Is church the way to meeting someone nice?

I have that fear myself. :smt077

 

Why is that so?

 

Oh for a variety of reasons which might be too scandalous for this forum. Plus I've never been to church to worship - just funerals and weddings and always feel uncomfortable. Maybe because it's a foreign environment for me. I've always felt closest to the Divine when on a mountain or in the ocean admiring the wondrous nature that surrounds us.

 

Ok, so, you fear the Divine, believe in the Divine and choose not to associate w/ any religion or church, right?

 

You are partially correct LA. I don't fear the Divine (I was just playing around when I said I would burst into flames) but I do choose to not associate with a man made religion or church.

 

I DUCK........just in case :smt045

 

"you go ahead of me, Ill wait a minute"\:smt003

 

I think it is hard for some people to reconcile with the idea that they alone cannot control every aspect of their own lives and that some aspects are out of their hands entirely, not matter how hard they try. The whole "I don't go to church because everyone is a hypocrite" line is a conveinient excuse to avoid having to go. There are plenty of hypcrites in the club on Saturday night but you still go out and shake it on the dance floor. We make time for everything including our sex lives but can't spend a little bit of time in church...the discomfort is not with the other church members but rather with ourselves.

 

That's a fair statement Chosen but I choose to worship directly in the glory of the divine as opposed to a church that construction company XYZ built under the direction of religious organization ABC run by pastor Bob. There's glory in the simple things such as the complexity of a tree, the sun, clouds, moon and much much more. Why sequester myself into a small building created by human hands when I can be awed in the amphitheater created by God?

 

Chosen One,

You know how much I respect your opinions but I can't agree on this. I have very little discomfort with myself. I was not raised in the church, never went in one until I saw the Sistine Chapel. My family is not religious in the "organized" sense of the world. I would say spiritual is more fitting. We were given books on all different religions and told to read them and take what we like. My father always said. "Just because your mother and I gave birth to you does not mean we have the right to select your religion. What you believe is who you are and I would prefer you find that on your own."Very much what like Athena said, I appreciate the beauty in the world EVERYDAY. Not on Sundays, or Fridays because I am supposed to.
My relationship with my maker is mine and mine alone. I don't feel the need to share it with others in a confined space at 11 AM.
I know she knows I know and appreciate her.

 

Co-sign this!!

My mother was a non-believer when I was a child but she thought she had no right to decide for me - so Sunday school was a must as she thought it was a part of my education - "so that you can decide for yourself".

I have never been a regular Sunday Church goer, but do attend on holidays etc. I always felt that there are a lot of people in church that goes for all the wrong reasons and have thus keep my fath private. Its strong and I pray EVERY night, no exception - my faith is non faltering and I dont feel for a second that Im a bad christian for not going every Sunday.

 

I like the way you think...very open minded!

 

I have much respect for you. Your reasoning makes total sense and I appreciate people like you that study other faiths and take control of their own value system. Never allow anyone (including me) to chide you for your beliefs....I think my point-of-view is in regards to people that really believe they should go to church but don't because of their perception of their local church. You are comfortable within your own skin and that's awesome...and hot (don't tell anyone I said that though)!