debodun
SF VIP
- Location
- way upstate in New York, USA
Now getting back to why many church attendances are decreasing....
Church Attendance Way Down
- Thread starter debodun
- Start date
Lara
Friend of the Arts
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic Coast
Then where does LOVE happen? Not in the bloody heart organ. Not the brain. It's only when you FIRST fall in love that you receive a rush of hormones from the brain including oxytocin, dopamine, estrogen, and testosterone. This plays a roll in the fluttery feelings of excitement, attraction, and euphoria but that's just puppy love. It doesn't last. What about true Deep Love. The kind you would lay down your life for and want to spend your life with. Where does that come from? And what about all those near death experiences who see their loved ones greeting them from the other side? What a bummer to meet them and then could care less about it...lol. There's a joy they describe. Why are they so happy if their Love died on the gurney? lol. Just some questions to think about. Love is more complicated than you give it credit for I think.
Last edited:
Trade
Well-known Member
More and more people are figuring out what a scam it is.
That's really it, isn't it? Politics and religion bring about the same heated feelings. Which I don't understand why religion talk is also not allowed along with politics. Neither topic brings about any kind of understanding with each other. It is possible to understand each other without having to agree with each other. For myself, my belief, whatever they may be, are for myself. I don't need anyone else to have to agree, no matter what kind of beliefs they are. We're all human. I think we have enough in common already.
Always stays civil. That's good.
Until some can palpate the soul they will assume its not there by earthly (currently able to be measured) organic standards. Like you mention about reasons for love or long suffering or acts of heroism. Think science and religion are backing up into the center of a target and they will turn around and find each other.
Very well spoken, as we are part of God; we surely must "pain" the great universal mind also!
fuzzybuddy
SF VIP
- Location
- The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I'm an atheist, so church attendance for me...........But church attendance, and religiosity usually peak several decades after a major war, and then drop off to prewar numbers. This happened especially after the Civil War, and WWII. There was also a rise in spirituality, and then decrease. I'm not exactly sure why.
But when Shirley goes to family dinners Warren Beatty is there!
Trade
Well-known Member
I think in the past that may have been true, but these days I find the political discourse to be way more brutal.
I understand, but I don't like either. At least in politics one can site some kind of facts, in dispute or not. In religion, it's all personal until it also becomes politics.
Trade
Well-known Member
That's the worst case scenario. When politics and religion are merged. That scenario scares the Hell out of me.
Yes, and that is to my mind the way it is absolutely the way it is now. It's like forget our principles, as long as we get what we want, the devil be damned.
healthfreak
New Member
fuzzybuddy
SF VIP
- Location
- The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I wonder if the scandal in the Catholic Church is a reason for decrease attendance in all Christian denominations. The scandal isn't missing money from the poor box. It is about the rape of children and the Church's coverup of those facts. As the scandal has grown, almost all denominations have been tainted by it. The scandal has exposed a Church that is more protective of its rapist priests than its flock. While the Church professes to have changed, some question whether it has. Only a couple of months ago, another local priest was exposed for sexual misconduct. As far as image goes, how does one preach about sin and living a "Christian life", when one harbors child rapists? It's the scope of the scandal.. Far from a few errant priests, there are tens of thousands all over the world. This has to be damaging to the congregation's faith in their Church.
Last edited:
Not all the churches are having attrition issues. This is the largest church in the US:
1. Lakewood Church
> Location: Houston, TX
> Pastor: Joel Osteen
> Average weekly attendance: 43,500
> Denomination: Independent, non-denominational
fuzzybuddy
SF VIP
- Location
- The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Liberty, you will notice that the Church you mentioned is not affiliated with any major denomination., or hierarchy. ?????
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
Isn't Joel Osteen the pastor of the mega church that refused refuge to the victims of the great flood in Texas after hurricane Harvey in August 2017? He only opened up the place after scathing criticism from the media and fear that he would lose his followers and income. Talk about Christian charity hypocrisy.
No, honestly think that was "fake news". You know what they say...the bigger they are the more you like to read about them falling. Actually, from what I understand, and from pictures on TV, they were flooded pretty bad and couldn't bring anyone in. After they got the swamp drained they had gigantic food, toy, clothing and mattress delivery projects and did give a lot through the local charities.
They have showers set up and a cafeteria that serves the homeless on an ongoing basis. That I do know. I've known a guy that worked there at the cafeteria. Don't go to the church, but I can tell you they sure don't "shake the can" in your face on the tube if you watch his sermans.
Ok, here's the updated story that mentions what happened with Harvey. There are also images on the web of the flooding. They had to move a lot of contents, due to the water onslaught:
https://www.chron.com/houston/article/Joel-Osteen-s-Lakewood-Church-Imelda-shelter-14453042.php
Yes, and "he" doesn't preach devil or sinning...lol. The sermans are upbeat and he's even been slammed for that. Sigh.
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
Here's the story by Snopes = https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/is-osteens-megachurch-affected/
"The church was flooded on the inside, garage level, basement level, not where the main floors are. It’s a huge place. "
I understood from some people they really had to scramble to save a lot of equipment. They cancelled services, too, during the flooding. As long as we've ever heard anything about Lakewood from those that were members or volunteered there they've always been right up front when helping the homeless.
Can't imagine why they wouldn't have then unless they felt it necessary. Of course, with that said, there are always the negative media folks who would rather throw stones than give a loaf of bread to someone who needs it. That's what sells.
BTW, Houston has done wonderfully well in reducing homelessness and that church has been super good at helping, that much I do know :
https://www.searchhomeless.org/houston-leads-the-nation-in-reducing-homelessness/
Catlady
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern AZ
@Liberty = You said you're not a member of his church, so this below is just for the sake of debate.
Osteen's house is worth $10m, I'm sure paid for from donations to his church. You don't think he should have bought a ''modest'' house of say $1m and used the other $9m to help his parishioners and others in need?
If you bothered to read the Snopes article, they're a fact checking website, their article gave both sides of the story (not biased fake news). They even published photos taken by average people (not reporters), are you saying those photos are lying?
Osteen's house is worth $10m, I'm sure paid for from donations to his church. You don't think he should have bought a ''modest'' house of say $1m and used the other $9m to help his parishioners and others in need?
If you bothered to read the Snopes article, they're a fact checking website, their article gave both sides of the story (not biased fake news). They even published photos taken by average people (not reporters), are you saying those photos are lying?