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why go to church?

Shroud of Akron

Thinker
S
Joined
Jun 12, 2002
Messages
129
why would a bunch of people want to sit in a room and agree with each other? doesn't that seem like a waste of time? it seem's to me that a bunch of people in a room debating what they disagree is a much better use of time. just my opinion, anyone else have one on this subject?
 
Shroud of Akron said:
why would a bunch of people want to sit in a room and agree with each other? doesn't that seem like a waste of time? it seem's to me that a bunch of people in a room debating what they disagree is a much better use of time. just my opinion, anyone else have one on this subject?
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TAM was, for the most part, a bunch of people sitting in a room and agreeing with each other.

Many Unitarian churches do not have members that agree on everything.
 
Its not about agreeing wiht each other for the most part, its learning and having fun(at least where i come from):D
 
I, for one gain a certain amount of strength from sitting in a circle with my freinds and agreeing heavily on everything. Makes me want to go out and change the world, and in sufficient doses makes me do things.

I wouldn't deride church so quickly, I bet that it is one of the reasons certain christian groups are so active.
 
Whodini:
Many Unitarian churches do not have members that agree on everything.
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yeah, my wife just started going to one. i didn't want to mention it and screw up my reasoning.

neutrino_cannon:
I, for one gain a certain amount of strength from sitting in a circle with my freinds and agreeing heavily on everything. Makes me want to go out and change the world, and in sufficient doses makes me do things.
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i do the same thing, but it's not church. if i had a religious belief, i don't feel that i would learn a whole lot by agreeing with people that believe the same thing. i have developed more philosophically from debating things with people, not agreeing with them.
I wouldn't deride church so quickly, I bet that it is one of the reasons certain christian groups are so active.
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i bet that it is one of the reasons. right behind spreading their version of the truth and getting more people to tithe.
 
I think many people want to feel some amount of affirmation, especially in the area of belief. I like math, but I don't sit around in a circle discussing addition and subtraction with others (except my kids!) because addition and subtraction are *known* and *proven*. Nobody argues that 1+1=3. But lots of folks argue whether the Bible is true. This forum is (sometimes) a good example of this.

Churchgoing people, I think, attend church for three reasons:

1. They want that affirmation because they do believe that what they believe is true and want to have some reenforcement.

2. They feel that they *should* go to church - perhaps because of family or friends encouraging or "guilting" them into going.

3. They are in a bad situation - maybe relationship problems, medical issues, job loss, social problems... whatever it might be. Folks who are down and out or at the end of their rope tend to search for encouragement and answers. Churches will certainly give answers - whether they are the *right* answers is up to debate.

I've attended churches throughout my life and certainly haven't always agreed with everyone else AND have found many others who didn't just sit around and agree with one another.

Of course... debate is discouraged. I think that this is because it might lead to answers/opinions that the church doesn't want given out.

Just my thoughts.

Take care,
Sort:)
 
lol SortingItAllOut

Go reread that first paragraph. You gots a typo you might want to fix.
 
In addition to the reasons listed, I would add:
• to enjoy the beauty of the rituals and hymns.
• to follow the Biblical instructions requiring such attendance.
• to enjoy the sense of anticipation in the weeks leading up to the high holy days.
• to foster a sense of community.
• to meet people, and potential mates, with similar values.
• to help instill specific values in one's children.
• to not alienate one's customers, suppliers, or business associates.
• to have an hour away from home without paying a babystitter.



Habit, superstition, and family obligations could also be fit somewhere in this list.

I know of a few women who went to a specific church for years because they knew that they wanted to be married in that particular church.
 
If I'm not mistaken, the Bible entreats people to form and go to church. If pressed, I'll look for the passages.

The reasons given to me by people who are Christians:

- They go to worship God.
- They go to meet and be social with other Christians.
- They go to learn from pastors and priests.

Sunday sevices are worship services. That is their primary purpose, from the religion's point of view.
 
IMO people go to church because all people generally like to hang out with people who share their interests.
 
I forgot one other reason. There is a small but vocal group of people who go to church to feel superior to other people.
 
fishbob wrote:

quote:
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why go to church?
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1) Weddings
2) Funerals
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I was unaware that the topic had changed to "Why do I own suit?"

Eric
 
Church is to theology as Reader's Digest is to literature. In these modern times, few people have time to study scripture and other religions readings in great depth, and even if they did, they don't necessarily have the training to understand them. (Yes, it does take training). The fact that for most people, church just means a couple of hours out of every Sunday is a comment on how far religion has fallen as an important part of life for some people. It used to be that sabbath was an all-day affair (and it still is for many Orthodox Jews), but with the advent of so much modern "entertainment", it cannot compete.

So these days, a lot of church worship is distilled to an hour's worth of sound bites that give you some platitudes, summarize some scripture, a few nice tunes (my church always had exactly three hymns, except at Christmas and Easter). The minister/pastor/priest is expected to do the heavy theological lifting and then impart his wisdom to the masses.

Yes, there are lots of social reasons to go to church as well, but as for teaching, churches have become less like schools and more like FAQ sheets.
 
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