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Do you ever go to church?

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On what occasions are you prepared to set foot in a church? (Apart from as a tourist!)

Wouldn't set foot in one
17
10%
Would attend only for a ceremony (specify below)
71
43%
Would attend for a ceremony, memorial service or a carol service.
49
30%
Would attend a normal service.
29
17%
 
Total votes: 166

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jamesjones950
Posts: 1832
Joined: January 6th, 2010, 9:59 am

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#281 Post by jamesjones950 » October 6th, 2010, 7:10 pm

Latest post of the previous page:

tea_ismynewjesus wrote:Not sure what to answer for this one... I go to a church every other week, but for a Christian youth club kinda thing. I went there lots in my godly days and I recently started going again because there was no other way for me to see my fundie friends, who I've missed dearly.

I only go every other week so that I can stay at home and watch The Atheist Experience :thumbsup:
I sort of understand why you go....I think.
No, I don't, I'm being dishonest. I would find new friends and let the old ones miss you dearly.
a "New Atheist" for the last 55 years

Gottard
Posts: 1306
Joined: October 3rd, 2008, 3:11 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#282 Post by Gottard » October 7th, 2010, 2:55 pm

jamesjones950 wrote: I sort of understand why you go....I think.
No, I don't, I'm being dishonest. I would find new friends and let the old ones miss you dearly.
I would not judge Tea_is..etc. so harshly; he might live in a small provincial village and have no alternatives. Protestant Christians have a high sense of familial aggregation as, often, the adept is the only one -among his/her original relatives - to have abandoned the "clan faith", this is why he/she is welcomed within the "new family". This is a feeling that we humanist miss ...while imo is so important.
The only thing I fear of death is regret if I couldn’t complete my learning experience

naturaljazz89
Posts: 2
Joined: October 23rd, 2010, 10:54 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#283 Post by naturaljazz89 » October 23rd, 2010, 11:19 pm

I go to church with my daughters scout group once a month. I am one of only two parents who stay. The service is very child orientated, and usually has a moral basis. The church is presbyterian so not over the top. My daughter is 14 and an aetheist. She likes the fairtrade stuff the minister does and she will read out stuff if he asks her to. He knows we are non believers, but we are striving to live with as little impact on the earth as possible. In that
sense we have things in common.

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getreal
Posts: 4354
Joined: November 20th, 2008, 5:40 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#284 Post by getreal » October 23rd, 2010, 11:28 pm

I thought Scouts were non religious? I'm surprised the group attend church regularly.
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

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Alan H
Posts: 24067
Joined: July 3rd, 2007, 10:26 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#285 Post by Alan H » October 23rd, 2010, 11:42 pm

getreal wrote:I thought Scouts were non religious? I'm surprised the group attend church regularly.
We've had this discussion before, haven't we? Scouts still have to make a promise to god - any god will do. Although they once definitively excluded atheists, I think we discovered they weren't that fussy now? Anyone remember?
Alan Henness

There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:

1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?

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jaywhat
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Re: Do you ever go to church?

#286 Post by jaywhat » October 24th, 2010, 6:33 am

'non religiious alternatives' in the Education forum.

...and I think scout groups exclude atheist leaders .

Compassionist
Posts: 3590
Joined: July 14th, 2007, 8:38 am

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#287 Post by Compassionist » October 24th, 2010, 6:54 am

jaywhat wrote:'non religiious alternatives' in the Education forum.

...and I think scout groups exclude atheist leaders .
Yes, Scouts exclude atheists and in many countries, homosexuals and bisexuals and transgenders and transexuals.

By the way, I have attended services in 7 different churches in Belfast so far. I have also attended a Nicherin Buddhism housegroup meeting and two meetings of Tibetan Buddhism. Should I keep attending church to please my wife even though I am an ex-Muslim ex-Christian Strong Agnostic Strong Atheist (i.e. I believe that given the existence of suffering and God's alleged existence and omniscience and omnipotence and consequent omniculpability - God is either evil or imaginary) Compassionist Humanist and a Life Member of the Humanist Society of Scotland? What do YOU advise?

Gottard
Posts: 1306
Joined: October 3rd, 2008, 3:11 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#288 Post by Gottard » October 24th, 2010, 4:38 pm

As I said in the previous scout thread, we have Catholic and lay scout groups in Italy, difference being that the lay group allows atheists to park outside the church during services; if a lay boy/girl decides to attend a service then - if agreeable - she/he can join the Catholic group. I am not joking!
The only thing I fear of death is regret if I couldn’t complete my learning experience

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loz2286
Posts: 45
Joined: September 16th, 2010, 11:51 am

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#289 Post by loz2286 » October 28th, 2010, 12:02 pm

animist wrote: seems a very odd setup, and you haven't quite answered all I asked. I mean, how many of the songs are hymns? As you say, someone of another faith would and could not be asked to sing Xian hyms, but do you think such a peson would have been appointed anyway? It is very easy for me to say this as an outsider, but I feel that the school should get itself straight - either pastoral care and so on is genuinely non-religious or it's not, and if it is, the kids should not be singing the songs of one faith rather than another
The songs in assemblies are all hymns, or at least children's songs about God and faith. I'll happily sing other songs, though some children prefer I don't as I'm tone deaf. Yes, it is an odd set up, not helped by the fact that some staff are a bit rabid Xian and those who are non-believers (or more relaxed about things) prefer to go with the flow and say nothing.

Project Atlas
Posts: 14
Joined: February 27th, 2011, 8:59 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#290 Post by Project Atlas » March 9th, 2011, 3:27 pm

I could never stand going as long as I can remember. I was so bored. Now I don't go at all. Not even to make anyone else happy.
But of course I would attend for a funeral or sombody's wedding, only because I want to be there for my family or friends at those critical times.

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Dave B
Posts: 17809
Joined: May 17th, 2010, 9:15 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#291 Post by Dave B » March 9th, 2011, 3:53 pm

Definitely only for ceremonies that I cannot avoid without giving insult - so long as going into Gloucs cathedral when it is the venue of an art exhibition or for a history talk/craft demo does not count!
"Look forward; yesterday was a lesson, if you did not learn from it you wasted it."
Me, 2015

thundril
Posts: 3607
Joined: July 4th, 2008, 5:02 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#292 Post by thundril » March 9th, 2011, 4:19 pm

I do sometimes try to go into Cathedrals if I am in an historic place, like Rheims for example. And I am astonished and moved by the feats of engineering that were possible in an age when almost everyone else was entirely illiterate and very few could handle even simple money calculations. And I am moved also by the beauty and the awe-inspiring spaces and light-play. And then I get that old sense of what it was like for me, as a 12 year old boy, in a seminary. And I have to leave, fast.

purple mind
Posts: 8
Joined: March 14th, 2011, 4:58 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#293 Post by purple mind » March 15th, 2011, 2:10 am

i just go to ceremonies, basically weddings and funerals !or for a sight seeing as a tourist...

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Cain Cocteau
Posts: 17
Joined: June 28th, 2011, 8:16 am

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#294 Post by Cain Cocteau » July 1st, 2011, 12:58 pm

I have to admit out loud that I do not attend funerals. This seems to get under the skin of the people in my life that feel like these are things that you MUST do. I disagree with how most people handle the dead. I don't like how they make me feel, the energy is icky. I haven't been invited to a wedding , I would probably not go. I think a church is just a gaudy building , often intriguing in design....but the one time I went to a catholic church for world AIDS day ( I was speaking ) I thought the holy water thingy was a bird bath.. so I find im more ackward in the setting than comfortable. I am lucky , I never was forced to go to any worship ceremonies. So I would say no to the question.
A mirror should take time to reflect before throwing back images

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Sel
Posts: 811
Joined: January 3rd, 2011, 3:53 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#295 Post by Sel » July 1st, 2011, 1:41 pm

Heh, I was in a church lately ...The Rocky Mountain Cavalry Tabernacle. Some of our CFI member attended a lecture by 2 "geologists" on the inaccuracy of Old Earth Sciences and the inerrant Truth of Genesis. After 2 hours of this crap my head hurt and I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs!!!!!

Nate Phelps (you have heard of his Dad, the Rev Fred Phelps - crazy as a loon) was with us and had the poor pastor cornered for two hours afterwards. Nate is used to this type and, with his extensive knowledge of the Bible, can call them on anything and everything they say.

For me, the most disturbing part of the evening was hearing the pastor tell his congregation to be sure their children understand their teachers are lying to them all the time.
"The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge." Bertrand Russell

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Alan C.
Posts: 10356
Joined: July 4th, 2007, 3:35 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#296 Post by Alan C. » July 1st, 2011, 6:20 pm

I have to admit out loud that I do not attend funerals.
Me neither Cain Cocteau, I would like to but can't stand listening to the sanctimonious preachers.
The last one I attended (for a very good friend) was in the community hall and I thought it might not be "religious"
Wrong! It was excruciating; not just for me but for most of the folk there.

Sel, you can read Nate Phelps coming out speech here Well worth a read.
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

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Alan H
Posts: 24067
Joined: July 3rd, 2007, 10:26 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#297 Post by Alan H » July 1st, 2011, 7:27 pm

Sel wrote:Heh, I was in a church lately ...The Rocky Mountain Cavalry Tabernacle. Some of our CFI member attended a lecture by 2 "geologists" on the inaccuracy of Old Earth Sciences and the inerrant Truth of Genesis. After 2 hours of this crap my head hurt and I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs!!!!!

Nate Phelps (you have heard of his Dad, the Rev Fred Phelps - crazy as a loon) was with us and had the poor pastor cornered for two hours afterwards. Nate is used to this type and, with his extensive knowledge of the Bible, can call them on anything and everything they say.

For me, the most disturbing part of the evening was hearing the pastor tell his congregation to be sure their children understand their teachers are lying to them all the time.
Wow! It'd be worth sitting through the crap just to hear Nate pulling the guy apart

Nate Phelps was interviewed on the excellent Pod Delusion podcast last year.
Alan Henness

There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:

1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?

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Sel
Posts: 811
Joined: January 3rd, 2011, 3:53 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#298 Post by Sel » July 2nd, 2011, 4:41 pm

Nate Phelps was interviewed on the excellent Pod Delusion podcast last year.
Sel, you can read Nate Phelps coming out speech here Well worth a read
Nate is director of CFI in our area.

I have had the privilege of having long conversations with Nate. His story is incredible as is he. The man is a gentle giant and a great listener. It was 2AM when he left my Humanist party the other night. He loves intelligent conversation and is eager to delve into the thought processes of other folks.

I have incredible respect for Nate and am proud to call him friend.
"The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge." Bertrand Russell

Laurence
Posts: 27
Joined: July 22nd, 2011, 6:38 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#299 Post by Laurence » July 23rd, 2011, 11:16 pm

Very touching and inspiring reading about Nate, and also reading him, here. Thank you.

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Tetenterre
Posts: 3244
Joined: March 13th, 2011, 11:36 am

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#300 Post by Tetenterre » September 1st, 2011, 8:41 am

Re expansion requested in poll:

Some of my friends are religious, so I will attend church ceremonies for their hatches, matches, and dispatches.
Steve

Quantum Theory: The branch of science with which people who know absolutely sod all about quantum theory can explain anything.

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Stempy
Posts: 5
Joined: August 22nd, 2011, 11:59 pm

Re: Do you ever go to church?

#301 Post by Stempy » September 3rd, 2011, 12:45 pm

As "token Christian" ( :wink: ) obviously I voted for "would go to a normal service" - but the "normality" of the service definitely depends on which church and which particular service you're talking about!
"In truth, there was only one Christian, and he died on the cross." Nietzsche, The Anti-Christ

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