Church?

[mimitabby]

ha, you didn't even give a category that i fit into!
I went to church as a child, but disagreed vehemently with some things my church did about birth control and banning books and never went back. That was about 40 years ago.

[Grog]

ha, you didn't even give a category that i fit into!
I went to church as a child, but disagreed vehemently with some things my church did about birth control and banning books and never went back. That was about 40 years ago.

I'm with Mimi on that (although it hasn't been 40 years). Although I definitely share Christian values of love, sharing, forgiveness.., I can't stand to attend most religious services anymore. Readings from the Old Testament (I was born a Catholic) make me cringe (it's usually NOT about love, sharing, forgiveness...) if I make the mistake of paying attention, and as an organized institution the church makes me quite sad. (Not to say that this reflects on all religious people, quite to the opposite...)

So on Sundays I ride and go for long runs!

[cosc]

I have always attended church as long as I can remember. Summer I have to miss Sunday School to get a short ride in before I go to church. After church, it is often tooo hot to ride. I'm the only pianist at church so I only miss for a bike vacation. In the winter, church doesn't bother riding time at all, since I like to give the sun a chance to warm up our cold days.

[KnottedYet]

Unitarians are pretty laid back about church attendence. If riding is a spiritual activity for ya', it's cool to miss service. (Hey, we have a church triathlon team!)

I was raised without a religeon. I love the UUs, cuz they are quite the spriritual, accepting, and social bunch. A "Creedless Faith". We got UU Pagans, UU Buddhists, UU Christians, UU Humanists, UU Muslims, UU Jews, etc etc.

Sometimes I think the UUs "officially" follow Jesus' teachings better than most of the US commercial megachurches.

Unitarian Universalists: Common as dirt! Come grow with us! www.uua.org

[Grog]

Sometimes I think the UUs "officially" follow Jesus' teachings better than most of the US commercial megachurches.

Thanks KY, I had heard about them through an American friend, I'm glad I've read more. It's good to read that these people are out there (but they're not in my city)...

[KnottedYet]

Grog-

There's a UU Fellowship in Bellingham, which is pretty active. A bit of a hike from Vancouver, though.

There are also UU churches in Nanaimo, West Vancouver, and Victoria (ok, that one is too far away)

[roguedog]

One of my faves:

SOME KEEP SUNDAY GOING TO CHURCH
by Emily ****inson
American poet (December 10, 1830 - May 15, 1886)

Some keep Sunday going to church
I keep it staying at home,
With a bobolink for a chorister,
And an orchard for a throne.

Some keep Sabbath in surplice,
I just wear my wings
And instead of tolling the bell for church,
Our little sexton sings.

God preaches, a noted clergyman,
And the sermon is never long,
So instead of going to heaven at last
I'm going all along.

[Grog]

Grog-

There's a UU Fellowship in Bellingham, which is pretty active. A bit of a hike from Vancouver, though.

There are also UU churches in Nanaimo, West Vancouver, and Victoria (ok, that one is too far away)

I've seen that on the web site!

Even the West Vancouver one is pretty far. About 10 k in direct line, more than an hour's drive (it's across the water from me!). I'm surprised they don't have a group in Vancouver...

[crazycanuck]

My religion is biking...I beg/plead/pray to the bike gods to help me go faster..they must not be listening..

Anywho, i've never been religious & find church rather boring...

c

[tattiefritter]

Think I'm with Grog and Mimitabby - don't object to Church for other people but a Catholic education put me off for life. Particularly the Catholic church stance on birth control and its opinion of women in general. My grandparents were Irish Catholics and I used to hate the power that the priest was able to exert over their lives. I'll stop there...

[mcoleman]

For me it is a matter of priorities. I was raised in a very religious family and attended a christian school half of my life. We always knew that church attendance was expected on Sunday morning (just like school or work on Monday morning) and activities were adjusted accordingly.
I still try to make church a priority and we are very active in the Presbyterian church. We do miss occaisionally for important events-our local sprint triathlon series is on Sundays-but we try to attend Sunday night instead.
In the summer, we ride on Saturday mornings and run before church on Sundays and this schedule works with our riding buddies. We attend a larger church that offers 3 services on Sunday morning and 1 on Sunday night, so there are more options (although 8:15 AM is perfect for us!).

[limewave]

I enjoy going to church because it helps me to keeps things in persepective--remembering what is truly important, God, and not the little details that I usually get hung up on. And I like singing and meeting new people.

Anyways, in the summer or church attendance is sporadic. I'm hoping next summer we'll be able to bike to church more. We have a 1-year old daughter who was too little this summer to ride in a burley--but next summer she'll be just right. Our church is 20 miles each way. We will be able to get in a nice Sunday morning ride every week.

[sbctwin]

I wasn't raised in a religious home. I was raised in a very dysfunctional home (watching my mom get beat by my dad on a regular basis if things didn't satisfy him or we kids made too much noise, it didn't matter...we were raised in fear). I couldn't wait to get out of the house. I held that baggage for a long time that I was to blame. I got married and my husband left me for his "first love". At that point in my life, I needed something to hold onto, to give me a reason to continue living. My sister was my best friend and helped me a lot, but she was several thousand miles away. Someone invited me to go to church with them...I went...I felt, for once "at home". I went to a Lutheran church at the time. I then attended a Catholic retreat for divorced, widowed and separated individuals. I again, felt someplace where I belonged. I soon met my DH and he was a craddle Catholic. After we were married and moved to SLC, I became a Catholic, too. We go to mass every Saturday night. I have been very lucky with the pastors & priests. Every priest or pastor I have had, has been keen on social justice and "practice" what they preach. I know there are problems with all religions. But, for me, I needed something to hold onto in my life....

[spokewench]

Boy that is opening a can of worms! I'm not religious - no excuses just don't think church is necessary in my life. My grandma who was a Mennonite, a great woman and very open minded, once asked me when I was little "Are you a christian? I then asked her what is a "christian" and even though she was from a very fundamental type of church she said "it means treating people like you would like to be treated yourself". My answer then was "yes" and I definitely try to make that a part of my interactions with others so I guess in those terms, I am a "Christian". In other people's definitions, I'm sure I am not!

I know that many people find strength and belief in formal religion and I applaud them for that. I don't like a lot of things that are caused by formal religion so I am really not able to believe in any specific church/religious tenents myself. But, that is why we live in a diverse world so that people can believe anything and everything they want to.

[bcipam]

Boy that is opening a can of worms! I'm not religious - no excuses just don't think church is necessary in my life. My grandma who was a Mennonite, a great woman and very open minded, once asked me when I was little "Are you a christian? I then asked her what is a "christian" and even though she was from a very fundamental type of church she said "it means treating people like you would like to be treated yourself". My answer then was "yes" and I definitely try to make that a part of my interactions with others so I guess in those terms, I am a "Christian". In other people's definitions, I'm sure I am not!

I know that many people find strength and belief in formal religion and I applaud them for that. I don't like a lot of things that are caused by formal religion so I am really not able to believe in any specific church/religious tenents myself. But, that is why we live in a diverse world so that people can believe anything and everything they want to.

I know this discussion is maybe getting off topic, but as a reponse - a Christian is one who has accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. That doesn't mean if you have not, that you aren't a good person. I know many wonderful people who are good, and gracious and wonderful but have not accepted Jesus. Many philosophies (I grew up as Buddist) have as a core belief "to do unto others...".

Also I know it's hard, but please separate faith from religion. Faith is my belief. It's how the Spirit fills me. Religion is my "church" or how I practice my belief. Religion does have it problems. Again houses of worship are run by people. People set doctrine for religion, so there are flaws. This is why one is encouraged to independently study the Bible in order to gain the skills to discern between the truth and well, lies and deceitful behavior. Yes I know Christian people to have affairs. I know them to lie and cheat and abuse their fellow man. They can be rascist, bigots, just plain jerks but none of this is condoned by the teachings of Christ. We, sadly and pitifully are flawed beings.

I do have the right to judge others and I know this meets the disapproval of some. But if I am unwilling to discern between right and wrong, good and bad, then there is no right/wrong or good/bad, everyone would have the right to act as he pleased. Thankfully Christian values keeps us from legally murdering one another, or stealing or cheating. The one misunderstanding I hear and read most often is that "I don't like religion becasue it forces certain beliefs on me (such as no abortion etc)" A true Christian knows and understands that God would never forced anyone to do what they are not willing to do. He has given us free choice and does not for want to force His love on us. Yes I understand some Churches are very judgmental and would condemn one for their beliefs, but don't judge his all by that Church or that religion.

Again these are just my views. I enjoy hearing how others feel and think. I believe we are all entitled to choose our paths in life...