Discussion about my experience in a church.

[Devie]

I know this is tl;dr.. but please give it a chance.. Discuss it. It's a matter I'd like to discuss with the whole community.

Today, I went to a classic southern church.
I live in south carolina in a very country town..

This church, was.. I don't understand what they were trying to accomplish.
It was 2 hours long. From 10am-12pm.
I got my usual looks from being an asian girl standing out in the crowd. Which I didn't understand since my mother in law is also asian since I went with the inlaws. But that's not the thing that bothered me the most.

This church.. the sermon, the discussions... they were all.. WHAT THE FUCK.
Let me begin:


-They spoke about Breaking Dawn, yes the new Twilight movie all these girls are freaking out about. Not just Breaking Dawn alone but the whole Twilight series is... well an anti-god movie and how our children should not watch this. Otherwise our "future" will be in the hands of non God believers and therefore will be eternally damned to hell.

-They spoke about money. How it's important.. but spending it on ourselves only makes us "greedy" and it is one of the 7 deadly sins. Its not good to do that and we will be eternally damned to hell if we commit an act that is one of the 7 deadly sins.. Here comes the weird part.. they said that "Money should only belong to God and his church, for he is the only wise enough to know what to do with it". That sentence made me go what the fuck.. because they just indirectly implied that "give us your money"

-Anti-gay marriage. How gays are evil for choosing a path God has not set out for them. That God apparently set out a road for all humans to follow and those who separate their ways especially if they create their own is disobeying God straight in front of his face and of course, will be eternally damned to hell. We were also encouraged to change their ways in hopes to "saving" them or at least directing them to the right path of God. Their words "Lord help these people" made them seem so disgusted by the fact that they are gay.

Then they played music that made us stand up for 45 minutes. lol.

But I don't know how Im supposed to feel during these sermons, but ... it definitely made me feel.. awkward and not right... Is it just me or is there something wrong with what I just heard?

It made me think that,.. everyone or everything that doesnt agree with what they believe in is.. well evil and will be damned eternally to hell..
Is that.. even .. what? O_O

[cogsandspigots]

What denomination?

[Sabb]

Stuff like this is why I don't associate myself with a religion. All religions can be interpreted in different ways, and all religions have their faults. The way I see it is that most people who are involved in a strong religious family are ignorant to different beliefs, and manipulate their beliefs to what they're told is proper. I think it's quite wrong.

[Jman]

Now before I say what I'm about to say I ask that nobody rages over my opinion as everybody is entitled to their own.

This is why I personally hate organized religion as a whole. It's completely corrupt and is used by the religious leaders as a scare tactic and a way to get people to do what they want. Religious leaders train you to turn your back on courage, strength, and conscious living. This is stupidity, not divinity. Religion will teach you to fear being different, to fear standing up for yourself, and to fear being an independent thinker. It will erode your self-trust by explaining why you’re unable to successfully manage life on your own terms: You are unworthy. You’re a sinner. You’re unclean. You are not enlightened. Of course the solution is always the same — submit to the will of an external authority. Believe that you’re inadequate. Give away your power. Follow their rules and procedures. Live in fear for the rest of your life, and hope it will all turn out okay in the end.

It's just stupid in my opinion.

/rant

[Devie]

I have been to three kinds of churches in my life.

A catholic one, a baptist one and this one...


The catholic one would read verses in the bible and the priest would explain it in terms where people can understand it. He didn't relate it to anything in real life or tell us something completely whoah. But he would just explain what the bible meant. "Joseph has ventured through the outskirts of the town hoping to find a mule that set foot in his yard".. and he would say "So joseph lost his donkey and went and looked for it". Thats about it.

The baptist one, everyone sang a happy God praising song for an hour. It was like a concert but its all about God. Once we'd sit and talk about how God is great and we should be thankful. Then back to singing and clapping and dancing again lol... Theyd also speak about how people all around need help and we should always try our best to help others out of the goodness of our hearts til eventually well do good deeds without even realizing it because wed do it so much.

Then there was this church..... It was my first time hearing things like this. I was quite.. I turned to proudly and whispered "Are.. are they serious???"

I don't know man. It kind of stuck on me. Its bothering me up to now..

[cogsandspigots]

What churches are you guys going to?

In mine, they don't preach about God as one who is vengeful and will kill all people who sin.
He is a loving God and will forgive all, eventually. (my church's interpretation of Hell is very different from the cliche)

They say that the your life is special to you and God and that you should live life to your full potential.
The ridiculously structured rules aren't really even talked about, and if they are, they aren't even important in today's society due the the New Covenant.



Also, I wont judge you on your beliefs.
Doing that is just stupid.

[Devie]

What churches are you guys going to?

In mine, they don't preach about God as one who is vengeful and will kill all people who sin.
He is a loving God and will forgive all, eventually. (my church's interpretation of Hell is very different from the cliche)

They say that the your life is special to you and God and that you should live life to your full potential.
The ridiculously structured rules aren't really even talked about, and if they are, they aren't even important in today's society due the the New Covenant.



Also, I wont judge you on your beliefs.
Doing that is just stupid.

that sounds like the baptist church that I went to. Not the one I went to now but one of the 3 churches Ive been in.
I honestly don't know what kind of church I was just in.....

[Dale Feles]

When I was young, I used to believe in god, but as I grew up, my doubts started growing. And at some point, I simply stopped believing in god. It seemed that all there was was restrains. "You can't do this", "Don't do that"

Sure, god may help us learn compassion and forgiveness, but sometimes I find some people corrupt. They bend and twist the words.

Honestly, I am not sure what or who I should believe.

[Sabb]

I would also like to mention that though I don't believe in devoting yourself to an organized religion, I don't think that religion is all bad, and by all means I love this kind of discussion as I get to see other people's point of views, so I don't want for what I or anyone else has said to stop anyone from speaking their opinion.
Anyways, the good thing about an organized religion is that it's the fundamental for your growing/maturing as a person while you're a youth, and begins to teach you what kind of person you are, who's around you, and basic morals and values, to again, develop yourself as a person.
I did go to a church as a child, never liked it, but I do appreciate it for reasons aforementioned.

[aerobro]

I'm catholic and proud. 

[Jman]

I'm catholic and proud. 

Okay.

[cogsandspigots]

Okay.

Reported for spam.

[Cable]

I've never been to church.

...what exactly goes on during church?
Just taking and stuff?

[Devie]

I don't intend this thread to turn into a
"x is my religion and im damn well proud of it"

It's just a discussion. Not brag about whatever shit you believe in. Sorry.

Anyway another thing I forgot to mention in my rant was:
They also spoke about.. how college students should be forced.. (yes they used the word force) because around this age is where "we lose them" is their exact words.

I mean come on now.. holy shit...
The exact reason why you "lose" the "college age students" is because most of them develop their own fucking opinion and views on things and realize crap on their own based on the personal experience...............
dammit man.

[Jman]

Reported for spam.