I'm not convinced that going to church is a ticket to salvation, or an everlasting life with God after death. Having grown up Catholic, going to Catholic grade school and high school and mass every Sunday, I feel that I have a solid foundation of what it means to live the life of a Christian.

I am not a "practicing Catholic" today, but not because I left the Church, but my belief that my Church left me. There are many hypocrisies within the Church that I just can't seem to come to terms with at this time.

Do I believe in JC? Yes.
Do I try to live by the 10 Commandments? Yes.
Do I try to do unto others as JC prescribed? Yes.
Do I come up short in trying… am I a sinner? Yes.
Will I experience eternal life with God? I hope. I just don't think being associated with an organized "church", with all their rules and submissions, is the total answer to getting there.

ernest_t_bass;1782784 wrote:So you just stopped believing b/c it was the cool thing to do?

there's a direct correlation between educational attainment and religious beliefs

he could fall into that boat as well

ernest_t_bass;1782784 wrote:So you just stopped believing b/c it was the cool thing to do?

It really wasn't the cool thing to do no one made a big deal about it if other people went to church or believed in a higher power. I didn't stop going until almost the end of my freshmen year of college and most of my closest friends are a year behind me so its not like I just stopped going because they didn't go/believe. My roommate my sophomore year was actually a pretty big christian and I had no problems with him. I lived a pretty sheltered life before I went to college. It just one of those things where college opened me up to new ideas and perspectives about things.


The short answer to your question would just be no I didn't just stop going because it was the cool thing to do.

Heretic;1782786 wrote:I suppose one could read what he typed and come to this conclusion. At least if they had a pre-conceived notion on why people fizzle out on churching it after going all the time while young and were set on turning whatever someone says into a version of said notion.

Lols

Apple;1782796 wrote:I'm not convinced that going to church is a ticket to salvation, or an everlasting life with God after death. ....

It's not, if you subscribe to Christianity. Has some theologian try to tell you differently?

When ii comes to Christianity there's only one route to eternal salvation.

ernest_t_bass;1782783 wrote:Where did you grow up? What kind of church?

Lancaster area. Church was non denominational, outside of junction city.

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Struggled with some or many of the same things that have been talked about on here. I went growing up with my family and absolutely hated it. I did not like the church, many fake people, and nobody my age that was even somewhat athletic. My interests did not match up...

Went away to college and did not go at all. Went off and on after got married and now found a church that I like. I am now struggling with something different....I don't want my kids to hate going the way that I did (much different church now than then)but they already don't want to go every Sunday.

My kids love church... but at least they love it on their own. I do need to watch what I say, and control my attitude about church around them. But at least they love it on their own.

rrfan;1782937 wrote:Struggled with some or many of the same things that have been talked about on here. I went growing up with my family and absolutely hated it. I did not like the church, many fake people, and nobody my age that was even somewhat athletic. My interests did not match up...

Went away to college and did not go at all. Went off and on after got married and now found a church that I like. I am now struggling with something different....I don't want my kids to hate going the way that I did (much different church now than then)but they already don't want to go every Sunday.

Our church has a jr. high, high school church service in the gym. Hard rock music, service sometime leader are by the youth, our youth minister also does some sermom but mostly the kids plan out the service, music and speaker or sermom. The Jr. high kids can't wait to be able to attend this youth services... early morning service only and never a problem getting kids to attend.
I

Belly35;1782945 wrote:Our church has a jr. high, high school church service in the gym. Hard rock music, service sometime leader are by the youth, our youth minister also does some sermom but mostly the kids plan out the service, music and speaker or sermom. The Jr. high kids can't wait to be able to attend this youth services... early morning service only and never a problem getting kids to attend.
I

Sounds cool. Mine are not that age yet...

The lack of athletes in church always pissed me off too.

My grandpa used to pay me in silver fifty cent pieces or silver quarters to go to church with him. I still have everyone that he gave me. He died when I was 11 and I never attended church after his death.

rrfan;1782937 wrote:Struggled with some or many of the same things that have been talked about on here. I went growing up with my family and absolutely hated it. I did not like the church, many fake people, and nobody my age that was even somewhat athletic. My interests did not match up...

Went away to college and did not go at all. Went off and on after got married and now found a church that I like. I am now struggling with something different....I don't want my kids to hate going the way that I did (much different church now than then)but they already don't want to go every Sunday.

Same with our boys right now. They would rather not go. However, last Sunday two of them finally decided to go into their youth rooms and had a blast. I would rather them get involved like this as opposed to sit through the service with mostly adults. Which is exactly what my parents made me do and was the reason I hated church growing up.

I once got stuck in a semi crowded elevator and we were told it was going to be at least an hour before we could get out. A few people were totally freaking out. I was solid as a rock knowing I had made it through Catholic church so many times as a youth.

Zoltan;1782972 wrote:I once got stuck in a semi crowded elevator and we were told it was going to be at least an hour before we could get out. A few people were totally freaking out. I was solid as a rock knowing I had made it through Catholic church so many times as a youth.

Okay.....