Do you go anywhere for religious purposes?

[David]

I am not an athiest/agnostic, but I think that going to any religious establishment to pray is a waste of time. Why pray anywhere outside of your home? Praying is a connection with God that is very personal and should have nothing to do with the community. It's collectivism, basically. If you want a like-minded community, OK, join a Bible study group or something. But to pray where others are praying is pretty stupid, if you ask me.

For the record, I am a panentheist.

Honestly, if it was up to me, I wouldn't go to church. I just go for my friends, which is even a stretch to say.

When did "keeping the sabbath holy" become "go to church every sunday or thou shall be condemned to hell". I do agree that praying with others can be very powerful, however, I would never do a group prayer with those people at my church. I don't really trust them.

I would be perfectly fine in doing my devotional on sunday mornings and praying instead of listening to my pastor say his opinions on a subject (which sometimes are very good, but other times, they are very boding). The only thing I like about my church is the youth group. I would rather go to that during the main service...

Totally agree with you. Every church around here has become so stale.

 

[Bulerias]

I see a common theme here...a lot of you guys go to church because of youth groups and/or familial connections. That's the community aspect I was talking about. It has nothing to do with the actual function of the church. All of the youth stuff is a ploy to get you to become a repeat customer. Nothing more than consumer tricks, except on a broader scale (since church loyalty is potentially and usually stronger than, say, brand loyalty). Why would praying with others be powerful? Any kind of prayer you can make collectively can also be made privately, which I believe is a much better approach to spirituality. At the end of the day, everyone is different and everyone's connection with God is unique. To lump everyone into one "praying machine" eliminates the point, I think.

As for the Sabbath, if you truly believe in what the Bible says, do what the Jews do. Take an actual day off and stay home. There is not a single line in the Bible that says "go to Church on Sundays".

 

[Micah]

The whole focus of the church has changed since it originated after Jesus' death. It was more of a community (Acts) that got together, shared their belongings, and used their "spiritual gifts" to build each other up (1 Corinthians 12 I think?). There were supposed to be pastors and teachers like there are now, but I believe their purpose has changed, especially in megachurches. The church is supposed to be a smaller, intimate community where people can connect with God and fellowship with each other.
Now it's turned into a ritualistic place where people go just to feel better about themselves and make them look like a good person. :/

 

[Callie]

My parents used to forced me to go to temple (Jewish) and even made me have a bat mitzavah, but I'm agnostic/not into religion so I stopped as soon as I could.

Did you go to Hebrew School? Otherwise having a bat mitzvah would be pretty hard...

@topic I don't. I've never been to church before and don't plan to. The only thing I've done that could slightly count is go to the services of my friends' bar/bat mitzvahs.

 

[Deleted User]

Yeah im Christan but i don't go to church its booooring

And god doesn't expect everyone to got to church

 

[EpicGamer12]

The whole focus of the church has changed since it originated after Jesus' death. It was more of a community (Acts) that got together, shared their belongings, and used their "spiritual gifts" to build each other up (1 Corinthians 12 I think?). There were supposed to be pastors and teachers like there are now, but I believe their purpose has changed, especially in megachurches. The church is supposed to be a smaller, intimate community where people can connect with God and fellowship with each other.
Now it's turned into a ritualistic place where people go just to feel better about themselves and make them look like a good person. :/

I don't feel that way. If you're really there to praise God, and learn about him, it's worth it. God gives people the ability to speak and right sermons/teach just for this purpose really. And of course it's hard to use your spiritual gifts around no one.

 

[twinkinator]

I go every Sunday and enjoy our youth group.

I also go on Christmas/Easter/etc.

 

[Bulerias]

The whole focus of the church has changed since it originated after Jesus' death. It was more of a community (Acts) that got together, shared their belongings, and used their "spiritual gifts" to build each other up (1 Corinthians 12 I think?). There were supposed to be pastors and teachers like there are now, but I believe their purpose has changed, especially in megachurches. The church is supposed to be a smaller, intimate community where people can connect with God and fellowship with each other.
Now it's turned into a ritualistic place where people go just to feel better about themselves and make them look like a good person. :/

Agreed, agreed, agreed. For those religiously inclined, the benefits of a tightly-knit community are too enumerable to list. The trend we're seeing now is very worrying and, above all, alienating. With the internet as widespread as it is, it's very easy to debunk these so-called "megachurches" through facts and others' personal experiences. Thus, it's no surprise to see young people turning away from religion. When a strict dogma was forced upon someone back in the day, hundreds of years ago, that person just went with the flow because the alternative was probably death. Now, with other like-minded people a click away, the appeal of religious congregations isn't there anymore. It wouldn't surprise me to see agnosticism/atheism become the dominant thought-group within 50 or so years, for better or for worse. As apathetic toward religion as I am, there are some timeless moral truths contained in nearly all historically-relevant religious texts. It would be a pity to see them ignored because of religion's perversion by those who only care about themselves.

 

[Zombie]

Nope, I can't even remember the last time I went to a Church for religious reasons.

 

[Deleted User]

my family used to go to the branch dividian compound in waco texas but the police burned it down

 

[John102]

Yes, on Sunday, the day of rest, I go to bed.
It's comfortable there.

You so cool.

I go to church usually.

 

[OJ.]

On certain Pastafarian holidays we go to San Diego.

No.

 

[Pear]

On certain Pastafarian holidays we go to San Diego.

No.

Like Ramendan? Oh boy, that's my favorite! 30 uninterrupted days of pure ramen consumption.

 

[Ron Ronaldo]

My parents used to forced me to go to temple (Jewish) and even made me have a bat mitzavah, but I'm agnostic/not into religion so I stopped as soon as I could.

Did you go to Hebrew School? Otherwise having a bat mitzvah would be pretty hard...

@topic I don't. I've never been to church before and don't plan to. The only thing I've done that could slightly count is go to the services of my friends' bar/bat mitzvahs.

Yep, I went from kindgergarten until 8th grade. I hated it so much that I used to run away and try to hide in my friend's yard. XD

 

[[Nook]]

I see lots of common posts in this thread, if you know what I mean.

<.< >.>

I LIKE ZEUS AND VISHNU.

I'll go make a "your favorite god" thread.
*implies that I have beliefs of many gods*
*goes to hide in a box to avoid religionist flaming people*

 

[Callie]

My parents used to forced me to go to temple (Jewish) and even made me have a bat mitzavah, but I'm agnostic/not into religion so I stopped as soon as I could.

Did you go to Hebrew School? Otherwise having a bat mitzvah would be pretty hard...

@topic I don't. I've never been to church before and don't plan to. The only thing I've done that could slightly count is go to the services of my friends' bar/bat mitzvahs.

Yep, I went from kindgergarten until 8th grade. I hated it so much that I used to run away and try to hide in my friend's yard. XD

Ooh, Ronnie the runaway. I like it XD.

My friend was so happy when she had her bat mitzvah because she thought she'd never have to go back. She hated the kids, teachers, and it was so much work. But then her teacher started something called (and I'm not kidding) "The Jew Crew" where they do community service once a month with the same teacher and same kids.

 

[Princess]

Yeep.