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The church continues to lose its appeal
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Nov 4, 2014 07:51:47   #
shagbat Loc: London
 
dljen wrote:
This is only my opinion, but I think that churches used to be the center of life, I'm only judging this from reading and my own experiences. When I was a child, if somebody said they didn't believe in god, they were an outcast. People are questioning and thinking for themselves today. Elderly people, like in the article, cling to the old ways, they have a need for their churches though often it's long ago replaced religion and has become more social, sometimes the only social outlet they have.

I remember when we used to go to church suppers to support our church. Now I never do. I see people who are supposed to be pillars of their churches and they seem to be greedy, nasty people. I see people here who I can only judge from their words and they are very hateful and nasty, yet profess to be christians. No thanks, I'll pass... I think a lot are saying that these days.
This is only my opinion, but I think that churches... (show quote)


Well put Donna, all organised religion is a means of controlling the people, most in western society are questioning the god thing, science has got christianity in it's death throes. Islam will see to the end of it, just as christianity forced it's hypocritical will on every other religion it encountered. Islam is 500 years younger than christianity and is behaving just as christians did 500 years ago.

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Nov 4, 2014 07:57:47   #
usnpilot Loc: Ft Myers Fl
 
dljen wrote:
I am not a christian, so who am I trying to help? Nobody. I don't have an agenda. If you want to believe, good, do so, if not, don't tell me who I'm helping or not. I don't even care for christians.


There are good and bad in both religious and non religious groups. I worked with all chuch denominations doing pictorial directories for over 15 years and met many great people both young and old. The more evangelical churches are not only growing but are doing so with young people. The main line denominations are mostly supported by the elderly because they have not addressed current issues and problems in their teachings.
To YoungEsqr from my home state you made a gross generalization about Catholics. Every day the Catholic Church feeds, clothes, educates, and Medicare's more people worldwide than any other organization. If you want to look at a group of people who make big bucks off the misfortune and misery of others take a look at your profession. I live in the world of ambulance chasers and they are a sickening lot.



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Nov 4, 2014 08:07:11   #
Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana
 
shagbat wrote:
Well put Donna, all organised religion is a means of controlling the people, most in western society are questioning the god thing, science has got christianity in it's death throes. Islam will see to the end of it, just as christianity forced it's hypocritical will on every other religion it encountered. Islam is 500 years younger than christianity and is behaving just as christians did 500 years ago.


Shagbat, think what you are saying. "Science has got Christianity in it's death throes and Islam will see to the end of it". And what do you think is going to happen after Islam has conquered Christianity, that is, Christianity is no more? Have you picked out a good prayer rug for yourself and your family? With Christianity you have a choice and the decision to become a Christian is yours. With Islam it is convert or off with your head. No choice... and as for science? Science MUST agree and accept the Islamic ideology. Islam is a State Religion, yes, that which you fear in Christianity will be made real in an Islamic State. No more protection of the Constitution if you have one. You must submit your life and your will.

You really haven't thought this through have you?

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Nov 4, 2014 08:24:48   #
taz Loc: Alabama
 
dljen wrote:
This is only my opinion, but I think that churches used to be the center of life, I'm only judging this from reading and my own experiences. When I was a child, if somebody said they didn't believe in god, they were an outcast. People are questioning and thinking for themselves today. Elderly people, like in the article, cling to the old ways, they have a need for their churches though often it's long ago replaced religion and has become more social, sometimes the only social outlet they have.

I remember when we used to go to church suppers to support our church. Now I never do. I see people who are supposed to be pillars of their churches and they seem to be greedy, nasty people. I see people here who I can only judge from their words and they are very hateful and nasty, yet profess to be christians. No thanks, I'll pass... I think a lot are saying that these days.
This is only my opinion, but I think that churches... (show quote)


djen.........what you say is true of many modern "Christians" today in the U.S.. That behavior is why when an unbeliever looks upon their daily lives, they say "not for me", why would I bother with that? Jesus speaks in the Bible of this behavior. I, too, have had the same feelings you expressed. But, in my heart I KNOW that is not what Jesus wanted and that he is the way to the living GOD. So I just pray that I won't be "one of those Christians" that I can't stomach, although I know I make lots of mistakes and fail others and myself sometimes. We all will be judged on our own merits & what is in our hearts, not by man, thank goodness. I think about you daily and pray for you to have peace and a happy life since discovering you here on UHH.

Taz

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Nov 4, 2014 08:26:17   #
dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho
 
dljen wrote:
This is only my opinion, but I think that churches used to be the center of life, I'm only judging this from reading and my own experiences. When I was a child, if somebody said they didn't believe in god, they were an outcast. People are questioning and thinking for themselves today. Elderly people, like in the article, cling to the old ways, they have a need for their churches though often it's long ago replaced religion and has become more social, sometimes the only social outlet they have.

I remember when we used to go to church suppers to support our church. Now I never do. I see people who are supposed to be pillars of their churches and they seem to be greedy, nasty people. I see people here who I can only judge from their words and they are very hateful and nasty, yet profess to be christians. No thanks, I'll pass... I think a lot are saying that these days.
This is only my opinion, but I think that churches... (show quote)


Donna,

I somewhat agree with you that people are leaving all churches. Many are still religious but are trying to get away from organized religion and more into a close and personal relationship with God. That would pretty much describe my own thinking. One thing missing from that thought though is that a church offers fellowship with other parishioners that my personal relationship with God does not offer. Fellowship is important to many.

One thing I think you are forgeting is that because a person is a Christian does not mean he is not a sinner. We are all sinners and always will be sinners. God knows this and accepts us as Christians anyway. That is what makes the Christian faith so wonderful. Being a Christian means I can be a sinner and on my last day on earth I will still be forgiven for my sins.

Dennis

Still liking my Mac.

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Nov 4, 2014 08:26:44   #
YoungEsqr Loc: Minnesota
 
History has shown that for as much good as the Catholic Church has done, it equally has done as much harm. You are correct about lawyers, also. As a veteran of the U.S. Army, I can talk from experience about the bad military types, as probably you can from your perspective from the Navy. There is enough room in the world for bad and ignorant people, just as it is for those who do good.
usnpilot wrote:
There are good and bad in both religious and non religious groups. I worked with all church denominations doing pictorial directories for over 15 years and met many great people both young and old. The more evangelical churches are not only growing but are doing so with young people. The main line denominations are mostly supported by the elderly because they have not addressed current issues and problems in their teachings.
To YoungEsqr from my home state you made a gross generalization about Catholics. Every day the Catholic Church feeds, clothes, educates, and Medicare's more people worldwide than any other organization. If you want to look at a group of people who make big bucks off the misfortune and misery of others take a look at your profession. I live in the world of ambulance chasers and they are a sickening lot.
There are good and bad in both religious and non r... (show quote)

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Nov 4, 2014 08:29:02   #
dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho
 
Bangee5 wrote:
Shagbat, think what you are saying. "Science has got Christianity in it's death throes and Islam will see to the end of it". And what do you think is going to happen after Islam has conquered Christianity, that is, Christianity is no more? Have you picked out a good prayer rug for yourself and your family? With Christianity you have a choice and the decision to become a Christian is yours. With Islam it is convert or off with your head. No choice... and as for science? Science MUST agree and accept the Islamic ideology. Islam is a State Religion, yes, that which you fear in Christianity will be made real in an Islamic State. No more protection of the Constitution if you have one. You must submit your life and your will.

You really haven't thought this through have you?
Shagbat, think what you are saying. "Science ... (show quote)


Well said.

Dennis

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Nov 4, 2014 08:30:06   #
taz Loc: Alabama
 
usnpilot wrote:
There are good and bad in both religious and non religious groups. I worked with all chuch denominations doing pictorial directories for over 15 years and met many great people both young and old. The more evangelical churches are not only growing but are doing so with young people. The main line denominations are mostly supported by the elderly because they have not addressed current issues and problems in their teachings.
To YoungEsqr from my home state you made a gross generalization about Catholics. Every day the Catholic Church feeds, clothes, educates, and Medicare's more people worldwide than any other organization. If you want to look at a group of people who make big bucks off the misfortune and misery of others take a look at your profession. I live in the world of ambulance chasers and they are a sickening lot.
There are good and bad in both religious and non r... (show quote)



Key word in this post is ORGANIZED RELIGION......not Christianity. Big difference. A true Christian does not believe or behave as the Scribes & Pharisees of oraganized religion in our time...yes our world is in a big mess. Good comment.

Taz

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Nov 4, 2014 08:32:49   #
taz Loc: Alabama
 
dennis2146 wrote:
Donna,

I somewhat agree with you that people are leaving all churches. Many are still religious but are trying to get away from organized religion and more into a close and personal relationship with God. That would pretty much describe my own thinking. One thing missing from that thought though is that a church offers fellowship with other parishioners that my personal relationship with God does not offer. Fellowship is important to many.

One thing I think you are forgeting is that because a person is a Christian does not mean he is not a sinner. We are all sinners and always will be sinners. God knows this and accepts us as Christians anyway. That is what makes the Christian faith so wonderful. Being a Christian means I can be a sinner and on my last day on earth I will still be forgiven for my sins.

Dennis

Still liking my Mac.
Donna, br br I somewhat agree with you that peopl... (show quote)



You expressed my feelings exactly. I don't attend any organized "church" anymore for your stated reasons, knowing that fellowship is a big help in staying on the right path, just don't want to be associated with the world which now resides in the church or most churches.

Taz

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Nov 4, 2014 08:36:34   #
usnpilot Loc: Ft Myers Fl
 
YoungEsqr wrote:
History has shown that for as much good as the Catholic Church has done, it equally has done as much harm. You are correct about lawyers, also. As a veteran of the U.S. Army, I can talk from experience about the bad military types, as probably you can from your perspective from the Navy. There is enough room in the world for bad and ignorant people, just as it is for those who do good.


True dat.

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Nov 4, 2014 08:37:44   #
kwils Loc: Salem, Ma
 
HEART wrote:
"Christian", to you, means "hate." 'Nough said - you've got enough hate for the world.


You just made her point.

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Nov 4, 2014 08:38:02   #
WereWolf1967 Loc: Knoxville, TN
 
James Shaw wrote:
Very well said and accurate in my opinion.


:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

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Nov 4, 2014 08:46:38   #
Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana
 
What is "Organized religion" and why do I hear so much distain for it? I don't understand? Without Organized religion there can not be that personal relationship with God. There can not be that outreach for the Lost. Without organized religion, and I don't mean just the Catholic Church but churches of the Protestant denomination, the Baptist in particular, feeding of the poor, caring for the sick, clothing of the naked. Churches, that is people not a building give so much more of themselves when we come together to serve our fellow mankind.

We can sat at home smug in our own self-righteousness or we can go out, find a church, that is, a fellowship of bible believing believers and become a part of an organized religion that serves.

It is by faith that you are saved but faith without works is dead.

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Nov 4, 2014 08:49:30   #
ricardo7 Loc: Washington, DC - Santiago, Chile
 
To many people, religion is irrelevant. And to others it is dangerous to our survival.

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Nov 4, 2014 08:51:23   #
BatManPete Loc: Way Up North!
 
Those coat hooks in the cloakroom sure did't to much for my attitude when the nun battered my head against them for missing 8 a.m. services during the week. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_chant
didn't do anything for me..
Little did they understand I was earning $.15 a day for hoisting a harness onto to milk wagon pulled by Danny, the horse.

If the hooks didn't punish me enough, there was always the 1/4" dowel rods with points they maintained.

Obviously I wasn't interested in their teachings.
Gregorian chant wasn't my type of music. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_chant —
I was more country/western listener.

Out the door in sixth grade... Only 2 weeks left that year. Next year... Jr. High public school.... where they had printing, machine shop, electric, woodworking, drafting etc. Got all A's & B's... and became very successful in the world of typesetting machines called Linotypes..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linotype_machine

HAVE A HAPPY!

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