As a kid growing up in a family that didn't go to church, I wound up in church schools for years. (They gave me money.) I used to avoid spending the night with friends when I was little so I wouldn't have to go to church. I went once with a catholic friend and his family when I was little....to this day I find crucifixes to be a most unsettling image. There is just no getting around looking at a dead man nailed to a plank of wood. The pre-school in my area was Baptist. I came home freaked out about all the blood from the crown of thorns and the crucifixion. I told my whole family they were going to hell. Basically, I was just hysterical. Mom pulled me out of that nutty place, bless her. I've been bitter and jaded ever since. As a spiritual agnostic, I believe there is something, and that something is benevolent, but I'm not going to waste any time trying to assign a name or dogma to what are essentially the same stories with different names. The path to righteousness is a simple one for me: don't be a dick to people. To the OP: I hope you find what you're looking for, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
I think I'm going to give it a few more chances, without the b&b (getting too fat from all the fun) but I think I'll politely sit down and close my eyes during the singing portions. And leave immediately after the sermon to minimize the songs/administrative talk/church bulletin announcements. Maybe I'll show up late as to avoid the intro singing if I can swing it, although I hate being late to anything...
if you live in houston, try this : http://www.ecclesiahouston.org/ you might like it...you might not.
I'm kind of a weirdo - I don't mind the songs, I actually enjoy the ritualistic side of church. What I do not enjoy is the social aspect of church, particularly the forced "get up and greet someone you don't know" mandate that typically is in the first 5 or 10 minutes of the service. I want to sit in my pew and be left alone. Short of children's plays around the holidays though, I've never been to a church that acts out part of the Bible. To have that as a regular part of the service I would find not really creepy or weird, but more patronizing.
I did everything I could to not go to church since I was about 8. Mostly because it was boring, but some because the Crucifix was just too bloody scary to stare at. But, if you have to go, go to and African-American church. The music will make you dance. (and the message is usually more like , Rejoice! you have been redeemed)
it's my "second" church the pastor is a friend of mine. i love that church. my church is very similar, but much much much much much smaller....and located in the community i live in.
Tried Ecclesia but it was Catholic light. The communion in line creeped me out. Too many hands on the bread. I got some beard in my bread and / or wine. No thanks. I am with the OP. Church music is irritating to say the least. Close ties to Church leaders and Republican party messages make me want to scream. Trying to get some of the messages to be germane to modern life can be a bit of a stretch sometimes. Stopped going to church over a year ago. My wife misses it. I absolutely do not.
Unitarian Universalist was the one church that interested me a few years ago when I looked around. Like a lot of people, I am totally turned off with traditional christian churches and would like to find something that is more about an open minded discussion of a higher power and less about Jesus, the bible, etc. And don't even get me started on the singing. Talk about creepy. I never did go to a service though. Maybe I should.
that's funny...the pastor is baptist a big Rockets fan too! they have an influence from the Episcopal/Anglican tradition, to be sure. personally, i don't judge churches by their worship services....unless their worship service is virtually all they do. i'm more interested with how they engage the communities they "live" in....and whether or not people who aren't members would be sad if they just went away. churches spend way too much time worrying about their worship services when most people aren't interested in worship services, anyway. be creative and actually engage people in real honest relationships...love your community like that.
with a cameo by Kenny Thomas... <object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kP5O_NUhrK0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kP5O_NUhrK0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>
We're taking a new approach to "church as usual" at ours. We're not doing church as usual anymore. lifechurchrichardson (dot) org
At my church music is anything but a ritual. We have a full featured band and ensemble and we sing and dance. And we dance a lot. Especially during thanksgivings and baby dedications and that sort of thing. It's a celebration, not a ritual. It's usually the funnest part of the service. My personal preference is that I find the concept of standing around singing endless songs and strumming on a guitar while everyone stands watching with their hands clasped extremely boring. Church music should not be boring compared to secular music. If God created people with talents to create great music with awesome beats and slick chords and pumping bass and resounding brass, then why should they be excluded from being used to worship Him? But then again, I understand that it is often a cultural thing, especially with many evangelical, predominantly white churches. The problem is when you have people who did not grow up with those traditions trying to come to church and you basically end up with reactions like you see in this thread. That's why I would second a previous poster's suggestion to try an African American church instead ... not because they are "better", but if the music has been an issue for you, you will likely find a cure there. African American gospel music has a long and rich history and is a major influence in many forms of modern music, especially jazz.
Yeah, I'm not feeling it at the evangelical church I go to either. It goes through a similar routine...music in the beginning, pastor's sermon, and discussion about the church (events, missions, donations). Afterwords, you socialize and there's an extra hour of discussion group. I get the feeling that people there expect me to convert. It's not that they're pushy, but they're definitely concerned. I guess that's given. They're a genuine group. I don't feel like I could act naturally around them. I don't agree with some its conservative teachings. God's plan is likely something very complex but I wouldn't know where to begin to decipher what God wanted from me. My Church uses a lot of Old Testament examples, but they're not literalists. There are some core Christian interpretations that I don't like. One would be that everyone is steeped in sin, even sin not of their doing. Every living person has the odds stacked against him/her. This could be used to explain some parts of the Bible that doesn't make sense or isn't fair. On this aspect, I like the Buddhist perspective better. The idea of eternal damnation decided by a loving God doesn't make sense to me. Maybe He is Just. Maybe it is what it is. My puny human brain won't accept it. There's definitely good aspects at the Church I go to for me to go there, such as service to the community. Right now, I don't think it's what I want or that I'm convinced.
