Why do you attend?

In some ways it’s a bit like cooking. You can do so much of a recipe from memory, but then you have to revert to instruction….the Bible in this case. I like to worship with others feel their fellowship and to worship and learn about God.

I have been into many churches in Italy as well as in the UK and find them beautiful places to be. They inspire awe and wonder in me and are very spiritual places to be.

I go because of Einstein. E = m c2

Energy is atoms, distance & time i. e. everything, so God is everything. The world is made of atoms, travelling vaste distances through space for endless years - so evrything.

Church services make me realise that I'm part of the whole world and having a place in the universe means I'm at home.

I was brought up in a strict, Catholic family, and like many others, that experience turned me against organised religion in my late teens. However, I still believe in God, still pray on occasion, and will quite often pop into a Church if visiting somewhere or on holiday and even light a candle for family and friends who have passed. I don't see any contradiction in that, and can appreciate the sense of peace which such places can engender, perhaps from the echoes of the generations who have worshipped and are still worshipping there. God bless them all.

LJP1

I go because of Einstein. E = m c2

Energy is atoms, distance & time i. e. everything, so God is everything. The world is made of atoms, travelling vaste distances through space for endless years - so evrything.

Church services make me realise that I'm part of the whole world and having a place in the universe means I'm at home.

To coin a phrase...

Oh God.

Where shall I start...? Let's start with "energy is mass". Not atoms, distance and time. Let's start with that.

Because I want to. If I don’t want to, I don’t go. I was brought up to go to church and have gone as and when I want to ever since. I believe that Jesus Christ gave us the recipe for living a good life. I’m afraid I don’t come up to scratch though, but that’s as it is. We are all imperfect.

Church gives me a deep peace. Preferably an early morning spoken Holy Communion service. Unfortunately our Rector covers a number of parishes so our Church usually only has a service once a month. Nevertheless it is always open to all who seek the peace and comfort it offers.

Volver3 - Einstein said it! And it is the basis of fundamental research in universities.

God is energy and so everything else too. It makes sense to me!

Yeah well get yourself a PhD in physics and you'll actually know what you are taking about. Einstein did NOT say it and it is NOT the basis of fundamental research at universities.

Its absolutely fine for people to be Christians and believe in god, I have no beef with that although I don't believe myself.

But when they try to co-op and misrepresent relativity theory or any other science to pretend that their belief is scientific and to justify that belief, I'm obliged to tell them they are havering. And probably, that someone has led them up the garden path.

LJP1

Volver3 - Einstein said it! And it is the basis of fundamental research in universities.

God is energy and so everything else too. It makes sense to me!

Glad it makes sense to you !?!

And yet Jesus said "do not build temples in my name".
And up they go.
I only go for weddings/funerals and christenings.

Sorry, I've diverted this thread (how unlike me...)

Relativity theory is so weird that often people think it means what they want it to mean and spout the most terrible rubbish about it. Quantum physics is worse... 😊

Believe whatever you like about god and all the angels, its not my business. But don't think you can justify it scientifically and don't think you know what Einstein was talking about.

LJP1

Volver3 - Einstein said it! And it is the basis of fundamental research in universities.

God is energy and so everything else too. It makes sense to me!

That's absolute nonsense!!

My partner, whose first degree from Oxford was in physics, is sitting next to me and almost spluttered his tea all over my screen. He asked me who on earth these people I communicate with online are.

PS. My partner does believe in God and occasionally goes to church. That's his choice and I don't have a problem with it. However, to mangle what Einstein said/wrote to justify the existence of God is nonsense.

timetogo2016

And yet Jesus said "do not build temples in my name".
And up they go.
I only go for weddings/funerals and christenings.

I do wonder how many people who get married in Church or get the children Christened in Church, are believers and have true faith.

And how many who get their funeral in Church were?

One of my good friends is the local Vicar. He says he can't say no, but that he feels very sad when he has to participate in charades for social/cultural reasons, for the video and photos.

Because he is forced to lie in the face of God by those people.

Just after the war I visited Rome. There were many beggars and people who had lost limbs in the streets around the Vatican. We went into the Treasure House of the Vatican full of jewels and robes of untold value. Just outside was an elderly woman begging. We gave her a few lira. Instead of going to buy bread she went into the church and bought a candle!
In a small hilltop village poor elderly women were having to climb to get water from a standpipe at the top of the hill. At the same time workmen were renovating and applying gilt to the church dome and inside.

He asked me who on earth these people I communicate with online are.

Yep, that’s pretty much what my husband says too.

Same here 'but who are these people'! when I sometimes read him a post.

I only go to weddings, baptisms and funerals now, though I did go regularly for a few years as a younger adult. I attended Sunday School until I was 11, and was a helper at the local one when my children were small, but I wasn’t confirmed until I was 21.

I like the consistency, the Eucharist, I love singing hymns where nobody cares how bad my voice is, but I’ve honestly never felt any sense if spirituality, nor been moved by the message in any sermon. I cannot get past my belief that religion - or belief in an invisible superpower called God - is just an excuse for bad behaviour. As long as you’re truly sorry, this “God” has the power to judge you, to forgive or to condemn? Really?

My mother died peacefully in her 90s, absolutely sure that she would be reunited in Heaven with my (atheist) father. It comforted her, yet why?

If my childhood abuser was sufficiently sorry for my mother’s God to welcome him to Heaven, I don’t want any part of it.

So, Polomint, you have asked a question, but where do you stand?

ETS my father did not abuse me - it reads as though he did, sorry.

A few thoughts on church attendance.
I was terrified going with my grandmother to "Chapel" as it was as it was a hellfire and damnation. "Thou shall Not " type of christianity.
Nearer to home, the church I was sent to (not taken) had Sunday school morning and afternoon I had to have an attendance book stamped ,even on holiday, At 10 yrs old, and an avid reader, on prize giving day I was given a board book suitable for my toddler brother. I was mortified and embarrassed.
Neither of these have have encouraged me to attend church, although I love hymn singing.
Visiting churches and places of worship in many different countries, I have found some very welcoming. Most notably, the Golden Temple at Amritsar

I went to church for several years, finally convinced myself I did believe it all. Then I found that for some, the whole purpose was to prove that they were better Christians than the next person and some were only kind when it suited them. I left

SquirrelSue

I moved to a new area 5 years ago. I first attended the big parish church but the people were middle class and stuffy. One of the parishioners asked me where I live, having told her I live in a flat, she responded by saying "oh dear, I live in a Victorian house". I never returned. I then went to a smaller church for Sunday morning service. I was smartly dressed. I sat in a pew on my own. No one walked up to me to say, hello, welcome, good morning. No one smiled. I felt totally isolated. So I gave up and haven't gone to church since.

I’m so sorry to hear you had those experiences. I can’t believe how badly people behaved to you. Please don’t give up! Churches aren’t all like this. I have mainly had very good treatment there.