In the meantime, some Christians demonstrate their peaceful minds

I thought that was agnosticism Ana.

There's definitive.

Even if someone is an atheist, God exists.
So Petallus is right in her statement.

Isn't atheism a lack of belief that any gods exist? Not a categorical denial.

Petallus you can't have it both ways- if you are an atheist God does not exist.

He most certainly does petallus.

I suppose if you regard it in an allegorical sense of good and evil within each of us (God and the devil) then the church service could bring help and comfort in trying to overcome the evil with the good, even if you don't believe in an actual God or Satan up there in the heavens.

I consider that God 'belongs' to me as much as anybody else, even though I'm primarily an atheist.

As said before, I absolutely love Churches- especially small simple ones you find by chance. And yes, I understand people harking for the comfort of tradition, singing, etc. But why do people wish to spend their time liying on the most important days of their lives, their wedding, and the most important people in their lives, their children? I would find NO comfort whatsoever, but on the contrary, a feeling of discomfort and shame even, at 'using' people and traditions for my own dishonest needs, as a clear non-believer.

Most vicars do not mind the hatch, match and dispatch brigade and see it as an opportunity to welcome members of the local community into the church. Maybe they think something will rub off?!

Most draw the line at being ask not to mention god! - and who can blame them!

Wanting a church wedding/funeral etc is part of a respect for tradition which is a unifying and comforting thing. And churches can be very beautiful buildings in the main - if you can swallow the images of torture that tend to be on show!

I'm C of E and haven't been to Midnight Mass for a few years now. The last time I went for this lovely service there was an overpowering smell of alcohol in the church as many (unrecognised by the usual congregation) had tumbled from the pub to the church on their way home!

When I was a practising Catholic it used to amuse me how many people turned up to Midnight Mass who never came near the church at any other time of the year. They came because it was a beautiful church and the service was lovely but they didn't have the faintest idea of what was going on. We used to sit at the back so that we could watch them panic when they realised they were stood up when everyone had sat down or sat down when everyone was stood up. I know that's not what I was supposed to do and hardly Christian but it was still very funny.

The other thing I used to enjoy was what the priest called the Communion steeple chase. This was usually run by the little old ladies. You would see them tense up ready for the bell to ring telling us that we could go up for the host. The bell was like the gunshot in the 100m at the Olympics. The bell would ring and they'd move with unbelievable speed to be the first to receive the host. The winner would then return to her seat with a smile on her face like Mrs Doyle when she's just got one over on another housekeeper.

Trying to remember when I last went to a christening.... it might have been my youngest brother's in 1962.

Hatches, matches and dispatches date, I think, from the days when birth, marriage and death announcements appeared on the front page of The Times newspaper. 'Twas a different world and a different newspaper then…

Oh I see, yes, now it makes sense. No never heard it before, thanks- and lol. Guess I will not - although I was 'hatched'

Haven't you heard that granjura?

It means attending church just to have your child christened (hatched), to get married (matched) and for your funeral (despatched), but not going to church any other time - apart from the hatching, matching and despatching of friends and relatives.

LOL, no idea what that means rose.

I think doubt is part of being a believer- Jesus describes this well, if I can remember.

No, as said, talking about those who have no doubt that they do NOT believe, but choose to go along, for whatever reason. Very different.

Hatched, matched and despatched as they say (with no visits in between)!

A waivering faith a hypocrite does not make, I think. Re-read my post, it is well explained- about clear non-believers who 'use' the Church for social, cultural reasons, as well as access to schools, etc.

As said, many of our friends and family are as above- they know how I feel about it- and that I do not 'approve'- but it is as far as it goes- we still talk, get on, share a lot of other things- and get on with life, as friends and relatives do. We agree to disagree- even it at times it is a little hard.

So I'm a hypocrite am I? Because my faith waivers at times, but I still love the Christian religion?

This website gets better.

As they say on Strictly SE...VEN!

LOL don't worry many of our family and best friends are 'hypocrites' eg cultural Christians, non-believers, but lovers of the traditions and also the advantages (schools for instance). Not for me, personally- either I do, or I don't- no half measures. And I perhaps have too much respect for the faith of others for taking the mik and advantage/s- knowing full well I do not believe.

That's just the way I am. I could not agree to become a Godmother, for instance, making promises with my fingers crossed behind my back and thinking 'there is no way I am doing THAT'. And no way we could have married in a Church- possibly the most important day of our lives- and spend the whole ceremony lying- what would it say about our genuine wows? I am always looking at all sides of a story, trying to get all the angles and all the shades of grey in between- but not with religion.

Having read a post you made earlier, granjura I am now worrying that I may be thought of as a hypocrite.
I thought agnostic could be a good description, but would an agnostic be at 3.5 on bags's scale of 1-7?

Upbringing, imbued in the christian traditions, a feeling of a 'comfort blanket' in times of need versus science and logic.

I think I understand the concept of that, petallus.

What I have never been able to grasp is infinity.