Is Going To Church Necessary? I Am Becoming Very Cynical

[gordiescotland1]

I am becoming very cynical and disillusioned with church the lack of enthusiasm for prayer I tried to organise a prayer meeting for my town with a vision for all churches to come together for an event I emailed 10 churches and 3 people came it is pathetic. The church as a whole seems to be asleep. It says Christ is coming back for a bride without blemish. I take it it is prophetic and still to come rather than actually happening now. Because the church as a whole has a heck of a lot of blemishes. The people in the church are very family orientated middle class white. It says in the bible do not give up meeting together but is 2 Christians having coffee not meeting together. I believe God is very creative why are we limiting him to a building? My friend is in hospital at the moment and he is dying, a huge number in the church I go to are on holiday I was the only one that went to visit him this afternoon. I sent my minister 6 or 7 texts this afternoon and he never replied and when I phoned his wife she didnt seem bothered about it and said that people were on holiday they are going in tomorrow but I am just like I want to give up on church

[kvalidir]

I think if you go to church because you believe in god, then it doesn't matter if you go or not, your god will be with you. People are flawed and fallible, the church is no different to any other cross section of the community, some will be good and lovely people, some not so much.
If you've tried to rally people and they won't come, don't press it, just be there for your friend and sort them out once he's gone. I thin it's poor as well for what it's worth Gordie, but possibly the time to have a rant at them is not now, just be there for your friend then you know you have behaved properly. Sorry for your anguish in this x

[nailit]

gordie, I think that my views on prayer, religion etc are pretty well known on AB. But You have a friend that is dying. He needs you, not a church or the prayers of a church. YOU.

[-SharonA-]

As an atheist, I cannot see what difference it makes where you pray and if you bother at all.
Like you cannot see why god is limited to a building.

[nailit]

Actually, this is one of the things that started me on my way from religion to atheism. On the whole, people are only REALLY concerned about their own. They may pay lip service to others but ultimately (according to evolutionary psychology) only your own tribe matters in the great scheme of things.

[nailit]

// I believe God is very creative//
//why are we limiting him to a building?//

It was asking these kind of questions that led me away from faith and into reason...

[-Talbot-]

Struggled with your OP tbh.

But the lack of empathy/sympathy and general interest proves religious people are the same as irreligious people.

[-Talbot-]

And to answer your question.......NO.

[nailit]

Why did you struggle with the OP Talbot?
I didn't.

[scooping]

I've always like this one, especially when people criticise (often rightly) the Church.

"Behind this church, made of men and bricks, there is another church, infinite and invisible, whose flags are raised towards heaven. This church lives in the hearts of the millions of faithful who love Christ and His message". To me it means that men and women will always fail, but Christ never can.
Jean Gomez-Jurado.

[-Talbot-]

Good for you, nailit.

[rowanwitch]

Many I have met demonstrate the antithesis of christian behaviour while professing a deep and abiding faith....
Many I have met whose behaviour personifies that of the committed christian while having no faith at all.

[nailit]

//Why did you struggle with the OP Talbot?///
//Good for you, nailit.//

Eh?
You have a habit of avoiding questions...

[Scarlett]

People are people aren't they? Regardless of religious belief, most can be selfish. Stop worrying about what other people are doing (rather than pestering with text messages- I think you have your answer) and go visit your friend. Pray for him. You don't need others to do that. Prayer aside, he will appreciate your visits, and that's what matters right now.

[-Talbot-]

//Why did you struggle with the OP Talbot?///
//Good for you, nailit.//

Eh?
You have a habit of avoiding questions...



I avoid nothing.
The OP was in the main...giberish. I can fully understand why you were at one with it.

[Mamyalynne]

Gordie, just be the best person you can be, you don't need a special building for that - it would be nice to think those in your congregation would come together more but people don't always live up to our hopes.

[rowanwitch]

People in office of any kind either lay or priest are often in those roles because they want authority over others, not to be servant to others

[-Talbot-]

As good an answer as you will get ^^

[Old_Geezer]

Necessary for what ? It's for your benefit no one else's. Your god won't need you there necessarily, but it's available if you want to use it. You want religious moments in a church, then that's fine; but if you want to be spiritual at home, or elsewhere, that's also fine.

Sorry to hear no one found time to visit your friend. The minister should have at least replied out of good manners, if not because of his position. But these things hapoen. Don't let it phase you, humans are fallible. Believe what you want to believe.