Is there such a thing a a Solo Christan

[Streetdoc270]

or do you feel you have to go to a church? I believe in Christ and God, I just have a problem with organized religion. I think that I am more of a Christan with a natural religion mindset.

[Vincardog]

1. The original Naserians thought the only thing between you and God was you

[MountainLaurel]

2. My grandmother

Hasn't been to church in probably 25 years except for funerals and weddings. When I was attending a fundie church, I asked her why she didn't go. Her response stuck with me: "Why should I go there and sit with all busybodies who care more about what a person's wearing than they do about the word of God?"

[Frogtutor]

11. I love that! And unfortunately true, in so many cases n/t

[El Supremo]

3. For me, attending church services is like...

me not wanting to telecommute to work from home. I would be too distracted.

Taking time on Sundays to worship God in church without distractions structures my time alloted for work, play and faith.

Also hearing the words of the scriptures and sermon saves me the time of looking them up and reading them myself. If the sermon is topical, it makes the experience more enjoyable. And I like the live music and singing!

[tjdee]

4. I don't like the herd mentality of a church.

But I go to one anyway.

The nice thing about it is interacting with people who don't look at you like a weirdo if you mention God. There is something to be said for fellowship (and I'm not a fellowshippy person). And the sermon can serve as a springboard for your personal studies/thoughts.

I don't think you HAVE to, but it can be nice at times. Like Christmastime. It's nice to hear religious carols sung by people who give a shit.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. It's definitely for the sense of community

and the fact that people acting in a group can accomplish more than one individual. For example, I can't feed the downtown homeless and build Habitat for Humanity houses and provide work clothes for the long-term unemployed and sponsor refugees all on my own, but a parish working together can do all these things.

I also love singing sacred music and participating in discussions of the Bible and other religious and theological texts and joining other people in guided prayer and meditation.

When a church service is going well, when everything comes together, there's a marvelous vibe that is hard to find anywhere else.

Whenever I've moved, I've gone "church shopping," and I've always been able to recognize "the one" by the emotional mood that prevails during the service. When I attended the new members' session at my current church, several people mentioned the same phenomenon, that this church just felt right the minute they stepped in.

However, when the atmosphere in a church goes bad, it's one of the most depressing places to be.

[JVS]

6. One should not study in isolation.

It's bad academic practice and it's bad religious practice.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Lots of Christians don't feel they have to belong to organized religion to

belong to God. :)

------------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[pelagius]

9. Many of the fundagelicals...

...I grew up with emphatically deny they're religious -- despite being at church 3-4 days a week. To them, "religion" has the all the negative connotations mentioned here. They believe they have faith. Or as my sister puts it, "I'm not religious, I just love the Lord."

Some of this is just semantics, I realize. However, I think associating with others is an important part of one's spiritual path. There are many, many alternatives to the traditional church with the steeple.

But it seems to me the deeper I go into the Faith, that having a right relationship with God is part and parcel of having a right relationship with other brothers and sisters on the Way.

[MemphisTiger]

8. I would suggest trying different churches

There is bound to be one out there for you. It's like studying in a study group in school rather than by yourself. It's no big news that you're not going to agree with everything everybody says in the church. In my case, I go to a United Methodist church in the south yet I'm a democrat, go figure. Just keep trying to find a church where you feel comfortable. Also, what is your problem with organized religion?

[Frogtutor]

10. I sure hope so, 'cause I've been one most of my life!

I haven't gone to a church for regular services since I was a kid, and even then it was rare.

I am looking into churches, though. I want my son to have a sense of religion and Christianity that I really don't know how to give him, and I think it would be a learning experience for me and my husband as well.

I'm considering United Methodist, or maybe even United Church of Christ...I want something quite liberal!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. Call the local offices of the Methodists, UCCs, ELCA Lutherans, and

Episcopalians, and ask them which parish in their district is the most liberal. (They will know.) Then try out each one until one of them just feels right.