rant: went to megachurch, maybe last straw with religion

[Fat_Bulldog]

Find a church, or do like me and my fellow former churchgoing family and friends and cherish that time you don't waste in church. Lord, that is the best and most spirtually fulfilling time of the week. At least for me.

I feel this way as well. But I wish I had a "time" I spent finding meaning. I haven't found a church that helped me with that. I do feel like I see or feel god in nature, but that is less structured, thus, not "once a week". I don't seek nature once a week. I would love to have a good reason to stop, look around at the world, SEE the positive, absorb it, recharge and want to DO positive. But I would have to create my own schedule for this and I do not think I am qualified.

I know what your saying. And I know people that thrive with time spent in a church setting, people I admire. But I can only speak for myself. I like to have that time. It is my tradition now. I was talking to my formerly churchy religion-teacher/most likely to be come a priest- brother, he shared the same sentiment - he gets up early on Sundays just to enjoy not going to church. Takes a while to develop that confidence in yourself and your relationship with God.. I'm guessing most people don't fully figure it out before age 40.

Little Freedette seems to be the same way. She doesn't want to spend the night at Grandmas or friends on Saturday that might drag her to church on Sunday. I know she's only ten, but she is pretty damn smart. Though her time at megachurch camp, she still remembers being taught that there is something wrong with her that she doesn't do many Sundays at church. But she shrugs it off when she sees Spongebob is on.

I feel the same way Freed.

[ghostrunner]

Not that I disagree with the megachurch or religion assessment, but this seems like going to Walmart and proclaiming yourself done with retail.

[JL21]

he gets up early on Sundays just to enjoy not going to church. Takes a while to develop that confidence in yourself and your relationship with God.. I'm guessing most people don't fully figure it out before age 40.

I kind of figured it out when I was 8.

[BW23]

Doesn't sound like the "megachurch" is a church God would approve of.

[sighyoung]

There's always my moribund little mainline church.

[Freed Roger]

If there ain't no snakes, it aint [expletive] worth it

[redbirdjazzz]

Doesn't sound like the "megachurch" is a church God would approve of.

Indeed. It sounds rather like the experience with the moneylenders in the Temple.

[IMADreamer]

I think I am tied so much to the Catholic Church because of family tradition. Don't get me wrong my parents don't go there because of tradition, they go there because they believe it. I think I largely go for tradition though. It's nice to go, all my family is there, and I mean all of them, we easily turn out 20 family members on a good weekend, then after church we all have dinner together. It's nice, it's especially been nice since both of my Grandparents passed last year because I was afraid maybe the family would drift apart but I think everyone has really rallied around the church/dinner thing because no one is going to let the family drift apart. I also get to keep up with Nicole's family by going there.

As I said earlier, going to my Church for me is at worst a nice relaxing hour with some pretty music. I just feel like other people get much more out of church and I'd like that, but maybe I want to much.

[redbirdjazzz]

I think I am tied so much to the Catholic Church because of family tradition. Don't get me wrong my parents don't go there because of tradition, they go there because they believe it. I think I largely go for tradition though. It's nice to go, all my family is there, and I mean all of them, we easily turn out 20 family members on a good weekend, then after church we all have dinner together. It's nice, it's especially been nice since both of my Grandparents passed last year because I was afraid maybe the family would drift apart but I think everyone has really rallied around the church/dinner thing because no one is going to let the family drift apart. I also get to keep up with Nicole's family by going there.

As I said earlier, going to my Church for me is at worst a nice relaxing hour with some pretty music. I just feel like other people get much more out of church and I'd like that, but maybe I want to much.

There are worse reasons to go to church than that, but if you do want more out of it, you shouldn't hesitate to look around and see if you can find it.

[jim]

I've changed my mind after this morning. I was driving and got stuck by the cops as they let the church out. It was like baseball traffic. That was obnoxious.

I now dislike megachurches slightly more than all other churches.