The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Note: this is not a forum to bitch about religion, we don't want to hear the tired old memes about stolen rituals &c.

I'd like to know why you may skip regular spiritual practice. Are you bored, jaded, disenfrachised, pressed for time, out of the habit; do you only attend the high holy days; and particularly I would like to know why you lost faith, did you ever have it?

Have you found a new faith? Do you have real belief in that faith, or is it just more appealing/less boring/cooler club to be in than your old tired one?

Everyone operates on strong beliefs, they believe they will wake up on time; they believe that working provides money, and money provides necessities and comforts; they believe they are generally good people, and that humanity sucks. Why have "we" set aside the belief surrounding the community of church, and regularity of this practice? Why have you in particular?

A very thought-provoking topic, indeed. I'll have a go at it, since I still have some time here.

I used to visit a place of worship weekly. I guess I stopped that when I felt that it was time I stopped. I just grew out of it. It was not working at all. Nothing was going right in my life. It was either wrong for me or I was doing it all wrong. I never really figured that out. It was a natural transition. Nothing traumatic happened. It was also around the same time I realised I was being stalked by some people. It's a long story. A moment to rethink things arrived when some family members converted to some other faith. I have always believed that it is the converts who appear to have more staunch faith and belief.

When it comes to beliefs and faiths, I feel that the followers are mostly the deciding factor. If a crowd is generally supportive and positive, an individual would be likely to accept that particular faith. If that individual were to face an unpleasant experience in that faith, they would probably take that as a test of faith or shirk the beliefs altogether. A test of faith it could be, too.

As for myself, I would rather follow a set of belief not based on its followers, or the lure of wealth and riches, but on the notion that there will always be people who share the same fundamental belief as I do. It is ultimately the meeting of the minds, for me. The internal point of view. If not, we have to agree to disagree. I am an abstract person. So, my beliefs, though somewhat tainted, have to be abstract in nature. I look to the West when it comes to faith. Anything dark, mysterious and mind-boggling gets my attention.

Me personally, my time involved with faith based organizations was never about the belief, or search for enlightenment. It was all for social reasons.

As far as everyone needing a belief. I don't agree. I subscribe to certainties. That which is empirically evident. Religion is all based on mythology, and superstition. We as a race would benefit greatly by first putting it in context, and then breaking it's hold on us completely.

"There shall be no slavery of the mind." --- Victor Hugo

As the number of new religious movements continue to increase in membership, the necessity to defend the right of people to worship as they please, as long as they do not harm others, is also increasing. Religious bigotry stems mostly from ignorance, fear, and spiritual competition. None of these need be reasons for engaging in religious intolerance and bigotry. I'll address why this is so here. But first, I would like to write about "tolerance" itself. The word is defined here as follows:

TOL·ER·ANCE (n.)

1. The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others.

2.a. Leeway for variation from a standard. b. The permissible deviation from a specified value of a structural dimension, often expressed as a percent.

As Robert Green Ingersoll pointed out, to "tolerate" someone is to make an "assumption of authority" and it is therefore invalid to say to another "I tolerate you" or "I tolerate your religion / beliefs." One does not have the authority to "tolerate" someone else's religious beliefs: that is the default condition, and requires no act or largesse on anyone's part. Therefore when I write about religious tolerance, I am speaking about the fact that one has no right to perform any wrongful act against a person or group based only upon that person's or group's religion, religious beliefs, or lack of religious beliefs. The default is if they cause no harm, leave them alone.

for the rest of the article follow to here.
http://www.holysmoke.org/tolerate.htm

Note that harmful actions caused in the name of a church, religion, or religious belief are certainly open to criticism: it is not being intolerant or bigoted to castigate criminal, unethical, and immoral behavior. Indeed, it is a human being's duty to oppose criminal acts regardless of who commits them. Crimes committed in the name of religion are still crimes, and must therefore be denounced.

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people".
-Karl Marx

Karl had a point and yet babies are born with an inate sense of right and wrong.
In studies 5% of babies are born "bad"
Or are they just the survivor strand of Dna? I am not in Church for these reasons and because no Church exists that sees things from my perspective. The real one.

i follow jesus but i do go to church in my home reading the bible on my kindle :)

Not really interested in attending any church, mosque, temple, etc.
I prefer to read/study the history of various religious beliefs for fun (I love history).

For the simple reason that the religion I was taught (the Roman Catholic) doesn't fit with my personality and thoughts, so as an adult I chose to be Agnostic and follow no particular religion.

Even when I attended Church I was perpetually confuddled as to exactly what it was I was to believe, seeings how there where more tangents, varied interpretations of scripture, and denominations then there are varieties shoes in the world.

What really incensed me was when the church would preach about there take on other religions (always in a negative manner).

I lost my faith during combat. Saw too much death on both sides to maintain it.

I have been in church before but not in a long time cause i have no car if i had one, I will, go again

The Church and faith,
is the adult version of Santa Clause.

Is it though? Once it used to be the centre of community. Now we do not even bother to know our neighbors. Why is it boring? Is it tbe facing, like a lecture hall? Is it that the topic is repetitive with no lively discourse? Are we so intellectually stunted that we cannot live without a laugh track, or vicarious leveling/standing system ?

Why aren't I?

Because "Church," no matter how you choose to view it, is all about spiritual and intellectual conformity to the religion of choice to which that particular church subscribes and not at all about studying, exploring and discovering together with others who also are seeking greater understanding and have the academic and scriptural background behind them enough to do so with you. Instead, "Church" presupposes in every instance that they already have all the answers, all the "truth," and your job is to listen as they literally preach it to you and say "amen" at the prescribed moments.

This is the problem with any and all religions: All of them operate on this foundational basis and is the reason why the most power-hungry and deceptive types tend to gravitate to religion to satisfy that craving for power. Either that... or politics. ;)

I am not in church cause all the stories do not combine they need to mix it up a bit, and have more fun , i fall asleep in church literly laugh s but i still believe in god as my witness he knows i pray daily,

it's boring.
for some reason more boring for us whities.
LOL.

Anyways,
Also the book makes no sence ..
it says one thing,then says another.

I thought story telling should be fun,
not making you want to bash your head in.

Been dragged to church..before.
Even the ones that slap you on the head,
to make you dance around like a nut.
Nope,
I felt nothing,just hit.
Dumb...pluss its too early in the morning.

It was a bit interesting,
at first,then...i keep wondering.
*why do they leave stuff out,
and why to they repeat things..that book
is huge.*
And..
*omg,they want me to eat WHAT?!
and drink WHAT?!*
ummm..
not for me.

You do not have to enter a building designated as a "Church" to be in Church or to worship

I don't go to church anymore, since 7th grade. My family had me in a private Christian school until they had me go to public school in 8th grade. I've gone to public school ever since, thankfully-in my opinion.

I believe that I, or anybody has to go to a church or any specific place just to worship and practice their religion. Why not anywhere? I'm not against church gatherings, but I myself just would rather live than talk about it. I've been to a great open minded church, but I just haven't been in a long while since my dad would be the one to go with me. Other churches I've been to, the sermons/preaches were like lectures, we all understand we are human, so what do we do now that we know we can be corrupt? People may be corrupt, but are good too. People from church I've known were not living their lives as their religion 'told them to'.

I lost faith long ago, I turned to the dark and has become truer to me then religon

I found that instead of answering my questions they just made more so I decided I needed to find my own answers withput feeling judge.d about what I wad asking or who I asked.

I recently became atheist.
I have no reason too.

The church is not a building,the church is you,you are the temple of God.You can pray or meditate,right where you are.get quiet,BE STILL,KNOW I AM GOD.

I was really excited wnen you said the curch is not the building, and then you said it was your body/self. Which agrovated me as much as the direction this thread has been taking has been lately.

The church is the community, the dialog, tne discourse. The root word isn't even associated with religion.

The original word could be used to discribe a flashmob as well as a spiritual congregation.

why do we no longer need this sort of congress for the purpose of soul?

It is all in the Mind. People attend schools to be educated. It works for most, not for the rest. Still, the message is ingrained in us. We look at a school and understand what it is ultimately for. The maxim 'Substance over form' comes to mind when one says the place does not matter. I have to agree with that, especially if and when one believes in something that is not really recognised in their residence.

i cant find one that i like

The church is not a source of divine law or instruction, it is a source of greed and judgment by men, not God.

i got kicked out a long time ago i was nine when i last walked into the doors of a church.

Indeed is a intriguing topic, the reason is because who answer have to be careful not to touch the nerve of the readers. Myself, I don't go to church and the reason is because so many bad things has been happening in the last 100 years, that make me a believer without going to a church. A church is just an structure; but the congregation, are a group of individuals who have been looking for a way to calm the guilt of their mind. I can not believe that a human being, that contain every organ as me, can show me salvation. Salvation of What??? myself.

It started out that I only attended church because my family made me. Then later on I rebelled against them and stopped going. Good ol teenage years. Then as I hit adulthood I realized that I honestly would rather be doing a million other things than sit and listen to one person tell me how to live my life for at least an hour. Eventually I lost faith because I felt that people followed like sheep, and I did not want to be a sheep.

Then I found Wicca, and although I am still learning, it hasn't steered me wrong yet. And it have me something to believe in again.

I never skip my regular spiritual practices. Each morning when I rise I give thanks to Creator. I light sweetgrass and do my blessings. As often as I can I go to sweats and prepare myself 2 days before, lots of water and no food. I fast. My church is Mother Earth and I go to the river a lot almost every weekend.

There are those who go to church and those who feed them after it ends, I find it more beneficial to be one who feeds them after it ends

A lot of people like to go out and eat after church, they wouldn't be able to do that if there weren't people who didn't go to church and give them a place to go

The place I work turns the salad bar into Sunday brunch from 11-2, specifically targeting church goers, and as a buffet person it's when I get a lot of hours which I need because college is expensive and more important than church and practicing an organized religion in general at this point in my life

Agree. Old saying "Just because you go and sit in a church makes you a Christian/Baptist about as much as sitting in your garage makes you a car."

Not the place that matters, it is the actions you take.

I grew up in a Roman Catholic family. So I first went to church because I had to. Then I went to church for the chocolate donuts after service. Then when I got older, I was invited to attend seminary from a Latter Day Saint. So I attended church then because I was sweet on a girl. Now I tend to enjoy the emotional energy emitted by the congregation. So in essence I went to church for food, then because I had a hunger, and then for food again (ha).

But to answer your real question, I probably partake of spiritual practices every night. I'm more or less rather devout simply because my experience is doing a good job defining my reality.

I grew up in a very odd manner,having both Baptist and HooDoo thrown in together.

The Christian aspect to me became a matter of people congregating only to see who could pray the most and the loudest,give the most money,to see who was dressed the best...

It all became a sham in my eyes. The Bible says that your body is a temple and if such is true,then wherever you are you should be able to pray to the Christian God and he shall hear.

Personally,I turned to HooDoo and I have been very comfortable and very sure of my choices.

I'm not a comformist.

Besides, last time my best friend brought me every sunday, I'd cross out holy names in the psalms books and replace em with Satan or devil-like names. Lmao. The back pew is the best.

I was forced to go every sunday as a child so its something i nolonger want to do. I feel there should not be a reason to go until you can understand the gospil and make a decision for yourself. Because of not hving that choice as a child i refuse to go as an adult

i stay out of church because it makes me feel out of place. i can't connect to anything said.

Because not everyone can fit. Too many churches have become all about putting butts in the seats. To many alternative religions have become commercialized, and overwhelmed by authors reinterpreting, and dumbing down things to appeal to people that want a quick fit, so that they can claim affiliation for the sake of social acceptance. So in a way the question becomes.. what brings you to church? I like that the original question mentioned jaded believers, as I suspect that too many are shopping for religion that flatters them sensationally, and emotionally rather then spiritually.

Because my spirituality does not need an organization or a label to hinder my inner growth.

Used to go all the time but just stopped believing in it. Felt like I was going through the motions.

Sometime in the future, I may venture into a place of worship, more for curiosity and nostalgia, really.
Where I live, there is practically a church on EVERY block. The city I live in has every faith represented, so there's a lot for me to check out.
I grew up going to Southern Baptist churches, and as a kid, I loved listening to the gospel choirs. And I anticipated what I coined 'The Show'. I loved to watch people get overtaken by the holy ghost, with their shouting, speaking in tongues, dancing, and running amok all over the place. It was later that I realized that there was suppose to be more to church than the entertainment. LOL

born catholic, went to a methodist sunday school when at sea cadets, am supposed to be c of e; read up several major religions... and, they mean little to me.


I wear an Ankh, favour 'the Green'; and speak of The One.

religion is for those who are afraid to go to hell.

Spiritualism is for those who have allrady been there.

Lol XD

the question was, why am I not in church?

answer, formalized religion is not relevant to my own belief system.

I have always been suspicious of churches that put an emphasis on entertainment. While I am not an advocate of religion personally, if I was I would avoid such churches. I have seen the characters that linger in the congregations of such churches back when I was dabbling in various denominations of the Christian faith.

I stopped for many reasons but the main one was I was tired of people claiming to be something they're not and then look down on you for no real reason.

As a pagan the earth and nature are my church

For the longest time I can remember, I have never been a fan of going to 'church'. I was always forced to go and I never really felt like I fit in there. And I knew, the more I grew up, the more I realized I wasn't Christian. And more research I did, I found what my beliefs are. I am, an Agnostic. For those of you that don't know what that is,

An agnostic is a person who believes that the existence of a greater power, such as a god, cannot be proven or disproved; therefore an agnostic wallows in the complexity of the existence of higher beings.

I didn't come here for spiritual reasons, or for the occult, and vampire theme. It is the Goth, and horror element, so it is more of a diverse cultural center.

So this leads me back to the question.

Some people prefer their socializing to be mentally enriching, rather then seek the elusive spiritual enlightenment.

I was not raised in the religious environment, so i do not follow believes. I keep my mind in the universal common sense between right or wrong -good and bad-. I respectfully listen every persona who want to talks to me about their believes, and that is include the door-to-door people with respect.

No walls of a building can define my belief's or lack thereof.

Beacuse I got a really bad reputation around here and also around here, people are really judgmental.. especially church people, and I just would not feel welcome.

I go once a week. I and my family are catholic

Well, my family isn't overly religious. Even though two of my grandparents attended Catholic School it wasn't something they carried with them later into life.

When I was younger I attended children's services, mainly for social reasons and a little curiosity. When my father stopped doing drugs he attended a very small non denominational church. I really liked it there, the people were close and they felt like they really believed. It was mainly aimed at ex drug addicts, alcoholics, and bikers. A lot of these people had really rough times, and I mean really, and it's was their faith that got them through it.


And that is why I believe that faith of most any sort is beneficial to people. It gives them hope for better days. People are able to take the burden off themselves giving their problems to be decided by a higher power. Some people need that, and you can call them weak, but they're still just people. I've seen the good a church community can do, and I've seen some bad.

My mother is currently one of the founding members of her church. I don't care for it much, I don't like their message, and I don't like their themes. I won't go into why. I just personally think they are not the best influence. I however will attended holiday services just for my siblings. I don't get to see them much, and they have to go so I allow myself to get dragged along.

I haven't found another church like the first one, so inviting and genuine. Besides I prefer keeping my faith personal, I don't like sharing it much with others. But I'm always willing to discuss it if people actually wish too.

So, I avoid going if I can. It's uncomfortable, irritating, and sometimes boring. But like all things it has a good and a bad side to it. This can't be denied.

I could go on, a lot more. And in fact some one what I had written was accidentally erased. Can't go on boring others with it though.

Perspective is everything though...

I was raised baptist. But slowly got away from it. Just wasn't working for me. The doing as your told, or is what I felt when I went. In my belief now, I am encouraged to learn many things, like herbs, healing, helping others more. I am happier now then when I was going to church.

But thats me. :)

I meant to go to church on Easter Sunday, but I didn't go. And now I feel kind of guilty about it.

The fact that you intended to go but were unable is enough, as far as I am concerned, and understand the scripture.

As a child iwas forced into a religion , growing up I always said to each their own and went my own way as in my beliefs , if you do believe in god and go to church then good for you :-) i once had someone tell me if I didnt go to church i was going to hell .. Because i didn't follow their religion

i hope i answer this right

for me i have never been treated badly in church, i enjoyed meeting people when i was younger. but i don't attened anymore is the older i have gotten the more i don't think like the group , i don't share many of there views. its hard for me to go to a place i feel i have to hide myself from people, im not able to let them get to know the real me, i guess more like protection for myself.

I was raised as a Roman Catholic, and while I was in college I took a course that opened my eyes to other religions of the world. I was taken out of the box of that "one right religion" and it made me appreciate those other religions even more.

I also came to believe early on that church was not the one place where God could be worshipped. As a child I learned that God's love could be felt anywhere. As I grew older, I didn't understand why those who followed the Catholic faith only met once a week and at High Holidays to practice the faith together. That's why I chose to walk away from the church. Even with my Eclectic beliefs that I hold today, I still say some of the prayers I learned as a child in times when comfort is needed - usually when I am trying to fall asleep or to help calm myself. But again, I don't need to be in a specific building in order to feel God's presence. (I'm not a full-time Catholic practioner - I just can't bring myself to fully separate from that aspect of my youth because it did help shape who I am today.)

I used to attend church when I was growing up. I think I stopped when I went to job corps. I just didn't feel like that following a person who lived in the past was right for me. I fell off of the path only return to it on special occasions,but,other than that, I really don't like going to church since was forced upon me.

i know that there are many lost and confused people and with so many options to choose it can be rather repulsive in a sence but in all honesty church is where you make it

but really who intentionally says i want to go to this place so i can be judged, i do not think anyone wants that as it is bad enough most here are judged already by society

i never been fond of rules and laws and titles so that would be my reason. also who is to say which is right and which is wrong concerning the many humanized modern faiths

simple I had a conflict with the minister of our family church back when was a teenager and decided that the God he preached about was not the God I wanted to believe in
even before then I questioned some of the stuff from the bible and what was taught in bible school and Sunday school
attended church from 2 years old to 16 with grandma and grandpa til his death

The real question: why be in church?

Spirituality is defined so many ways and is a term abused by so many that it boils down to the individual's choice. There is no one church that defines my spirit and no one belief that encompasses that which I believe to be true. I think all religions and churches maintain a portion of the truth. Whether they are good or evil (which are such relative terms anyway these days), they hold to the truth that simply helps them to get by.

I hold on to no illusions of life, death, or afterlife and frankly am more focused on the reality that is now rather than the theory that is tomorrow.

The Earth is my church and nature my God/dess/es.

And so it is little wonder the Pope and other religions align themselves with Earths other creatures, late to the movement, but welcome.

Even vampires cannot eat and breathe the dust of unchecked globalisation.

~I'd like to know why you may skip regular spiritual practice. Are you bored, jaded, disenfrachised, pressed for time, out of the habit; do you only attend the high holy days; and particularly I would like to know why you lost faith, did you ever have it? ~

I attend once a month. It keeps me in touch with my inner self and I also believe it helps people who are suffering in a community where there is no other outlet.

Yes I had it once, but mankind and earth taught me the truth. And so I think I broke away, to reality.

Am a free thinker, and I show no interest in following the church, because I tend not to believe in a faith that is being forced into me, I prefur a faith that allows me freedom to doubt.

Nature - The Earth - is my church.
I wish that people would take care of Her better.

My religion, Tengrism, is the worship of my Ancestors. We have no Temples, no Churches.

You don't need a church, just go outside somewhere and be surrounded by nature.

Went too much as a kid, felt out of place and judged by those who attended. My mother was an abusive women and claimed to love the christian god, yet hated me. I live in a town full of churches even a Jewish church, but why go? I honestly dont feel the need to do so and sit there and be told Im demon possessed and I need to be saved by a god I dont believe in. I have Lucifer as my god now I pray on my own terms. A lot less judgmental :)

I'm an Athist.. in the Christen sense of the word...
Other than that... I'm Wiccan/Pagan
I believe in all things

Curious. What is the Christian sense of being an atheist? Plus if you are an atheist, then how can you claim to believe everything.

I am sincerely curious, and look forward to your response.

Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities.[1][2] In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities.[3][4][5] Most inclusively, atheism is the absence of belief that any deities exist.[4][5][6][7] Atheism is contrasted with theism,[8][9] which in its most general form is the belief that at least one deity exists.[9][10

was raised with nuns, from when I was 5 years old since I was 15, went to my the "primaire" not sure of the english for this part of school but its from kindergarden to 6th grade, I was with them in scholl, a smi private school then when into a "coven" not like here but where nuns live 24/7, i was there till I got to 15, I chose to got here, because I beleived, I would go home once a month for 2 days then go back there to live with the nuns.

At that time I saw the world like a really crazy scary place and did not want to be in it.... then I changed when I was betrayed by what I found out and saw, so I chose to leave.

I also found a true faith, but thats another story :) even tho I do not go to it or follow it, its not a lack of faith... its something else that is personal to me :)

:)

Because I don't want to be tied down by the Church's belief system, I like to be free, and develop my own understanding of nature.

I just meant in the sense that I don't believe in God in the Christen sense of the word...

As for the Gods/Goddesses of the Pagan/Wiccan beliefs ... yes I believe in them

I know that this is confusing for some to understand, it was for me at the beginning also, but I have since come to accept that I am what I am

I also believe that everything is connected in some way, there is "life" energy all around us at all times

So you are in no way an atheist. You might as well get over the idea that you are both, an atheist, and believer.

I simply hate hearing bullshit... God's allowed to be jealous and angry, but I'm not? God is as human as the next sinner, and I don't worship humans.

Them idea of God is just a concept, he is not human, you can't give God an image.

When one approaches the concept of God from the standpoint that we have created God in our own image... not the other way around... does everything pointed out in the last few posts fall perfectly into place. ;)

The God who is seen throughout the Bible acting as capricious, jealous, bloodthirsty, unfair and unjust, etc., only makes sense when viewed as the creation and the means whereby those claiming to speak for "Him" are able to maintain their power and control over the masses by invoking "His" name.

While I conclude by the evidences outside the Bible that there most likely is a principle of Intelligent Design at work in the Universe and, also, reveals itself in the inherent need we all have as Human beings to create and progress, yet there is an enormous and often cross-purposes difference between the "God" of religion and whatever or whoever might be the actual source of that Intelligent Design.

Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.
Mahatma Gandhi

Jesus taught tolerance and acceptance. However since the separation of the first church Jesus really isn't allowed to attend.

The church decided that they would force themselves and their thoughts on to the world. Twisting the very words of Jesus to justify their tyranny.

Judging and condemning anyone who would question their beliefs. Never accepting that others would rather choose a different way.

The last time I attended church regularly I left because while the message was good the actions did not support the message. That and they were continually looking to be bigger and richer. Even though the speaker was good he really showed me that his true interest lie in making a bigger paycheck. I found that while the front door was wide open so was the back door.

I believe we should accept each other as we are. And not try to force our beliefs on to each other. More people have died because of someone forcing their beliefs on others than all other wars.

Agreed. The historical evidences all seem to strongly indicate that the historical Jesus never intended to start a new religion; all of that was the result of his "apostles" and, more especially, the Roman agent provocateur, Saul/Paul, whose own lust for power and control caused both separate groups of "Christians" to develop their own separate movements, the original Jewish Christian group (Jesus' "apostles" and their disciples) to be entirely lost to history while Saul/Paul's group, and later adding Peter to that group, given their Greco-Roman allies and disciples, succeeded ultimately beyond their wildest dreams and became what we consider to be Christianity, today.

None of this was ever Jesus' mission or goal, who remains throughout his life a practicing and apparently devout Jew, though opposed to the later restrictive and invasive laws introduced by the Sadducees, primarily (not the Pharisees, ironically).

I don't have any long winded explanation as to why people don't go to church, or.. anything close.. But I can say what i personally feel for myself..

I believe, that no matter WHAT religion one believes.. it starts inside them.. its in them.. and they do not need to physically go to any *building* to worship a religion ..

As long as they know where they stand within themselves..
I live in one of the Bible belts of the USA.. really? and a lot of these folks are like, * if you don't go to church.. yadda yadda.. my thought is,, pay attention to your own religion,, and leave my beliefs alone :)

The whole point and purpose of Church is to provide Fellowship between like-minded believers. A place of gathering for uplifting support and encouragement. However, prejudices abound within communities. Neighbors feud amongst themselves and Families fight and fall apart. When the Church becomes a Focal Point for One Man or One Woman to Preach against its own Congregations, becoming a stagnant pond of salvations, saving the same people over and over again through sentiments of guilt and confusion, it is no longer about Fellowship and in fact, never was.

Gossip mongering is the worst thing I've encountered. I had the rare opportunity, raised a Christian, to attend different churches and congregations wherever I moved while growing up. I found one common thread between them all and it wasn't Jesus. It was about the very thing as it was in the days of Cotton Mather and the Scarlet Letter. It is about "who" in the community does not fit in and thus I have heard whole sermons directed at one person, with such vehemence and intolerance, they were forced to leave. Tears running down their face, crying. My own mother.

Communities are all alike in the sense that each desires to define the individuals that make it reputable. Church and the attendance thereof has become a proving ground and a place of renouncement for those that may "damage" the reputation thereof. I believe this is the primary reason for more solitary practice of any faith as our society gravitates toward the ideal of tolerance and acceptance of ALL in leu of segregating those with soiled pasts. We realize that association is a predisposed condition that we are changed by the influence of a "bad seed" is not necessarily True. Temerity and perspective open our consciousness to pervasive inner growth and being the developed individuals that we each seek and desire to be, we find fellowship amongst those of like minds, therefore, even being here online within this gothic community, we each have found our own Church, one that resonates the Fellowship that gathering together was intended for all along.

I do not attend Church because Churches here are Christian and although I still read the bible and other biblical books of literature, history, and culture, I find my Fellowship is best spent here, discussing, debating, observing and enjoying the many perspectives of Life, Spirit, and Death that are otherwise Taboo. I am still a good Neighbor and I do my best to practice Kindness and to maintain a Positive outlook on life. Many of my neighbors feel I have a "good Christian outlook" on Life. Perhaps I do, I just did not garner it from Church.

I am an atheist and a Buddhist. I don't believe in a soul, Heaven, Hell, a God, a deity or a demon/devil. Therefore things like Church and spiritual/religious practices are seen as a complete and tedious waste of time. If I don't believe in it, I won't go through the motions of it. I'm completely non-spiritual - I don't believe in "mother earth", Karma, or anything mystical at all - therefore I don't see what good any sort of praying, worship or whatever will do.
I also dislike the notion of praying or worshipping a being, because that leads to blind following, which hinders Science, Medicine and the world in general.

That's why I'm not in a Church.

After doing some studying and because of the history of the church the church slaughtered a lot of people just because of there religion or believes and it is also a slavery religion who put a lot of people in slavery and caused many wars.

So Owlish - where does the Buddhism fit in? I'm curious, as I know next to nothing about it, with the exception that:
"Suffering is inherent in life and that one can be liberated from it by mental and moral self-purification."

I used to go to church. Then when my son was in a coma for 3 months...I never left his side. I asked my church to come pray for him...to come to his bedside...they denied us. Then when he was released it was near Thanksgiving, I had asked for help with food for Thanksgiving dinner. The church said NO because I had not been tithing in the last 3 months.

I have not step into a church since!

There is only one supreme being I believe in and that is me, self belief is the best kind in my opinion.

A church is simply just another building to me, either to walk in and out of, either to vandalize, to piss on or to burn down, makes no difference to me but I can respect that groups, cults, religous folks like to have their own base.

You don't need to go to church to worship God..That can be done anywhere.
I prefer to do so outside..usually overlooking a lake, river or ocean..

Because at every church i have been to they turn out to be hypocritical, cynical, ass hats . Not grouping all Christians together, or all religious people together, but from my experience there not all about what they preach about. When my father died, my family church that we had been attending way before i was born, abandoned my granny & family in our darkest time, I've been shunned out of not only one but a couple churches for the simple fact i was a teenage mother, and needless to say the last church i attended has a sex offender leading children affairs. and im not talking about a petty sex crime, but horrible ones.
And, on another note doesnt it feel a tad bit wrong to worship another human?. Standing above you on a pedestal, preaching down at you telling you what YOU need to change about your life. About the sins you commit, while they belittle and tear down multiple people, shoving there believes and thoughts down there throat giving them no room to breath to grow, prosper into there own person. Letting them make a self concious choice about who they want to be, and religion/believes they want to follow.
I'm a deist, not only to i not believe in church, but i do not believe in organized religion. period. If you worship a god , as i believe there is a higher power out there. What makes a building filled with people, all of whom arent there for good reason going to make your connection stronger?.
Just my rambling opinion .

Because I am Pagan, and I don't want to be forced to believe into the Christian faith. I am a free thinker that wants to follow my own path in life.

The reason is because am not a Christian believer.

You don't have to be Christian to go to a Church. I am assuming any sort of religious building where regular attendance is expected was implied with the original post - be it a Church, Mosque, Synagogue and so on and so forth.

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