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10133 Views 219 Replies Latest reply: Dec 20, 2007 7:28 PM by bigapplepie

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kommish77

139 posts since
May 23, 2002

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Dec 1, 2007 8:44 AM

Do you go to church now?

Did you used to go to church and now don't?

Have you never been to church (not including weddings, funerals, etc)?

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intensebeet
114 posts since
Oct 28, 2007

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1. Dec 1, 2007 10:09 AM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

In order:
No.
No.
No.

My mom's family was raised very Catholic and she had some issues with that and didn't want to subject her kids to it. I was christened in the church as a baby though my younger brother and sister weren't which later prompted my grandmother to tell my mom that we were all going to hell for not being a part of the church. My neighbors (and best friend in elementary school) were very churchy and would take me with them to Sunday school and Awana's; I got uncomfortable I got sent into a room with a preacher and was asked about welcoming Jesus into my heart or somesuch. In highschool another friend's family went through a brief religious phase and started taking me to church on Sunday's with them until I decided that it was too early in the morning on a weekend to get up.

I guess people just want to save me.

Fwiw, I consider myself a very spiritual person, though not affiliated with any particular religion, and really enjoy learning about all religions, even minored in Religious studies in college.

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fredurie
1,895 posts since
Aug 21, 2002

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2. Dec 1, 2007 10:12 AM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

quote:
Originally posted by kommish77:
Do you go to church now?

Did you used to go to church and now don't?

Have you never been to church (not including weddings, funerals, etc)?

Define "church"

I have faced a wall and meditated for 6 hours. In Zen that would be the
equivalent of a "church."

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kommish77
139 posts since
May 23, 2002

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3. Dec 1, 2007 10:25 AM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

quote:
Originally posted by fredurie:

Define "church"

I have faced a wall and meditated for 6 hours. In Zen that would be the
equivalent of a "church."

6 hours is pretty impressive.... the average "Christian" church member is looking at their watch after an hour.

I am feeling nice today, so for this thread I'll let you include your equivalent of "church." !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/wink.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/wink.gif|border=0!

Thanks for your answer.

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makeda023
629 posts since
Aug 16, 1999

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4. Dec 20, 2007 7:13 PM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

no
yes - I grew up AME. We went to church most Sundays and did family devotion at home. I sang in the choir. My mother has been a minister for 15-20 years. Sometimes charismatic (how she was raised) now back to AME (joined when she married).

Your evangelism is useless against me. Bwahahaha!

[http://This message has been edited by makeda (edited Dec-01-2007).|http://This message has been edited by makeda (edited Dec-01-2007).]

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the kenyan
1,152 posts since
Aug 15, 2007

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5. Dec 1, 2007 10:32 AM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

no
no
yes, i have been

(and yes, I'm going to hell)

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kommish77
139 posts since
May 23, 2002

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6. Dec 1, 2007 10:34 AM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

quote:
Originally posted by intensebeet:
In order:
No.
No.
No.

My mom's family was raised very Catholic and she had some issues with that and didn't want to subject her kids to it. I was christened in the church as a baby though my younger brother and sister weren't which later prompted my grandmother to tell my mom that we were all going to hell for not being a part of the church. My neighbors (and best friend in elementary school) were very churchy and would take me with them to Sunday school and Awana's; I got uncomfortable I got sent into a room with a preacher and was asked about welcoming Jesus into my heart or somesuch. In highschool another friend's family went through a brief religious phase and started taking me to church on Sunday's with them until I decided that it was too early in the morning on a weekend to get up.

I guess people just want to save me.

Fwiw, I consider myself a very spiritual person, though not affiliated with any particular religion, and really enjoy learning about all religions, even minored in Religious studies in college.

You wrote a lot of stuff that could be commented on, but I will only say that it is unfortunate that you were asked to welcome Jesus into your heart. I think that "asking Jesus into your heart" has led to many people thinking they are "saved" when they actually aren't (not saying that everyone who asked Jesus into their heart is not saved). We are told in the Bible to "believe," not ask Jesus into our hearts.

Good luck with your spiritual journey, but don't give up on the God of the Bible just because of what happened as a child.

Thanks for your answer.

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Kawasa
381 posts since
Aug 14, 2007

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7. Dec 1, 2007 10:38 AM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

quote:
Originally posted by the kenyan:
no
no
yes, i have been

(and yes, I'm going to hell)

haha

I would answer the same.

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devholan
131 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

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8. Dec 1, 2007 10:43 AM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

no
no
yes

If you opened this poll up to other religions and cultures, that would change my answers.

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cb025
140 posts since
Jun 26, 2006

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9. Dec 1, 2007 11:07 AM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

Growing up I went to church every Sunday with my family and sometimes during the week with school. We didn't miss unless we were sick, and even then we had to be pretty sick.

I went to a Catholic college, didn't go to church much there, but continued to go whenever I was home until my mom died. I was 37. Since then the only times I have been to church has been weddings, funerals and baptisms.

We were just talking last night about trying the Unitarian Church. I feel no need to go, but our daughter was aksing about going to church. We told her we would take her if she wanted. Come Sunday morning, I'm guessing she'll choose to sleep in.

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NYCross
161 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

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10. Dec 1, 2007 11:30 AM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

no
yes
no

My parents always made me go to church as a child. I know if I told them I wanted nothing more to do with any church, they would still love me, but I also know that it would be a constant source of sadness and inner turmoil for them.

So I try and I lie. I occasionally try to find a church that could become a social place for me- if I tell my parents once every couple months that I was visiting a church, and insinuate that I've been visiting others, it makes them happy. I also tell them that the last church I was at hurt me so badly (this is true) that I am not ready to start the church hunting process again. What I don't tell them is that after three bad experiences at three different churches, where I've met the most backstabbing, vapid and shallow people I've ever known, I don't intend to make a serious effort at finding another.

I've never had social problems with people I've worked with, never left under duress or been fired. I've always gotten along and become friends with the majority of teammates or classmates. So not making friends or not fitting into a group haven't been patterns in my life... except with the church.

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WickedWitch
23 posts since
Oct 20, 2005

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11. Dec 20, 2007 7:13 PM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

quote:
Originally posted by kommish77:
Do you go to church now?

Did you used to go to church and now don't?

Have you never been to church (not including weddings, funerals, etc)?

no (unless an occasional quaker meeting counts)

yes (i used to go to church services every sunday, most saturdays, and on holy days of obligation, in addition to teaching "sunday" school).

yes.

[http://This message has been edited by WickedWitch (edited Dec-01-2007).|http://This message has been edited by WickedWitch (edited Dec-01-2007).]

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Kawasa
381 posts since
Aug 14, 2007

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12. Dec 1, 2007 12:03 PM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

quote:
Originally posted by NYCross:
no
yes
no

You can't answer yes to the second question and no to the third. That's like saying "I used to go to church but I've never been to church."

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Iontach
1,340 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

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13. Dec 1, 2007 12:39 PM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

quote:
Originally posted by kommish77:
I think that "asking Jesus into your heart" has led to many people thinking they are "saved" when they actually aren't

If one of these people were to sincerely believe this, and were to die, what would happen to them?

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the kenyan
1,152 posts since
Aug 15, 2007

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14. Dec 1, 2007 12:58 PM (in response to kommish77)
Re: Church question

quote:
Originally posted by Iontach:

If one of these people were to sincerely believe this, and were to die, what would happen to them?

thats why there's only like 100 people in heaven.

(and the bar scene is a HELL of a lot better down below! har har har)

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