the company of one other person, and sometimes with many people.

Good luck in your search for truth.

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: BatmanNate
Good luck to you. I grew up in a church, and in my later years with said church I was given a great deal of grief by the institution and its members for various and sundry differences in view. Having been through all that I have, I still don't understand the animosity of most those on this board toward religion. The people who gave me so much grief were hypocrites themselves, using the institution of religion as an excuse to relieve them of guilt and give them further means to accomplish a way of life that I could never be proud of, but it was just a bunch of corrupt people and a few that were in the wrong place at the wrong time so to speak. I have a hard time imagining what some of you must of experience to have so much blind hatred toward it. I'm an athiest myself, but I don't need to rain on your somebody elses parade to justify my point of view.

I think you answered your own question about why people dislike religion so much when you said

The people who gave me so much grief were hypocrites themselves, using the institution of religion as an excuse to relieve them of guilt and give them further means to accomplish a way of life that I could never be proud of, but it was just a bunch of corrupt people and a few that were in the wrong place at the wrong time so to speak.

I see where you're coming from, but my point was those people were not even representitive of the belief system they proclaimed. I have a dislike for people like that, but they're not only found in churches, but also in business and every other facet of everyday life.

 

[tweakmm]

Since you are searching, remember that Western culture isn't the only one with religion. You should really read some stuff on Zen and Taoism.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: tweakmm
Since you are searching, remember that Western culture isn't the only one with religion. You should really read some stuff on Zen and Taoism.

Though, strictly speaking, Buddhism refers to itself as a philosophy rather than a religion.

 

[johnjohn320]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: tweakmm
Since you are searching, remember that Western culture isn't the only one with religion. You should really read some stuff on Zen and Taoism.

Though, strictly speaking, Buddhism refers to itself as a philosophy rather than a religion.

Yeah, I was going to look into Buddhism and other eastern philosophies as well.

 

[LordRaiden]

WTF is wrong with you people? Is "getting it on with a cute girl" or "finding an easy girl" the only thing you care about in a church? Getting women??? If getting sex at a church is all you guys think about, you really need to get a life.

 

[skace]

Just run in and do what others do. When they sit, you sit. Thats what I did for like 9 years or whatever. Oh and when people sing, just sort of mumble it. And when they get up to recieve the wafer, you have to sit this one out I think. But just look around you, if no one else is sitting, you might as well join the line. Remember to cup your hand and say something like "thanks be to god".

If in doubt: say "amen".

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: tweakmm
Since you are searching, remember that Western culture isn't the only one with religion. You should really read some stuff on Zen and Taoism.

Though, strictly speaking, Buddhism refers to itself as a philosophy rather than a religion.

That depends on what type of Buddhism you are referring to, although Zen in perticular is the least religious of the Buddhisms.

 

[djheater]

If you are truly agnostic, you should be reading voraciously. God isn't going to come down from heaven to convert you. You will find spirituality only through your own actions.
Since you seem to be leaning toward Christianity I HIGHLY reccomend C.S.Lewis
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity