For those who attend church; may I inquire what you get from this attendance?

As a long standing disciple of the Transcendentalists, the entire Universe is my church:



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Wow, this is great question but you may have opened Pandora's Box. The only thing more controversial than politics is religion.
I grew up in a Southern Baptist household and my parents sent me to a Fundamental Baptist high school where boys had to wear their hair above their ears and girls had to wear dresses below the knee (no slacks). Rock Music was the work of the Devil. Meanwhile, my parents had stopped going to their church because the preacher had an affair and there were so many phonies attending.

My best friend belonged to Church of Christ, which didn't believe in musical instruments, dancing, etc. and I joined. I guess I kept going to church because that was all I had known growing up. Every Wednesday at school we would have chapel where some hardcore, fundamental Baptist minister would preach Fire & Brimstone. They would then call everyone up with ad nauseam music with an "invitation" to repent. The two of us were the only ones who didn't go to the front.

My friend's father was an Elder in the Church of Christ. I was Baptized at 9 Y/O, but they didn't think I had originally been Baptized for the right reason. So I've been Baptized twice. I used to ask them, "what about people in other countries that don't know about this religion? What about people who are too infirm to be Baptized?" Their answer was always "They are going to hell". My friend was actually the first one who took me to a disco in the 70's. Then he ratted me out to his father and they asked me to leave the church.

So I left organized religion and have never looked back. The whole experience has soured me. I do believe in some type of greater being but not one that is taught in church. I do respect those who worship. My mother still followed Joel Osteen and other evangelists until her dying day. My personal feeling is that religion gives people hope and something to hold onto, especially during difficult times. So it is fine with me, just not for me.
 

I went to a French Catholic school, taught by nuns and church was a large part of our school life. I had no problems with that, actually, I loved it. At one time I even considered becoming a nun.
Now, however, I do not feel the need to go to church to feel close to my Divine Creator, but I can understand why people do. It is a chance to socialise and mingle with people who understand them and to build a communty which I think is important for some. It is not for me because I prefer to choose whom I spend my time with.
Have to say though, whenever we travel in addition to all the sightseeing we do, I always include visiting the church of that region or village, it gives me joy. If it's a Sabbath day I may even attend a service. Have been to mosques too and synagogues.
 
I am an introvert, churches today with their handshaking, loud music, coffee hour and bible study does not interest me.
I'm happy for the people who get fulfillment from this I'm just not one of them.

I find more peace and comfort when I am out in nature than any place of worship could ever give me.
It centers me.
I can talk with my loved ones who have passed, or just quietly work in my garden. I even remember a few of the old time hymns form my Sunday school years.
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
I am an introvert, churches today with their handshaking, loud music, coffee hour and bible study does not interest me.
I'm happy for the people who get fulfillment from this I'm just not one of them.

I find more peace and comfort when I am out in nature than any place of worship could ever give me.
It centers me.
I can talk with my loved ones who have passed, or just quietly work in my garden. I even remember a few of the old time hymns form my Sunday school years.
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You are the perfect Transcendentalist!

❤️​

 
Ruth n Jersey said:
@oldiebutgoody I never really knew there was a name for my feelings on this subject. I have to admit I looked it up. To bad its such a long name, I'd get all tongue tied trying to tell people what I am let alone spell it. lol
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Every artistic, moral, and reform movement that took place in the USA (and much of the world) was either started by or greatly influenced by the Transcendentalists:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109004/coronavirus-covid19-cases-rate-us-americans-by-state/

Among these are anti-slavery, feminism, temperance, health, agricultural reform, education, Christian reform, literature, poetry, art, philosophy, American classical music, and politics including the modern day Civil Rights movement. Just the other day we were on SF's Three Dog Night thread. I mentioned "Out In The Country" which is a Transcendentalist song. Many Rock & Roll songs were inspired by the movement. Mahatma Ghandi, Dr Martin Luther King, and Dr Norman Vincent Peale were all greatly influenced by them as well. There probably are a great many practicing Transcendentalists on this forum, except that perhaps they are not aware of it. :)
 
oldiebutgoody said:
Every artistic, moral, and reform movement that took place in the USA (and much of the world) was either started by or greatly influenced by the Transcendentalists:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109004/coronavirus-covid19-cases-rate-us-americans-by-state/

Among these are anti-slavery, feminism, temperance, health, agricultural reform, education, Christian reform, literature, poetry, art, philosophy, American classical music, and politics including the modern day Civil Rights movement. Just the other day we were on SF's Three Dog Night thread. I mentioned "Out In The Country" which is a Transcendentalist song. Many Rock & Roll songs were inspired by the movement. Mahatma Ghandi, Dr Martin Luther King, and Dr Norman Vincent Peale were all greatly influenced by them as well. There probably are a great many practicing Transcendentalists on this forum, except that perhaps they are not aware of it. :)
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Transcendentalists reminds me of two philosophers of the late 1800s, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson wrote about self-reliance and being close to nature. Thoreau wrote "Walden" which was about Walden Pond.
 
palides2021 said:
Transcendentalists reminds me of two philosophers of the late 1800s, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson wrote about self-reliance and being close to nature. Thoreau wrote "Walden" which was about Walden Pond.
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Indeed! The 1960s anti-establishment or counter-culture movement was largely inspired by both. I well remember when Marianne Moore was the most popular poetess in NYC. Once that movement began Transcendentalist Emily Dickinson became more popular than her and she remains the City's most popular female poet to this day. I understand that in parts of the world Walt Whitman is even more popular than is Shakespeare. My favorite place in this whole wide world was always Prospect Park in Brooklyn - whenever I ventured there I could not help but recite William Cullen Bryant life affirming poetry to myself. Just about everyone's life in the USA has been impacted in some way by the great work of the Transcendentalists. They will live on forever.
 
palides2021 said:
Transcendentalists reminds me of two philosophers of the late 1800s, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson wrote about self-reliance and being close to nature. Thoreau wrote "Walden" which was about Walden Pond.
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Stood at both their graves in Sleepy Hollow cemetery in Concord MA. Toured Austin Dickinson's (brother of Emily) home, where Emerson visited several times, I could feel everyone's presence.
 
My parents were what I’ve heard referred to as “C & E’s,” meaning that they attended church on Xmas and Easter, in my mother’s case to see and be seen, and in my father’s case because she dragged him and he took the path of least resistance! I was made to attend Sunday school even when my parents didn’t go to church, but disliked it because in those days boys wore jackets and ties, “monkey suits” we called them, that were hot and uncomfortable in pre-air conditioned days.

As an adult, I’ve been in my day at different churches an Elder, board member, and Asst. Sunday School Superintendent. I’ve known the curse of being asked to do things again and again when it’s revealed that I can do them well. In this fashion many active church members are eventually burned out while the pew fodder do nothing. There’s also a lot of bad internal politics in many churches, empire-building by clergy, and of course, that “judging and condemning” thing…

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FastTrax said:
My Mom had me attend Halakha which was more intimate with ten or less in attendance since my blood was considered not pure enough to attend any of the Synagogues in Crown Heights. My Dad had me attend The Temple Vodou in East Flatbush where I was considered an outcast. My oldest sister dragged me to various Catholic Churches where I never knew where to splash that oil coming and going, when to sit down, when to get up, when to kneel or go get the wafer and drink that grape stuff.

The Latin really got to me and one Sunday I told my mom that I would run away if I had to go there again. My middle sister and I quite never seemed to make it to the Baptist Church since she figured the money our Mom gave us to put in the collection plate would better serve us at the candy store then off to her boyfriends house to watch TV. Well I watched TV and chewed Bazooka bubble gum.

My older brother was never invited to attend any house of worship with anybody in the immediate or extended family since he demanded that nobody is to utter the Sabbath's name on Sabbath Day. This from a guy that would tell every boss that dare hire him how to run their own successful business long before he was around. You can't make this stuff up. Later in life I pretty much avoided houses of worship that would pass the collection plate around more then three times, made the congregation stand up for at least half the sermon or established a hypocritical pecking order.

Now since COVID-19 and being a reconstituted grampa I usually watch Televangelist like Joel Osteen and Joseph Prince. Stinky is teaching Kirin her version of the stars, the Sun, the Moon and all things Heavenly. My experiences over half a century boils down to religion is what you make of it. Nothing more, nothing less. thanks for reading.
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I love Joseph Prince. He can preach so well. That is my church right now. As for Catholic Church, just watch the altar boys and girls for standing up and sitting down. Easy. "Grape stuff" ? Not our Catholic church, even the Episcopals (Catholic Protestants) use wine. I left because of the dogma.
 
CinnamonSugar said:
Church service for me is to come before the Lord and in humility worship Him for He is worthy.

With my crazy work, it is a blessing to come into the sanctuary, relish the peace and silence, pray and reconnect with my Savior.
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Well, when you come before the 'Lord', ask him/her/it why there is so much pain and misery in the world. And don't stand for any of this 'sin' business. Ask what sin a newborn child born with an incurable disease has committed. Ask about Covid ? What have we done to deserve this from this worthy' god?
Sorry, this 'God' business doesn't wash with me. Anyone who wants is free believe it and if it works for them, fine. I believe we must solve our own problems not rely on fairy tales.
 
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