Just curious.

I looked forward to going to church when I was little. It was Sunday school and I went every Sunday.

I don't go to mass EVERY Sunday now, but I go more often than not :angel:

I stopped going to church in college. Thought I was too smart and the God was not real. Got more educated and smarter and realized that God is real and that I need to be with others that worship Him.

I went to church and Sunday school when I was a kid. VBS was something I looked forward to every summer and I went to our church's week-long sleepaway camp as well. I was also active in Youth Group.

I attended church sporadically as an adult - usually as a guest of a member, so I actually experienced several different churches. Haven't been attended a service since Larry and I got married, except for once or twice for a baptism or something.

I grew up in a weird family. One side Pagan, one side Southern Baptist. I went to a lot of different churches as a kid, with friends and family. Asked alot of questions, studied alot and you all know where I ended up. :wink:

I didn’t start attending church until I was in the 2-3rd grade and that was a non-denominational church with some girls that lived down the street. Neither of my parents attended to despite the fact my dad’s father was a pastor in a Methodist Church, my great parents active in a CMA church in P.A., and my mother’s dad’s family is and was active in a Lutheran Church. My mother ended up attending Lutheran services and then left and joined the Catholic Church all when I was in the 5th grade. After that, I was active with the Catholic Church until my early 20’s. I received all the sacraments in the Catholic Church, and when my kids were younger, we started going again. My father was an atheist at the time, now, he is a Deacon in a local church.

The constant complaint I heard was that church is boring, kids, adults, a good majority of people. A service has to be something that you walk away from feeling rejuvenated. Look at Joel Olsten’s services on TV, he keeps your attention, incorporates scripture into everyday life. I am now attending a church that does just that. My kids actually look forward to going and so do I, that is what church is about. Not a place to go and be bored ½ to death for an hour and a half.

I went every Sunday, rain or shine. (Catholic)
Now I go once in a while. I would rather spend time at my Mother's grave, praying, which I feel is just fine, since God is everywhere.

Although I KNOW she went straight to Heaven! :angel:

Raised Catholic, even an alter boy. Was forced to go as a preteen but quit going altogether by highschool. Most here know my views, prove it, I'll believe.

Mom made me attend Sunday School and Church each Sunday. Guess I was the family rep as I had to carry her tighe envelope and drop it on the plate. Did the VBS and even was a choir member even though I had and have a tin ear. Guess when I was about 13 or 14 Mom didn't tell me to get ready, so I didn't. Have attended various services now and then since but they have been few and far between. I prefer to make my own decisions on what the Bible says and not accept anothers opinion.

Altar boy here too. :angel: ALWAYS did midnight mass at Christmas and Stations every other Friday during Lent. Stopped going for awhile during HS started back up in boot camp, then became a full fledged C&E. Now that I am married (10 yrs this week) we go every week and seek out churches when we go on vacations.

Being from Kentucky, EVERYONE was southern Baptist... My dafd pulled us out of church because he suddenly developed a problem with either the tithing, or that my mom wasnt' home being his little servant. :dead:

When we moved here, my mom returned to Catholicism. Throughout middle school and high school I visited every church in SOMD. I have been freaked out by holy rollers and told I had no soul becuase I could not speak in tongues.

I was 15 when I found what I was looking for, and it's stayed with me faithfully since day one.

Being from Kentucky, EVERYONE was southern Baptist... My dafd pulled us out of church because he suddenly developed a problem with either the tithing, or that my mom wasnt' home being his little servant. :dead:

When we moved here, my mom returned to Catholicism. Throughout middle school and high school I visited every church in SOMD. I have been freaked out by holy rollers and told I had no soul becuase I could not speak in tongues.

I was 15 when I found what I was looking for, and it's stayed with me faithfully since day one.

Been there and done that "Holy Roller, preacher pointing straight at you and yelling YOU ARE GOING TO HELL SINNER, all red in his face Southern Baptist stuff". It's scary and it's mind warping. I would never do that to my children. I used to have nightmares about it when I was young.

Raised Catholic, even an alter boy. Was forced to go as a preteen but quit going altogether by highschool. Most here know my views, prove it, I'll believe.That's why it is called , "faith." "Blessed are those that believe and have not seen." - excerpt - John 20:29

That's why it is called , "faith." "Blessed are those that believe and have not seen." - excerpt - John 20:29

Belief without proof just doesn't work for me.

That's why it is called , "faith." "Blessed are those that believe and have not seen." - excerpt - John 20:29
I know. You and I have debated this before. :yay:

Don't remember much of my own edumacating, save CCD (probably somewhat irregular) and 1st Holy Communion... Not even sure about church - I guess I went sporadically, though my mom wasn't much for going. She grew up, basically, in a Catholic boarding school, and religion sort of mellowed after the first five kids, I guess.... With my sister's kids, I remember feeling content going to Sunday School with them on occasion, and the little ones were left to running around as the Priest felt it important that they feel comfortable in church. And I also loved hearing the little voices sing "Jesus loves the little children...."

As I grew older, I always felt uncomfortable - as an outsider or poser - in that I counted myself as a "Catholic", yet really knew nothing of the Bible or even of the religion - or even of mass. Even at my own Catholic wedding.

Through the years, I have come to realize that I am not above or below attending church or mass or letting it flow through me - or not. I don't know how I feel about religion or history or how much I know, believe or don't know.

It's pretty personal really.

I do know I haven't figured it out yet...

Belief without proof just doesn't work for me.
I know. You and I have debated this before. :yay:
I just have to keep trying. It is who God has made me. Please don't take offense. Know that I do it out of love, please.

I stopped going to church in college. Thought I was too smart and the God was not real. Got more educated and smarter and realized that God is real and that I need to be with others that worship Him.

That's a very familiar story.

I was dragged to a Lutheran Church for about ten years. We went at 9:30 in the a.m. and were there until 1:00 p.m. or later. I remember my dad telling us that we were going to go, we were going to smile and we were going to be pleasant, and if we weren't, we were going to be in big trouble when we got home. I got very burned out. It was very, very boring.

Raised Catholic. Went as a kid and still go every Sunday I can get there.

Raised Catholic, even an alter boy. Was forced to go as a preteen but quit going altogether by highschool. Most here know my views, prove it, I'll believe.
It will be too late then. :huggy:

Went every Sunday growing up but didn't particularly like it. All my friends were Catholic so they went to CCD classes Wednesday after school and I was a little miffed that I had to spend some of my weekend time in church.

Growing up, my parents made us go to church. The church bus would come around and pick us up and bring us back home. Dad would stay home and watch the Tarzan movies on channel 20. I wanted to stay home and watch TV as well but was forced to go. I continued to go and stopped while in college. Few years afterward, I got married and had kids and wanted them to go to church so I go with them to set the example.

Being from Kentucky, EVERYONE was southern Baptist... My dafd pulled us out of church because he suddenly developed a problem with either the tithing, or that my mom wasnt' home being his little servant. :dead:

When we moved here, my mom returned to Catholicism. Throughout middle school and high school I visited every church in SOMD. I have been freaked out by holy rollers and told I had no soul becuase I could not speak in tongues.

I was 15 when I found what I was looking for, and it's stayed with me faithfully since day one.
Fttrs, about the speaking in tongues, my pastor told us that unless there is someone to translate the tongues it isn't real. I'll have to ask him the specific verse that he was referring but it says something like God will work through someone else and give them the translation evertyime tongues are used. Not everyone does it and to tell you the truth, it freaks me out. No one has ever done that in my church, ever.

Fttrs, about the speaking in tongues, my pastor told us that unless there is someone to translate the tongues it isn't real. I'll have to ask him the specific verse that he was referring but it says something like God will work through someone else and give them the translation evertyime tongues are used. Not everyone does it and to tell you the truth, it freaks me out. No one has ever done that in my church, ever.

My pastor said the same thing. A few people speak in tongues during the service and someone else gives the translation. It does freak someone out who does not know about the gift of tongues.

The Bible describes three different manifestations of speaking in tongues:


1-Evidential tongues-The initial evidence when someone is baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1- 4;10:44-46;19:2-7.)

2-Intercessory tongues-the ability to pray in other tongues, or "In the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:14- 16; Ephesians 6:18;Jude 20) in order to pray beyond our limited human understanding , speak mysteries to God ( 1 Corinthians 14:2) and edify (build up) ourselves (1 Corinthians 14:4.)

3-The ministry gift of tongues, described in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14, involves giving a message in tongues in a public worship service, which is to be interpreted (12:10).This is a powerful sign to unbelievers ( 14:22).This gift is only given in certain situations, as the Spirit wills. Therefore, not all Christians are used in this gift (12:30.)

My pastor said the same thing. A few people speak in tongues during the service and someone else gives the translation. It does freak someone out who does not know about the gift of tongues.

The Bible describes three different manifestations of speaking in tongues:


1-Evidential tongues-The initial evidence when someone is baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1- 4;10:44-46;19:2-7.)

2-Intercessory tongues-the ability to pray in other tongues, or "In the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:14- 16; Ephesians 6:18;Jude 20) in order to pray beyond our limited human understanding , speak mysteries to God ( 1 Corinthians 14:2) and edify (build up) ourselves (1 Corinthians 14:4.)

3-The ministry gift of tongues, described in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14, involves giving a message in tongues in a public worship service, which is to be interpreted (12:10).This is a powerful sign to unbelievers ( 14:22).This gift is only given in certain situations, as the Spirit wills. Therefore, not all Christians are used in this gift (12:30.)
Thanks for the scripture references. I'm no good at that. I hope I didn't offend you saying it freaked me out. Just something I haven't had alot of exposure to.

Thanks for the scripture references. I'm no good at that. I hope I didn't offend you saying it freaked me out. Just something I haven't had alot of exposure to.

:huggy: not at all.

Fttrs, about the speaking in tongues, my pastor told us that unless there is someone to translate the tongues it isn't real. I'll have to ask him the specific verse that he was referring but it says something like God will work through someone else and give them the translation evertyime tongues are used. Not everyone does it and to tell you the truth, it freaks me out. No one has ever done that in my church, ever.
Sorry, camily, but your pastor is not quite on base according to the Bible. The gift of tongues can be used as a prayer language between a person and God where the Holy Spirit uses the mouth of the person to utter words in prayer and praise to God; there is no need for translation when it is person to God. On occasion, tongues is used as an admonishment to the whole body, the church, then translation is needed. At times, people speaking in tongues will be heard in their own language; no translation needed.

Jesus said that people that believed in Him would have certain powers given to them as signs and tongues is one of them (Mark 16:17-18). Acts chapters 2, 10, & 19 talk about the disciples getting the gift of tongues on Pentecost and of others getting the gift of tongues as an outward sign of being empowered by the Holy Spirit living within them. Paul wrote about tongues in 1 Corinthians in chapters 12, 13, and 14.

All believers do not have the gift of tongues nor do they have to. Some churches, including the one I go to, emphasize tongues too much. There are other gifts that, as Paul writes, are more desirable.

My pastor said the same thing. A few people speak in tongues during the service and someone else gives the translation. It does freak someone out who does not know about the gift of tongues.

The Bible describes three different manifestations of speaking in tongues:


1-Evidential tongues-The initial evidence when someone is baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1- 4;10:44-46;19:2-7.)

2-Intercessory tongues-the ability to pray in other tongues, or "In the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:14- 16; Ephesians 6:18;Jude 20) in order to pray beyond our limited human understanding , speak mysteries to God ( 1 Corinthians 14:2) and edify (build up) ourselves (1 Corinthians 14:4.)

3-The ministry gift of tongues, described in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14, involves giving a message in tongues in a public worship service, which is to be interpreted (12:10).This is a powerful sign to unbelievers ( 14:22).This gift is only given in certain situations, as the Spirit wills. Therefore, not all Christians are used in this gift (12:30.)Good explanation. I should have read down further before posting. The only part I see left out is where someone will speak in tongues and others will hear in their own language (Acts 2:1-13).

The Baptist minister that married us, who did not speak in tongues, told me that he went on a missionary trip to Russia before he was ordained. He was left on a street corner and his interpreter didn't show up, so he just started preaching the word. He said that lots of people gathered around and were listening. He told me that one of the Russians said to him, "Finally, they send us someone who speaks Russian." He didn't; he thought he was speaking in English. God uses us as HE pleases; it not up to us, minister or not, to limit Him.

Was raised a Southern Baptist, at the church on 301 just south of the main entrance to Marlton.

I now concider myself a Recovering Baptist. Will eventually convert to Catholic. To me, a church is just a building. I don't need a church building to be able to pray and talk to God.

Was baptized Episcopalian, but never really went to church as a child. Had a pretty good "falling out" with God and then had an "A-HA!" moment and went back to church.

Joined the Presbyterian church this year.

The people are the Church, not the building.

The people are the Church, not the building.
True. The believers in Christ are His body on earth, the Church. A building or a denomination is just a church.

Was raised a Southern Baptist, at the church on 301 just south of the main entrance to Marlton.

I now concider myself a Recovering Baptist. Will eventually convert to Catholic. To me, a church is just a building. I don't need a church building to be able to pray and talk to God.

:yay:

When I was about 12ish we went to church for about six months.

Baptist, 4 times a week, vacation bible school, revivals, the whole enchalada. I was once a Christian and did not find fulfillment at all. I found I was lying to myself. I found that I experienced nothing that wasn't casually explained by simple human interactions.

The best I can do is absorb the informaiton that's out there, and come to the best conclusion I can using the most consistent process available to me. When I total up all the factors towards belief or not, I come to the conclusion that the theistic worldview has such intrinsic flaws and self-contradictions that it is false.

It's not only those flaws and self-contradictions that lead me to the conclusion-- the conclusion incorporates a host of other, converging informational resources that combined lead me to not accept the theistic worldview (as a whole) as true, and the Christian wordlview in particular is rejectable.

Am I right in this conclusion? Well, plenty of people say I am not, and I'm arrogant and so on. But to cross onto the other side would force me to conclude that all the evidence I can see to the contrary of the theist's belief needs to simply be ignored. Doing that is dishonesty to myself, and I cannot rationalize a life well lived with a viewpoint that I cannot deny is dishonest.

I just have to keep trying. It is who God has made me. Please don't take offense. Know that I do it out of love, please.Never took offense. I'm ok with others believing. :howdy:




It will be too late then. :huggy:You know I'm a touchy, feely kinda guy... :lmao:

When I was a kid, my family went to a Lutheran church for a while. One day after Sunday school, I came back to the regular service and found a guest preacher talking about Job or about the persecution of early Christians, I can't remember which. He had two kids standing next to him. He talked about how his enemies put his son's eye out, and had the boy cover his eye with his hand. And then he said his enemies cut out his daughter's tongue, and had the girl cover her mouth with her hand. I was thinking, "Is this what religion is about? Child mutilation? What if someone wants to cut out my eye or chop out my tongue?"

[QUOTE=virgovictoria]
really knew nothing of the Bible or even of the religion - or even of mass. Even at my own Catholic wedding.

Through the years, I have come to realize that I am not above or below attending church or mass or letting it flow through me - or not. I don't know how I feel about religion or history or how much I know, believe or don't know.

[QUOTE]

My mom would get a hair up her butt every now and again and we would go to church. It would last about a month and then we would stop going. I did attend CCD classes every Monday night at Mother Catherine school in Helen.

I know some of the prayers. But like VV, I don't know much of the bible or even the religion. I don't really care to know all of the details of the bible or religion. I know I believe in god and I pray, as someone else stated I don't need a chuch building to pray I can do that anywhere.

The last time I went to church was probably in 2000, maybe 2001, for Christmas Mass.

I know some of the prayers. But like VV, I don't know much of the bible or even the religion. I don't really care to know all of the details of the bible or religion. I know I believe in god and I pray, as someone else stated I don't need a chuch building to pray I can do that anywhere.
I go to church every Sunday, but I also agree that you don't need to go to a building to pray. You can do just as well if you believe in God and pray on your own.

I was christened in a church my Grandfather helped to build in Front Royal, Virginia. I was baptised in a church in Gales Ferry, Connecticut in the big baptist church in Groton or New London. We were building a new church in Gales Ferry but we didn't have a baptismal...

I've been to a river baptism.... My great [or great great...] grandfather was a preacher... My grandmother....My uncle... no one in this generation tho...

I loved church as a kid.... learning the Bible and evangilizing .... I loved it...

I regularly attended a small Methodist Church while growing up. My mother was devout, my father was pretty much an agnostic.

The bride (of 25 years) is Southern Baptist and wouldn't even consider attending another church. We were married in a Baptist Church in La Plata.
(I joined the Baptist Church-I figured we had lots of other stuff we could argue about. :wink: )
Stopped attending for a while, then went back but never really felt comfortable.

The last time I attended a regular worship service was the infamous Sunday evening when the tornado blew through La Plata. I thought there was a message there, but I'm still unsure what.

I do read a daily devotional and pray. The bride and I regularly discuss finding another church where we'd feel more at ease, but so far it's been talk and very little action.

I was christened in a pentacostal church but later became baptist and remained so with the exception of being baptized pentecostal and then returning to the baptist church.

At around 7y/o I went to a big Baptist church alone for Sunday school. My godmother use to give me $0.50 for church. I would put a quarter in the Sunday school basket and keep one for myself. I used the other to go to the corner store for candy.

I use to take the church fans (cardboard on a stick) frequently as souvenirs. In addition, I didn't even know there was a certain thing as worship service. Until one day when the Sunday school kids had a part in a holiday program and we all were taiken in to the sanctuary.

It was the most boring place in the world to me. I sat there very impatiently and then eventually I told one of the other kids I sat beside that I was about to leave. I waited a few minutes and bounced. I didn't go back to that church after that.

I did one year of VBS with my aunt who was a year older than me and that was awesome. Then, as a teen I ended up going to church pretty regularly and sung in the choir, was a junior usher, VBS, emceed youth day programs, it was a small church and my aunt who is now in her late 70's and her late husband were deacons and deaconness so it was easy for us to be an active part of that church.

I took my sons to church from ages 7 and 3 for about 2yrs in 2001-2003 until I had a unspoken falling out with a gf I had since junior high who had been a long time member of the church. I took us out of the church and stayed out til I moved to SoMD where I hoped to find a new church home for us but havent as of yet. I think I still feel a little burned.

However, I have noticed that the church bus does come to my community to pick up children and that is an awesome thing because I believe all children should have some amount of fear of God in them.

We went as a family every Sunday when we were kids. Twelve years of catholic school pretty much beat any religion right outta me and I stopped going once I got semi-independent post-high school. Went back once or twice but other than that I don't go and I don't miss it.