Church people

Dick doesn't have much time for the church folks.

The more I look into them, the more I wonder why I still try to go.

They have a higher than average divorce rate.

They want your money, time and energy.

I love God--could do without the church however. God would be better served without chuches--they give Him a bad name.

Alice,
you may find the following of interest.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091027/ap_on_re_eu/eu_france_scientology

Abe,


Sad!

I just got a call from the Nursing Home. My religious tithe paying step mother-in-law hit her roommate and told her to "Shut up."

I used to go to church but haven't been in many, many years. I don't wish to upset anyone because my wife and myself aren't married in law. Rather we are what is known here in Scotland as common law. We have two kids plus have lived together as married since we had them. Common law is reackonised in law so for all intents and purposes we are married, though I don't think everyone at church would agree. We have a great relationship that work and I would say God has blessed our union, yet as a christian I would not wish to cause others offence.

What would offend them?
The fact that you are still together?

Don't even get me going--Church leaders are the worst.

When I saw what was going on, I resigned.

Never more will I involve myself in church politics.

I wish I had the time and energy and money that was totally wasted on the church.

I stopped attending services shortly after my divorce. The congregation we had been attending was his family's church, and although, in the beginning, they were supportive, after a bit the family thing set in. When I talked to the minister, it became clear that he was much more concerned with the possible loss of his financial director (guess who) than he was over his 6th grade Sunday School teacher (guess who again).

Shortly after I left the church, I had (and I really don't get into this often) what might, in some circles, be called a "religious experience." (I have a weird feeling I've told this here before - old age is like that). I had decided it was imperative, though very frightening, that I finish college, and get my degree and teaching certificate. I reluctantly enrolled at the school I had attended for two-and-a-half years before my marriage, and began attending, even though it meant a 45 minute drive, every weekday, over a major freeway (Had I mentioned that I hated driving and kept it to a minimum?). I had been making this trip for several weeks, trembling all through the heavy traffic drive, when, one morning, as I was crossing a multi-laned bridge over a major thoroughfare, I suddenly became very calm and at peace, when a sense of complete - can I call it protection? - came over me, and my life perspective changed in an instant, as I felt totally reassured that I was doing the right thing, and would come through the experience just fine. Want to know a weird thing? I stopped hating to drive and started relishing in it.

Was this a "religious" experience? I have no idea. If it was, it came about after I had left the church, and stayed with me for a very long time after.

When I moved to SA after retiring, I returned to organized religion, attending a little Episcopal church around the corner from my house. I left it earlier this year, because a fundamentalist faction had taken over, and my personal beliefs fall in more with the Episcopal Church US, which the local congregation was opposing and actively fighting. Currently, I am not attending any congregation, but I miss the regular celebration of the Eucharist, or the "Communion of the Last Supper." I personally find that the symbology of ritual can be rewarding and illuminating. I miss participating in that particular ritual.

Shortly after being elected the first female bishop of the Episcopal Church, US in 2006, Katherine Jefferts-Schori responded to a Time Magazine interview. What she said in that interview echoes very closely my personal beliefs. Be sure you read on to page 2 - very important:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1211587,00.html

Ann

As a child, my family was very active in the Episcopal Church. In my opinion, my grandmother worried too much about whether the altar flowers would wilt or not, but overall it was a good place. It was our family's source of spiritual and social life.

But I was always interested in other religions. Somehow I talked my mother into letting me go to the Community Church Bible School in the summer, and in high school went to rallies for an organization called Young Life.

I married a Catholic to the horror of those in my church. In almost fifty years, my husband and I have never once had even a slight disagreement about religion, and in the last ten years only go to church occasionally. We are very spiritual, but the rules get in the way of love for Christ and others which to me churches are supposed to be about, that "when two or three gather together in my name."

My daughter is a music pastor at a wonderful Catholic Church where we would go every Sunday if it was a thousand miles closer. I know she adds to the caring in the church and my pride in her is great.

We spent the weekend with friends who spoke of how wonderful the Catholic Church in our town is, and we kept silent rather than expressing disagreement on a weekend with other friends. Their rules are strict. They are strong on recruiting young men to be priests with persuasion, guilt and not letting the girls participate in the service as before because they would be a distraction to these would-be priests.

To me it is not about following rules. It is not about asking God for favors and hoping through following rules those favors will be granted. It is about caring, and music, and being with others with God.

We used to belong to a Gospel singing group of 40 people from 12 different churches. Singing together was the best "going to church" I've ever known.

I don't even think it depends on the religion, but on the church itself: its warmth, love, caring, joy.

Love, Carol

Interesting experiences, Ann and Carol.
I was through chairing the church board, forced into chairing the finance committtee.

It was there I saw the light. The love of money is the root of all evil.

Being a music minister in a church is great thing.

The church pastors are usually okay too-except Ann's was off the track.

If churches would stay completely out of politics it would help everyone.
If the moral majority would work on their own morals...

Anyone watch the Simpsons?
The way they show the church is very near the truth in a funny way.
I honestly can say I have met some of these stereo types in real life the Flanders and the Reverend.

David.


Sounds like a hoot.

Well, if I can remember, I havn't been to a regular church service since I was 13. I have pondered the issue of god and ultimately came to the conclusion that god and the universe...the creation and the creator are one and the same entity. This argument solves the problem of what was god doing before he created the universe. Also, it is said that god is all powerful and nothing could be more powerful than the sum total of everything. They say god knows everything and if he is everything, he would automatically know everything. Furthermore, it is said that god is present everywhere and if he is everything then he must be present everywhere. God did not just create everything....he is everything.

I think it boils down to:

If you enjoy church and get a blessing from it go.
Just know that the churches are not perfect.

God is perfect. You can worship Him anywhere and everywhere.

I still go, but can very well understand those who do not.

Very nice, Alice.

I agree.

Love, Carol

Alice said: God is perfect. You can worship Him anywhere and everywhere.

And a truer word was never said, for Jesus didn't go to the temple everytime he wished to speak to the father.

Amen ...

Alice wrote:

I think it boils down to:

If you enjoy church and get a blessing from it go.
Just know that the churches are not perfect.

God is perfect. You can worship Him anywhere and everywhere.

I still go, but can very well understand those who do not.