Why do you attend?

Musicgirl you say any Christian denomination should welcome you
Why shouldn’t the poster have to see the Christian faith as obligatory why not look at Buddhism, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh faiths and see what suits her best

I was once told by a very ardent church goer (who had been in prison for viewing child pornography, not once I might add) that only Christians go to heaven ! I found that such a bizarre statement Perhaps some of the Christian’s posting here can explain that to me ???

volver3

^I am revelling in my ordeals^

Is that a Christian thing?

Surely you can see how this can be interpreted.

Probably.
Sorry can't stop now, my lunchtime pastis is just being served.

I am revelling in my ordeals

Is that a Christian thing?

Surely you can see how this can be interpreted.

I didn't say that non believers hate Christians.
But some of the comments against belief in God which have been made on various threads, can be a bit rude and suggest that believers have little education/intelligence.
I have had such comments made to me.

volver3

Joseanne

I have never thought that "non-believers" hate Christians and pick on them. In fact what non-believers think about others' faiths is probably totally irrelevant to those who hold a strongfast belief and commitment.
A believer's religion doesn't always make them happy. It requires effort and hard work, but the rewards are worthwhile, no more so than on Easter Sunday.

Trying to counter a post that says people can behave like fake martyrs, with a post that says the thing they do doesn't make them happy but its worthwhile....

Aye, well....

I had already thought about that one.
Martyrdom is not my style. You get me wrong, I am not looking for sympathy. I am revelling in my ordeals and finding comfort. It doesn't mean that I am swinging from the chandeliers with joy.

For me it means that everything in this universe is from God’s energy; he is the originator of everything. What do you believe?

Joseanne

I have never thought that "non-believers" hate Christians and pick on them. In fact what non-believers think about others' faiths is probably totally irrelevant to those who hold a strongfast belief and commitment.
A believer's religion doesn't always make them happy. It requires effort and hard work, but the rewards are worthwhile, no more so than on Easter Sunday.

Trying to counter a post that says people can behave like fake martyrs, with a post that says the thing they do doesn't make them happy but its worthwhile....

Aye, well....

Good post Joseanne.

Agreed Volver. And as said above, so many people who call themselves 'Christians' nowadays, are cultural Christians, with little faith or none- and will only attend weddings, funerals, Christenings and perhaps Carol service- which to me is very disrespectful to those with true Faith, hypocritical too.

Yet, there is one aspect that does 'annoy' me- and it is that the CofE in particular has huge influence on politics, given very important positions in the HoL- and that Christians do try and influence decisions made in politics and society, be it on homosexuality, choice at the end of life (assisted dying) and so many other aspects, including some very important legal issues.

This should not be the case in a modern society. Religion and faith should be private and not have special powers in our Political and Judiciary system, or education.

I have never thought that "non-believers" hate Christians and pick on them. In fact what non-believers think about others' faiths is probably totally irrelevant to those who hold a strongfast belief and commitment.
A believer's religion doesn't always make them happy. It requires effort and hard work, but the rewards are worthwhile, no more so than on Easter Sunday.

nadateturbe

Zeus

I go because it is part of my life, not separate. My faith is real, and hearing the bible read and praying and singing and talking to other people who believe the same as me is uplifting. I always feel recharged when I leave.

Same here.
Why does our faith annoy non believers so much?

I can’t speak for all “non-believers" but I’ll speak for myself.

Your faith doesn’t “annoy” me. What annoys me is the fake martyr hood. All the “Oh they hate us”, “Oh they don’t care about Christians”, “Oh why do they keep saying there’s no scientific proof”, “Boo hoo they're picking on us.”

There’s a whole thread here of people telling us why religion means a lot to them. Fine, that’s nice for you all and it clearly makes people happy. So stop trying to say that “non-believers” are annoyed by your faith. Bemused, yes, but never annoyed, unless you try to tell us we have to believe in the same stuff you do, or live our lives the way you think is the right way.

I’m happily and securely evolved into my own belief system. Basically I’m a little bit of everything and everyone who has posted here on this subject.

I haven’t given up on all hope and faith (I was raised Christian/Methodist) but I no longer follow all the rules. I’ve carved out a few pieces to keep and the rest I’ve discarded.

I feel spiritually fulfilled on how I reached this point.

Happy Easter.

youtu.be/Ymkl0t0FOcw

Zeus

I go because it is part of my life, not separate. My faith is real, and hearing the bible read and praying and singing and talking to other people who believe the same as me is uplifting. I always feel recharged when I leave.

Same here.
Why does our faith annoy non believers so much?

BigBertha1

I e by go to church anymore. The C of E has been modernised out of all recognition and lost all the wonderful services and music. As a consequence I've lost touch with God.

I feel a bit like that.
I am uplifted by beautiful music and if I lived anywhere near one of the many cathedrals I would attend there. Lost touch though? Not sure. I just find it too hard, emotionally.
Memorable Easter Sundays of the past have always included church - DH loved Easter, but I still feel too raw.

NanaDana

Why is there repeated reference to the fact that there is no scientific evidence that God exists? Of course there isn't. If there was, the entire concept of "faith" would be irrelevant. Pointless argument.

If you believe that god exists, all well and good. Believe it if you want, none of my business.

But don't try to pretend science makes your belief more likely to be true. It just doesn't.

I go because it is part of my life, not separate. My faith is real, and hearing the bible read and praying and singing and talking to other people who believe the same as me is uplifting. I always feel recharged when I leave.

Since moving to live in my village four years ago, I have worshipped in our church which is very old. I have envied older acquaintances their staunch belief in God. I have been made very welcome and have made many friends. This is what I have been missing in my life - a sense of belonging and sharing beliefs. I consider myself lucky.

Why is there repeated reference to the fact that there is no scientific evidence that God exists? Of course there isn't. If there was, the entire concept of "faith" would be irrelevant. Pointless argument.

I go because I love the Lord Jesus and love worshipping Him with other believers in church. I worship Him at home as well but we are told not to give up meeting together. If we give up going there is the danger of our love growing cold and the example is given of taking a coal or log out of a fire and seeing it die down. We worship, encourage each other, learn and serve as we get involved and hopefully help others as well as ourselves.

polomint

Why do you attend church or chapel? Is it for the mass, the gospel, the sermon, the company or something else?

To worship God because I love him.

Also because I like going. I like the music, the fellowship with other people who love God, and taking Communion to remember what Jesus did for us. It gives me a sense of belonging and fills up my emotional tank to go.

I also like serving the community with my fellow-believers at other times.

I e by go to church anymore. The C of E has been modernised out of all recognition and lost all the wonderful services and music. As a consequence I've lost touch with God.

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.

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

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