Those that go to church only on religious holidays

[/DG/]

Many people go to church with their extended families on holidays. It's a means of tradition and togetherness.

I'm not a religious person, but my family celebrates religious holidays. Of course I participate with them... it's not because I necessarily believe in the religion, but I like coming together to socialize with everyone. It's all in good fun.

And the food we have when we're together is always a plus. I'm stuffed from Easter dinner.

 

[Nicodemus]

What's the point? You won't earn your salvation going to church two days out of the year... How do people justify this and not feel like a complete tool?

Is this not part of what Protestantism is about: that you do not need a church to meet up with Jesus and his dad?

 

[NegativeZero]

I dont get annoyed about peoples personal beliefs these days when they arent interfering with me living my life, I have marked and see these sorts of sentiments expressed by athiests more and more though. With respect its one of the less endearing things about the new athiesm...

This isnt anything to do with an athiestic envy of religious traditions or holidays?

You're dismissing out of hand all the Christians who get annoyed by this as well. I don't think OP nor I are deeply irked by this, but we find it insincere. Of course, it is possible to be a "good Christian" and only go to church once or twice a year. I do not have a personal problem with people that do this, and not to speak on his behalf, but I doubt OP does either. The idea of it is silly to me, though.

One of the least endearing things about religious people, Christians in particular, is all the half-hearted ones you see. This goes back to my initial point about a debasing lack of sincerity: most Christians behave almost identically to most atheists. In fact, I'd dare say that many atheists are more scrupulous in their moral calibrations (divine command theory is a crock, the idea of sin is repulsive to the field of ethics) and have fewer vices. This is the bigger issue at hand: just how Christian is any given Christian?

Most people do not choose to believe in God or follow a religion. It is indoctrinated from youth, the dogma is accepted, and the creed has been wilted upon their souls evermore. Now, the religion is passed on to their children. Rinse, wash, repeat.

 

[guesswho]

You never see that here, in one of the most atheistic/anti-religious cities in the country.

Sounds like a great place.

 

[Lark]

You're dismissing out of hand all the Christians who get annoyed by this as well.

No. No I dont. Thank you for asking what my opinion was rather than telling me what it was. Wait....

One of the least endearing things about religious people, Christians in particular, is all the half-hearted ones you see.

Really? I would not have thought an athiest or anti-Christian would think so.

This goes back to my initial point about a debasing lack of sincerity: most Christians behave almost identically to most atheists. In fact, I'd dare say that many atheists are more scrupulous in their moral calibrations (divine command theory is a crock, the idea of sin is repulsive to the field of ethics) and have fewer vices. This is the bigger issue at hand: just how Christian is any given Christian?

Properly understood the concept for sin is a great one and this age has suffered for the lack of one. I dont concur with your valourisation of athiests and villification of Christians. However, I dont consider the measure of either atheism or Christianity to be mere morality.

Most people do not choose to believe in God or follow a religion. It is indoctrinated from youth, the dogma is accepted, and the creed has been wilted upon their souls evermore. Now, the religion is passed on to their children. Rinse, wash, repeat.

No. No its not. Although this is a belief of many athiests. One of its principle dogmas, others are ignorant, particularly those from earlier times. It seems very conceited to me.

 

[Beargryllz]

Is this not part of what Protestantism is about: that you do not need a church to meet up with Jesus and his dad?

Perhaps, but maintaining the structure of the church adds to its longevity. Just look at the Catholics. It could have once been an ideal of Protestantism to go without the church, but I don't think many Protestants would really advise a follower to stop going to church. It's strategic, spend more time around a belief and it can grow stronger, you might feel more strongly about it one way or another. So you could go off in a new direction, but not as many people would still be following you, I suppose.

 

[Sniffles]

Is this not part of what Protestantism is about: that you do not need a church to meet up with Jesus and his dad?

Actually Protestant churches put more emphasis on the communal gathering aspect of services far more than Catholics do.

 

[Lark]

There is more, much more, to Christianity than church attendence, there is much of what have been written about religion and religious obeservance within this thread which betrays a facile and facetious conception of religion.

For instance attending church, why is it important in the first place? It is first and foremost a symbolic tradition, a means, among others, of transmitting knowledge and the learning of one generation to the next. It may or may not serve as a spring board to spiritual experiences.

 

[Octarine]

You won't earn your salvation going to church two days out of the year...

LOL
Maybe it's not about 'salvation', maybe its about socialisation?
By the way, I'm not convinced that going to church is a mandatory obligation of the Christian religion.

 

[Orangey]

You're dismissing out of hand all the Christians who get annoyed by this as well. I don't think OP nor I are deeply irked by this, but we find it insincere. Of course, it is possible to be a "good Christian" and only go to church once or twice a year. I do not have a personal problem with people that do this, and not to speak on his behalf, but I doubt OP does either. The idea of it is silly to me, though.

One of the least endearing things about religious people, Christians in particular, is all the half-hearted ones you see. This goes back to my initial point about a debasing lack of sincerity: most Christians behave almost identically to most atheists. In fact, I'd dare say that many atheists are more scrupulous in their moral calibrations (divine command theory is a crock, the idea of sin is repulsive to the field of ethics) and have fewer vices. This is the bigger issue at hand: just how Christian is any given Christian?

Most people do not choose to believe in God or follow a religion. It is indoctrinated from youth, the dogma is accepted, and the creed has been wilted upon their souls evermore. Now, the religion is passed on to their children. Rinse, wash, repeat.

The less sincere people are about it, the better. I could care less about their hypocrisy as long as they don't go raising their children like those fucking people from Jesus Camp (not that most do, yada, yada.) The less seriously it's taken in day-to-day matters, the better it is for society as a whole.

 

[Jaguar]

Our family used to go every Sunday until my Mom got pissed off at what was going on at two churches. Then we only went to midnight mass - Christmas Eve.
More news came out, and she got even more pissed off. Yep, that about sums it up.

 

[King sns]

I'm one of these people.. I personally enjoy church on holidays... Brings about nostalgia and a feeling of warmth. I don't claim to be a religious person, though.

 

[figsfiggyfigs]

I don't even go to my church on holidays.

 

[Ginkgo]

I don't go to church on the holidays. I avoid church like the plague and I no longer feel beholden by it. Here, Clint Eastwood can say it better than I can.

[YOUTUBE="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zczuA3_-jQo&feature=related"].[/YOUTUBE]

 

[mmhmm]

i was raised anglican and went to an episcopalian
prep school. we had chapel on wednesdays right
before formal dinners at school. i always found
a way to skip.

now i only go to church for funerals or weddings.
not even holidays. parking sucks.

 

[Mole]

I very rarely go to church and when I do I find I am irritated. I understand the ceremony but it seems to have little to do with me. And it's as though the congregation is walking in their sleep. Frankly I don't see any chance of them waking up. The nuns have left. The young have left, even the altar boys have left. And all that's left is to put a brave face on it, and guess what, they are going to develop the land into Aged Persons Units, rather expensive ones. It's as though they are completely determined to do something but I don't know what. I don't think criticizing them helps and I don't think joining them helps. It's as though they are waiting, somehow abandoned and lost, waiting for Godot. I saw the play, "Waiting for Godot", and I felt the same way I do at church. It's kinda like life imitating art.

 

[Anew Leaf]

I am in church anytime I am outside.

 

[Sniffles]

I don't even go to my church on holidays.

You're not necessarily required to attend services are you?

 

[Mole]

I am in church anytime I am outside.

When you are outside the church, you are inside the church.

 

[Totenkindly]

You're dismissing out of hand all the Christians who get annoyed by this as well. I don't think OP nor I are deeply irked by this, but we find it insincere.

yeah, I would hear lots of complaints when I was in church from other church-goers, who felt like people were insincere to just show up twice a year and felt like the entire service was fake... while they, since they committed to going all the time, were sincere in their beliefs.

Insincerity was a big deal. I used to hear earfuls even back in college, about the Catholics who would go out partying every Saturday night, then drag themselves back to a noon mass and take communion, as if somehow that made everything better. (I'm simply repeating the perception that was commonly shared.)

or Thanksgiving, where people routinely will pray "thank you" prayers to... who? My religious in-laws used to always complain about that. They felt it was again watering down their faith.

So, yes, it's fairly common for "sincerity" to be a relevant value for religious people, who feel that their beliefs might be watered down by "cultural Christians" or whomever else using the holidays for themselves without truly honoring them.