I am Greek Orthodox and last year I went three times (other than the Easter/Christmas Eve). Now I have never been into going but I feel now is the time to make an effort every Sunday to go. I am going to head up there this week and pay my dues for the year (I don't need to but that is where my parents were married, where I was baptized and I just think I'm going to give it a try) Who here goes to church on a regular basis and what do you get out of it? Do you take part in the other events? Do you really enjoy going or is it something that you just do?
I goto Church on a regular basis to 1. build on my relationship with God, and 2. fellowship with other people who are looking to do the same thing. BTW, D&D in 5..4..3..
I go on a regular basis and enjoy it. Going to Church shouldn't be a chore -- if it seems like that maybe you should look around. I also help with the Children's programs, am some-what active in a men's group, and am a small group leader for kids in high-stress family situations. I feel closest to God serving His children (more so than in the service). Jesus: "Peter do you Love me?" Peter: "Lord, you know I love you" Jesus: "Feed my lambs" (repeat 3x)
my church is like another family to me. great people and a great conduit for serving the community, as well. i'm happy in a church for the first time in years.
You might ask...and I might tell. http://thefom.com/Home.html I've also told finalsbound she should check out: http://ecclesiahouston.org/ Both are churches that are very outward-oriented...focused primarily on serving others instead of creating the culture of a country club.
I get anxiety attacks sometimes around large crowds even at Mass, but there's daily masses over at my parish at noon almost every weekday. The environment is quieter, theres less of a crowd, all in all I find it to be more serene. It's a Catholic parish so I dunno if they have that are your parish, but even if you find Church mediocre, its still a good place to go to for a place of quiet meditation. There really is a calm at my parish when I pray there in the pews alone and its very satisfying. Just like anything though, its what you make of it. If you come in there looking to find a magnetic pull that'll make you come back for more on the first visit, you might find yourself disappointed. I'm not saying its impossible to find that kind of attraction, but for most adults who are making an effort to get back into the habit of going to church, you must understand that what you get out of it is sort of like practicing a violin. You may be raw, possibly frustrated, and even disinterested again, but if you practice it frequently, you may find yourself enveloped into a truly unique and wonderful experience. As far as church being a business, theres some truth to that fact, but most donations at my parish do go to other charitable causes for those less fortunate, and I know this is not a rarity among other Catholic parishes. Yes some of the donations are spent to maintain the quality of the chapel, and to pay for the employers who actually work there (not just priests), but that is expected from any place. Disagree with some of our practices if you want. I know I do on certain hot topic issues, and others less known, but don't knock entirely the more frequent good that comes from the religion as well.
We went to an ecclesia service once a while ago, it was pretty interesting. We tried to go back a few weeks ago but we got lost trying to find it. stupid google maps.
Church in the United States is going to look very different over the course of the next 50 years or so. I think you're seeing huge cultural shifts. We have much larger churches coming to our little church asking how we've been so effective in certain areas....because they're big cruise ships that can't turn easily. They've poured millions of dollars (and continue to do so) in elaborate cathedrals while attendance has waned...and while they've watched areas around them decay. I'm encouraged by all this, believe it or not. I don't like "cultural Christanity" or "nationalistic Christianity"...I don't find them to be much different than country clubs. Where churches are places instead of groups of people...honestly, I think that's accepted in our culture as that's the way it is, but that drives me wild. We want to be a church that is a blessing to the community we're situated in. We'd like to be a people that, if we stopped working together, people would weep that the community lost something of value...whether they would ever worship along with us or not.
I'd like to find the motivation to go to church. As a kid I was forced to go and was horribly bored with it. To top it off, I can't stand singing and find that boring as well (watching musicals are dull for me). As a teenager I just went to the youth stuff to meet girls. Sometimes I enjoyed the sermons, but 'reading along' seemed a bit too much like school, something I was forced to do 40 hours a week anyway, so that was another turnoff. I've been maybe five times in the past ten years, most of the time just to appease my mom or current squeeze. It would be great to go somewhere I would enjoy and get something out of it. I know my wife would love it and I know my son would enjoy being around the other kids.
I wouldn't belong to a religion that would have me as a member (thanks, Groucho!), but respect those who do. Carry on!
i don't go to church but do go to the buddhist temples around houston. i'm not religious but i love the atmosphere.
I think human beings are hardwired by evolution to be social animals. It's through our collective efforts that the individual human prospers. It's fairly universal to see humans organized into symbiotic groups be it families, clans, tribes, countries or, religions. And, if you can really believe in a greater purpose and an eternal life in heaven after you die, why wouldn't you? signed, an agnostic hermit
I would like to go more than I do now (only on holidays and paid gigs). I've always said that, once I have kids, I will make it a point to take them every Sunday. Hopefully this will be the year for that to happen.
1. i totally agree. we are most definitely hard-wired to be social animals. 2. i agree.. why wouldn't you? ( -- just having fun...not meaning to turn this into yet another theological debate!!)
