Will you being going to church on Sunday?

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: randomint
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
Originally posted by: ryan256
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
I will be going to church on sunday with my grandma and two great aunts.
I normally do not go to church anymore but they cannot drive so i offered to take them. It makes me sad to be in church beacause of the crap the preist spews... always asking for more money or talking about we should fear God... It truly annoys me and that is why i stopped going to church.
When i go there, i want to feel uplifted, happy and loved, not scared because my spiteful God wants to reign terror upon his own children.

Maybe you should try looking around at other churches. I'm sure thats not the only one in your area. You shouldn't turn your back on God just because you don't like how one preacher gives his message.

EDIT: Oh... and since I'm in the choir that would be yes and yes.

I have thought about trying new churches/religions. I hate to say i am bashing the Catholic faith because i am really not. I still pray very often, saying the rosary, the Our Father, etc. I still believe in a lot of what most Catholics believe, however there are certain things that bug me that i do not agree with The Church upon. I stopped going to confession because i wondered why do i need a priest to listen to my sins when i can "speak to God" directly and ask for his forgiveness on my own?

Eventhough the movie Dogma was just that... a movie, it had some great points to it... when The Muse says something along the lines of "most people mourn their religion instead of celebrating them." and that is very true to me.
we sound like we've went down the same path with questioning some of the church's teachings.

i am to the point where my attitude is i get what i want out of my religion and i don't have to agree with all of the teachings to be a part of my church community.

the Catholic church doesn't agree with infertility treatments, and i disagree with that especially after having a friend go through it. the Catholic church teaches that homosexuality is a sin. i disagree with that, and there are other things.
i won't be excommunicated for disagreeing with some of the teachings. although i do agree with most of the church doctrine or i wouldn't be a member.

then it's not really religion you follow, just a bunch of personal beliefs because really what you are doing is pick and choose. i'm just saying.
i am picking and choosing, and yet i still feel a comfort staying where i am. i have spoken to a priest about my feelings, and while he tried to explain the church's stance i still have my own opinions.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
Originally posted by: ryan256
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
I will be going to church on sunday with my grandma and two great aunts.
I normally do not go to church anymore but they cannot drive so i offered to take them. It makes me sad to be in church beacause of the crap the preist spews... always asking for more money or talking about we should fear God... It truly annoys me and that is why i stopped going to church.
When i go there, i want to feel uplifted, happy and loved, not scared because my spiteful God wants to reign terror upon his own children.

Maybe you should try looking around at other churches. I'm sure thats not the only one in your area. You shouldn't turn your back on God just because you don't like how one preacher gives his message.

EDIT: Oh... and since I'm in the choir that would be yes and yes.

I have thought about trying new churches/religions. I hate to say i am bashing the Catholic faith because i am really not. I still pray very often, saying the rosary, the Our Father, etc. I still believe in a lot of what most Catholics believe, however there are certain things that bug me that i do not agree with The Church upon. I stopped going to confession because i wondered why do i need a priest to listen to my sins when i can "speak to God" directly and ask for his forgiveness on my own?

Eventhough the movie Dogma was just that... a movie, it had some great points to it... when The Muse says something along the lines of "most people mourn their religion instead of celebrating them." and that is very true to me.
we sound like we've went down the same path with questioning some of the church's teachings.

i am to the point where my attitude is i get what i want out of my religion and i don't have to agree with all of the teachings to be a part of my church community.

the Catholic church doesn't agree with infertility treatments, and i disagree with that especially after having a friend go through it. the Catholic church teaches that homosexuality is a sin. i disagree with that, and there are other things.
i won't be excommunicated for disagreeing with some of the teachings. although i do agree with most of the church doctrine or i wouldn't be a member.

EVERYTHING you just said is EXACTLY how I feel... the fertility thing, Birth control, homosexuality... all of it is exactly how i feel. And, i think i will start thinking as you do and will return to church. If/when my husband and i have a child, i want to raise them going to church experiencing religion and then when they get older, they can make the choice to continue or not... but at least they will have had the experience of religion/faith.

Out of curiosity, will you be teaching your children other religions as well? By that I don't mean they have to go to temple or the mosque with frequency, but will you expose them to other faiths?

That's not a rhetorical question, but perhaps it's better suited to another thread. I've given this a lot of thought over the years as well, and still not certain what I'll do once I have children.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: Pacemaker
IMO, having been raised Lutheran (now agnostic) priests/pastors should help you interpret the teachings of the bible. After all they devote their life to it they should have more insight into what individual passages mean and how they interrelate to one another.

The priests/pastors I can't stand are the ones who do nothing but tell you to get the message out and that they need money for x. Especially when the only insight into religion they can give is "accept Jesus into your heart" or some cliché like that.

I don't know if it's a Lutheran thing or not, but I actually liked that my pastor would actually try to explain parts of the bible that are typically misunderstood. I don't know if his interpretation was 100% accurate, but at least he tried to give you some insight that you couldn't get yourself just by reading the bible.

I too was raised Lutheran, but I went to a Southern Baptist Church for quite some time as well. I would agree with what you said, but I don't know if that's unique to Lutherans or not. I can say that most Lutherans I know seem to take a more rational approach to their faith and seem more passive in their desire for others to believe the same.

imo.
 

49erinnc

Platinum Member
Feb 10, 2004
2,095
0
0
My SO and I are going to my mother's church with her and then out to lunch, with a stop by the graveyard to chat with my grandmother for a bit before coming back home.
 

randomint

Banned
Sep 16, 2006
693
1
0
Originally posted by: moshquerade
who isn't afraid of hell? :confused:

those who don't believe in it

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
I'm not afraid of "hell".

It can't be worse than "life"on this earth.

Oh, an no I won't be going to and "church".

how can it be not worse than anything you can imagine. it's supposed to be / defined as the worst thing you can possibly imagine and more.
 
L

Lola

Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
Originally posted by: ryan256
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
I will be going to church on sunday with my grandma and two great aunts.
I normally do not go to church anymore but they cannot drive so i offered to take them. It makes me sad to be in church beacause of the crap the preist spews... always asking for more money or talking about we should fear God... It truly annoys me and that is why i stopped going to church.
When i go there, i want to feel uplifted, happy and loved, not scared because my spiteful God wants to reign terror upon his own children.

Maybe you should try looking around at other churches. I'm sure thats not the only one in your area. You shouldn't turn your back on God just because you don't like how one preacher gives his message.

EDIT: Oh... and since I'm in the choir that would be yes and yes.

I have thought about trying new churches/religions. I hate to say i am bashing the Catholic faith because i am really not. I still pray very often, saying the rosary, the Our Father, etc. I still believe in a lot of what most Catholics believe, however there are certain things that bug me that i do not agree with The Church upon. I stopped going to confession because i wondered why do i need a priest to listen to my sins when i can "speak to God" directly and ask for his forgiveness on my own?

Eventhough the movie Dogma was just that... a movie, it had some great points to it... when The Muse says something along the lines of "most people mourn their religion instead of celebrating them." and that is very true to me.
we sound like we've went down the same path with questioning some of the church's teachings.

i am to the point where my attitude is i get what i want out of my religion and i don't have to agree with all of the teachings to be a part of my church community.

the Catholic church doesn't agree with infertility treatments, and i disagree with that especially after having a friend go through it. the Catholic church teaches that homosexuality is a sin. i disagree with that, and there are other things.
i won't be excommunicated for disagreeing with some of the teachings. although i do agree with most of the church doctrine or i wouldn't be a member.

EVERYTHING you just said is EXACTLY how I feel... the fertility thing, Birth control, homosexuality... all of it is exactly how i feel. And, i think i will start thinking as you do and will return to church. If/when my husband and i have a child, i want to raise them going to church experiencing religion and then when they get older, they can make the choice to continue or not... but at least they will have had the experience of religion/faith.

Out of curiosity, will you be teaching your children other religions as well? By that I don't mean they have to go to temple or the mosque with frequency, but will you expose them to other faiths?

That's not a rhetorical question, but perhaps it's better suited to another thread. I've given this a lot of thought over the years as well, and still not certain what I'll do once I have children.

To be honest, i hope to instill a very good tolerance for them in accepting all religions and to realize that eventhough they/I/we might believe one thing, and someone else may not, that does not necessarily make the other person wrong and them right. I have read books on Taoism, buddhism, etc and accept that no one religion is right or better.
I also hope that in raising them they will have the ability to be independent thinkers and to question what they feel necessary and to come to their own decisions and understanding.
 

markgm

Diamond Member
Aug 23, 2001
3,291
2
81
I respect a view like moshquerade's. I know myself there are standards I don't live up to, but that doesn't mean I should give up religion altogether, for that's one of the reasons I go to church in the first place. The point of Mass isn't for me, it's for me to give thanks to God. It's nice that one of the side effects are it makes me feel better in general.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
Originally posted by: ryan256
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
I will be going to church on sunday with my grandma and two great aunts.
I normally do not go to church anymore but they cannot drive so i offered to take them. It makes me sad to be in church beacause of the crap the preist spews... always asking for more money or talking about we should fear God... It truly annoys me and that is why i stopped going to church.
When i go there, i want to feel uplifted, happy and loved, not scared because my spiteful God wants to reign terror upon his own children.

Maybe you should try looking around at other churches. I'm sure thats not the only one in your area. You shouldn't turn your back on God just because you don't like how one preacher gives his message.

EDIT: Oh... and since I'm in the choir that would be yes and yes.

I have thought about trying new churches/religions. I hate to say i am bashing the Catholic faith because i am really not. I still pray very often, saying the rosary, the Our Father, etc. I still believe in a lot of what most Catholics believe, however there are certain things that bug me that i do not agree with The Church upon. I stopped going to confession because i wondered why do i need a priest to listen to my sins when i can "speak to God" directly and ask for his forgiveness on my own?

Eventhough the movie Dogma was just that... a movie, it had some great points to it... when The Muse says something along the lines of "most people mourn their religion instead of celebrating them." and that is very true to me.
we sound like we've went down the same path with questioning some of the church's teachings.

i am to the point where my attitude is i get what i want out of my religion and i don't have to agree with all of the teachings to be a part of my church community.

the Catholic church doesn't agree with infertility treatments, and i disagree with that especially after having a friend go through it. the Catholic church teaches that homosexuality is a sin. i disagree with that, and there are other things.
i won't be excommunicated for disagreeing with some of the teachings. although i do agree with most of the church doctrine or i wouldn't be a member.

EVERYTHING you just said is EXACTLY how I feel... the fertility thing, Birth control, homosexuality... all of it is exactly how i feel. And, i think i will start thinking as you do and will return to church. If/when my husband and i have a child, i want to raise them going to church experiencing religion and then when they get older, they can make the choice to continue or not... but at least they will have had the experience of religion/faith.

Out of curiosity, will you be teaching your children other religions as well? By that I don't mean they have to go to temple or the mosque with frequency, but will you expose them to other faiths?

That's not a rhetorical question, but perhaps it's better suited to another thread. I've given this a lot of thought over the years as well, and still not certain what I'll do once I have children.

To be honest, i hope to instill a very good tolerance for them in accepting all religions and to realize that eventhough they/I/we might believe one thing, and someone else may not, that does not necessarily make the other person wrong and them right. I have read books on Taoism, buddhism, etc and accept that no one religion is right or better.
I also hope that in raising them they will have the ability to be independent thinkers and to question what they feel necessary and to come to their own decisions and understanding.

Sounds good, thanks. I share similar thoughts on the matter.
 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
No and No. I go to Christmas (eve) mass on years when I am home at my parents' for the holiday, but it's really a "my mother wants to go to church and I don't mind spending an hour for her sake" thing.
 

sao123

Lifer
May 27, 2002
12,656
207
106
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
Well?
You forgot to answer your own question.

Yes and yes for me. It's kinda fun to see all the CET's (Christmas/Easters/Thanksgivings) at church though.

 

NL5

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
3,286
12
81
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Why would anyone go to church on Sunday? Looking to go to hell? The sabbath is Saturday.

I was gonna say the same thing. Unfortunately, 99.9% of "Christians" are unaware of what is contained within their bible.......
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
I don't really get anything out of Church... I have friends who go and do get something out of the experience, and more power to them. I'm a pretty spiritual person, but I find Church to be more boring than anything else, and it'd be disrespectful to the people who really enjoy it for me to go there and mindlessly go through the motions.

my parents never really put a big emphasis on church, though. my sister and I did our first communion and confirmation, but my parents never forced us to go. my dad goes every sunday, but my mom is strictly a weddings and funerals type of church goer.
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
I have thought about trying new churches/religions. I hate to say i am bashing the Catholic faith because i am really not. I still pray very often, saying the rosary, the Our Father, etc. I still believe in a lot of what most Catholics believe, however there are certain things that bug me that i do not agree with The Church upon. I stopped going to confession because i wondered why do i need a priest to listen to my sins when i can "speak to God" directly and ask for his forgiveness on my own?

Eventhough the movie Dogma was just that... a movie, it had some great points to it... when The Muse says something along the lines of "most people mourn their religion instead of celebrating them." and that is very true to me.

I've always wondered why Catholics pray to Mary and make statues of her when the 10 commandments say you're not supposed to idolize anyone else which includes making holy statues. Jesus doesn't count since he's pretty much considered part of God (i.e. father, son, holy spirit type of thing). My mother was raised a Catholic and her family is still Catholic, but she "broke away" long ago because of the many conflicting beliefs (that conflict with passages in the bible). I've personally disliked the idea that good works are required. From how I've read everything, they're most certainly not a requirement, but in living your life in that certain god-following manner, good works will naturally become part of your life but going out of your way to do them as atonement is so so wrong.
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
I have thought about trying new churches/religions. I hate to say i am bashing the Catholic faith because i am really not. I still pray very often, saying the rosary, the Our Father, etc. I still believe in a lot of what most Catholics believe, however there are certain things that bug me that i do not agree with The Church upon. I stopped going to confession because i wondered why do i need a priest to listen to my sins when i can "speak to God" directly and ask for his forgiveness on my own?

Eventhough the movie Dogma was just that... a movie, it had some great points to it... when The Muse says something along the lines of "most people mourn their religion instead of celebrating them." and that is very true to me.

I've always wondered why Catholics pray to Mary and make statues of her when the 10 commandments say you're not supposed to idolize anyone else which includes making holy statues.

I'm not Catholic, but I'm pretty sure most Catholics would say they don't worship or idolize Mary. It's more out of respect for the father and the mother.

Jesus doesn't count since he's pretty much considered part of God (i.e. father, son, holy spirit type of thing).

Not everyone subscribes to the Trinitarian view. I think Protestants are an example, but I'm not positive.
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
Originally posted by: Descartes
I'm not Catholic, but I'm pretty sure most Catholics would say they don't worship or idolize Mary. It's more out of respect for the father and the mother.

This sounds more like a "you say potaytoh, I say potahtoh" type of rebuttal. To me, making statues and praying to her when you know... you're kinda supposed to pray to God isn't right. I have no qualms with respecting the mother of Jesus, but I respect police officers... I respect other people on the road. I don't pray to them, I don't make earthly images of them.
 

mooglekit

Senior member
Jul 1, 2003
616
0
0
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Originally posted by: LolaWiz
I have thought about trying new churches/religions. I hate to say i am bashing the Catholic faith because i am really not. I still pray very often, saying the rosary, the Our Father, etc. I still believe in a lot of what most Catholics believe, however there are certain things that bug me that i do not agree with The Church upon. I stopped going to confession because i wondered why do i need a priest to listen to my sins when i can "speak to God" directly and ask for his forgiveness on my own?

Eventhough the movie Dogma was just that... a movie, it had some great points to it... when The Muse says something along the lines of "most people mourn their religion instead of celebrating them." and that is very true to me.

I've always wondered why Catholics pray to Mary and make statues of her when the 10 commandments say you're not supposed to idolize anyone else which includes making holy statues.

I'm not Catholic, but I'm pretty sure most Catholics would say they don't worship or idolize Mary. It's more out of respect for the father and the mother.

Jesus doesn't count since he's pretty much considered part of God (i.e. father, son, holy spirit type of thing).

Not everyone subscribes to the Trinitarian view. I think Protestants are an example, but I'm not positive.


I can only speak for Lutherans, but we definitely have the trinity, father, son, holy spirit. So that would debunk the three-in-one thing not applying to protestants...