I'm am not here to offend anyone or set anyone off, I'm just doing this to gain other perspectives besides my own on different subjects.
Knowledge is power right?!?
So let's get this started and I hope that you will respond in the comments section with your views. But I will be up front and let everyone know that this is to discuss and exchange opinions. I appreciate the comments I receive but I will not hesitate to delete anything that is degrading or is posted to hurt feelings or to just be an asshole. This is my blog and if I feel like things are getting out of hand, I will turn off comments or just stop the whole post all together. So let's keep things lady like :)
I am going to just jump into this one because honestly I know that this has so many faucets to it and people see very different views. I'll preface this and let you know how this came to my mind.
So working at the fitness center, I work with many different people. There is one person though, who loves to get under every one's skin. He loves to debate people on these "hot topics" and will engage anyone. So let's call this man "Gib". I come to work this morning (mind you this is at 5am) and Gib is in a debate with a police officer that patrols the hotel about religion. Most of the time Gib just goes to the most extreme point and tries to prove it even though I think he doesn't even believe himself half the time. So I pull up and Gib is discussing the collection plate (ya know the plate they pass around so you can donate/tithe) with the officer. Gib is trying to ask why you can give to the plate but why you can't take from it if you are apart of the church. (you get the idea of how crazy he can be sometimes) The cop was reiterating that you would be stealing from the church because these people were choosing to donate to the church as an institution, and not to the individual people.
This kept going on with the officer being baited by Gib's crazy lure, until I explained this to Gib...
Gib: (still rattling off...)
Lil' Woman: Well then I guess since I am a member (employee) of this hotel, it would be ok if I was went and took a piece of furniture from a room without asking as well. I work here so it wouldn't matter right? I wouldn't get arrested right?
Of course I would and the cop had his "Ah-ha" moment where this was explained to Gib in Lamens turn. But granted Gib did make a good point after that (even if it was short lived).
He said that if people didn't donate that their wouldn't be a church to worship in and therefore religion would not be necessary. Of course that I believe that the last part of that is not true. I personally have not been in church for many years but I still believe and have faith in God, I also still pray to him and say prayers for other people to him. I don't believe that I have to go confess my sins to a stranger or donate to a church to feel like I am a child of God. One of my bloggy friends, Muppet Soul, simply stated my exact feelings on religion in one of her earlier post:
"...I fully believe in G-d, I just also fully mistrust man's ability to interpret him"
-Muppet Soul
I know many of you ladies are religious woman and I hope to hear about what brings you to your faith!
Do you feel like you have a closer relationship to God when you go to church?
Are people looked down on if they don't tithe?
(be honest, because when I used to go to church I used to feel that people would look at me funny if I didn't put my $1 in)
Do you feel it's necessary to attend a church (temple or wherever you congregate) to have a relationship with the Almighty One?!?
Remember we're here to discuss and not degrade so keep comments cordial! :)
21 comments:
I think this is an excellent idea for a post.
While I am not religious, I am very spiritual. I believe in my God, and I believe some things are just not possible without the help of something or someone out there. I believe positive (or negative) thoughts go a long way and can honestly change outcomes. I believe you do not have to go to church to be a good person, and I also don't think going to church makes you a "better" person than one who doesn't. As long as you live your life respectful of others, treat people the way you would want to be treated, try to lend a helping hand as often as possible, and just basically live with a big heart, then there is nothing wrong with not going to church. It's just not for some people, you know?
Anyways, about your story. I think some people will find any reason to get what they think they deserve. Maybe Gib has given a lot to the church, and feels like he's not getting anything back (emotionally). This could cause him to feel like he needs to take from the offering. However, I think that is very wrong and I'm glad you tried to talk some sense into him.
Excellent idea & post!
I do not go to church. I do think that some people judge me b/c I don't go to church. I try not to let it get to me. Which, in all honesty, it doesn't really bother me at all about what other people think about me. I have my realtionship with God and they can have theirs. It does bother me when church-goers try to make non church-goers feel like less of a person just b/c they don't attend church. I don't think you have to attend church every week to have a relationship with God. Each person is different and should be treated as such.
Great Post!!! I used to attend church services every week until shortly after we got married. We moved quite a ways from our church so just to get there was a challenge. Then we were making a very low income and could barely support ourselves let alone tithe 10% the the church. When the Pastor confronted us about it that was the day we quit going and haven't found a home church since.
I have an extremely close relationship with the Lord because I choose to do so not because some person in front of a building tells me too. I have been through so many events in my life that most people would use as an excuse to turn away from religion but they only make my faith in Him stronger.
So...no I don't feel you have to go to church to be a religious/spiritual person and I am always willing to tithe or give to charities as long as it is within my budget. I don't believe God would want me to suffer so the church has more money.
Fabulous "Hot Topic"!!! Love this idea!! XOXO
Good topic!
For the first question, I think going to church CAN make someone feel closer to God. But I also think that may be different for certain people. I haven't gone to church on a regular basis in a few years, but now that I am married, I would love to find a good church for my husband and I to go to. I think going to church should be a way for you to learn more about God and the Bible, but someone can feel just as close to God from their own home.
Some people may look down or judge others if they don't tithe. But the Bible does talk a lot about tithing, and I think it is good to tithe, but others shouldn't look down on someone else if they don't....
I definitely do not feel I NEED to go to church to have a relationship with God. I do have a relationship with God, and I haven't been to church in a long time. God is wherever you are, and that doesn't require an organized building and congregation to have a relationship with Him.
I don't think i have a closer relationship with God when i go to church, but i think my relationship is more rounded when i go to church. and when i say "go to" i don't mean just going to say i went, but going with an open heart, taking in the word and feeling it.
I just recently started going back to church after a nearly two year break because i was very hurt by the hypocrisy i was seeing. it took a long time for me to decide to go back, but i realized that even though i always have a strong relationship with God, that relationship fills more fulfilled when i am part of a church community.
it's kind of like sex in a relationship. you can have a great relationship without sex. you can still love and respect each other, but let's be honest, that relationship is way better when you add some sex.
yes, i just compared church to good sex!
as far as Gib goes, i agree with him to a point. I once visited a church that impressed me during offering time. When the plate came around, the pastor said "Give is you can, take if you need." Not many people took, but some did. afterward my hubby and i asked about that and the pastor said the church was there to help people and if someone needed help financially, he wanted to make sure they knew they could get it. i thought that was very touching. it took trust from the church, trusting that people didn't take advantage of the plate.
I consider myself a "recovering Catholic" and have never felt closer to my spirituality. I have found that I feel closer to God in nature, through yoga, or simply through playing with L. I think churches are wonderful and if that is what people like to do, then good for them. However, I don't think that they are necessary to be a good, spiritual, God-loving person.
I was baptized into the Catholic church and attended regularly when i was younger.. and when i pray, it is to God. However, i would consider myself more of a spiritual person... a spiritual Christian.. I no longer attend church and my room has Buddhas ((which my grandmother does not understand)) i still celebrate Christian holidays and believe in the power of prayer... as well as the power of positivity.
i think it is important to have faith in something, no matter what that something may be. if we don't stand for something we'll fall for anything, right.?!
it's all about being a good person and treating others [and yourself] in a respectable manner.
Great topic.!! xoxo
Wow, you are so fun! I love topics like this.
I will answer your third question first: absoultly not! I rarely go to church, as I work almost every other Sunday and on the Sundays I don't work, I sleep in and there is no guilt in doing that. Not for me. My relationship with God is so much deeper than that and I get closer to him on my own time in my own ways. That is just how the Big Man and I roll (haha, not your Big Man...)
This Sunday in church, I did feel bad about not having any cash to tithe. But it was all on my own accord. There was no one else looking at us with squinty eyes, burning cursses into our souls for not titheing.
And yes, I do feel closer to God when I do go to church. But not all the time or everytime. I love going to church when it feels right. And I know that my God is a-ok with that.
Oh Lil' Woman...what a great idea for a post. (And since I'm just a little OCD (I pretend it's just enough to be endearing!) I'll post your questions in bold and my replies in italics.
Oh, yes. I'm just that good.
Do you feel like you have a closer relationship to God when you go to church?I do feel more "connected" when I've gone to church, but my relationship with Him isn't dependent on a physical building or making sure I get there every week. My relationship with God is personal and intimate and deep. He's always with me...whether I'm at church, at home, or anywhere else. Going to church is important to keep other Christians connected and to help fill you back up after a tough week, but we can't rely solely on a church building for our relationship with Him.Are people looked down on if they don't tithe? I wish I could tell you that this was NEVER the case...but sadly, I know it is. Tithing is something you should do because you feel led to do it. You should tithe because you WANT to...not because your church has shamed you into it. It's easy to forget sometimes, but churches are simply buildings full of sinners just like me...and so they sometimes make mistakes.Do you feel it's necessary to attend a church (temple or wherever you congregate) to have a relationship with the Almighty One?!? I think it's VERY important to be a part of a group of believers that can support you, challenge you, and encourage you on a regular basis. The Bible tells us that community is important and that we are to gather for "corporate worship" (a fancy name for church/temple/etc.) in order to stay connect to the Body of Christ. But like I said before, the most important thing is that we each have a personal relationship with God and that He is first in our lives. Once we get all that in line, the rest will fall into place. I just have to remember that a church building/congregation is full of people that mess up just like I do, so I can't expect them to be perfect. They WILL screw up. They WILL make me mad. But I'm not there for them anyways...I'm there for God.*Stepping down from my soapbox*
Great "Hot Topic," Lil' Woman! Can't wait to see the other comments!
LW @ http://goodbyemartha.blogspot.com
HI :) I just happened on your blog and thought I'd join in the discussion.
I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which is also known as the LDS or Mormon church :) I attend church every single week, attend other midweek meetings and feel like a slacker for not attending the temple more often. My hubby and I pay a full 10% of our income as tithing and I know we are blessed for doing it. Our church doesn't pass around a collection plate and we are just asked to pay an honest 10% tithe.
Being a member of the LDS church, I would never want it any other way. I would feel like something was missing from my life without the church.
I don't judge others that don't go to church, or aren't members of the LDS church, but when I really sit down to think about it, I feel sad for all that is missing in their lives and most of them don't even realize it :)
What a good post :)
I was very lucky to have grown up in a family that was very open minded. I was never 'dragged' to church, just to go. Rather, my Mom would give me the option of going, but would always say that if I decided to go, that it had to be for the right reasons. I think that this approach is the reason why I LOVE going to church even to this day. Because from day 1, it was something that I did for myself and not for anyone else.
Even now, I try hard not to get cought up in all the other stuff that comes with belonging to a church. I try to simply remember, that I am there solely for myself.
Very interesting post.... I'm a dude, by the way and I used to be very religious when I was younger. However, regardless of how much my views on religion may have changed, I think it is up to each individual's to feel how they "feel" close to God. There are instances where people feel it is an obligation to do certain things in order to feel close to GOd, but I simply think, that if you feel it in your heart, to do things, and do good, that is all you may need to really feel close to God.
I believe in life, people, and the connections that are possible between them. I believe in having as much of an effect on as many people as you can in the short time you're here. And when you die, the rest will just sort itself out.
Ew I would HATE to work with that guy!! I don't go to church often in fact rarely ever though I was brought up in the church. Went to a private school where we had mass every day before class and went every Sunday until I was about 13 years old. After that I went to a catholic school and had a religion class everyday and mass every few weeks. I never felt like it brought me closer to God. I feel much closer to God when I am laying on the beach in the caribbean and marveling at the greatness He has created or traveling to unspoiled places that have been the same for millions of years. I'm def more spiritual than I am religious but that doesn't mean I don't say my prayers at night ;)
Ha! Lookie, I'm in your post!
1. I think it's awesome you're talking about this - I think it's ridiculous how much people edit themselves on blogs. I mean, you can express your opinion, be open minded, take a stand, without being an a-hole. When you have SUCH a strong opinion about something, isn't the idea to get other people to see your view - in which case being a condescending/close minded asshole is not the best route ( unless it's stuff like race or equal rights, in which case I refuse to be 'open minded' about the other side). So I think this is an amazing post idea.
2. You know my religious views, lol... Spiritual but not religious. What one man gets out of a book can be extremely dangerous if he gets 100 men to back him up.
Frankly, if I believed in a wrathful and hell-damning G-d the way other people do, I think he would be the MOST pissed about the way a lot of people represent him. ( You know - the whole "G-d hates everybody but me" attitude.)
I think when a person gets to the point where they're using verses to judge and condemn other people, deny them freedoms, and make judgements on their 'eternal salvation', that that is so disrespectful to G-d in every way.
Wow serious topic. Personally, I don't feel the need to go to church all the time to feel connected with a higher power. I believe in one and go to church when I can but definitely don't go regularly.
Great post! I used to go to church, but then I got busy... And it's just not for me. But I'd encourage my kids to try it out.
Let me start my response with a story. A couple of weekends ago, on Sunday afternoon, there was a knock at my door. It was a man and woman and they began telling me they were from a church down the road a little ways. They asked if I was currently going to church, I answered no, and they gave me a flier and told me about their church and how it'd be great if I would come. All innocent and friendly enough. Then it took an ugly turn when the man asked me "Now do you know and have a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?" I answered yes, slightly uneasy as I noticed he change of tone. Then he asks "If you were to die today, would you go to Heaven?"
I should add that his tone made it quite obvious that in his opinion, I was headed straight for hell.
It was all I could do to not hit him or slam the door in his arrogant little face. I said yes, I would and gave him a warning look and said goodbye pretty quickly.
To me, my relationship with God is personal. To me, I don't have to go to church to keep that relationship, although I spent most every Sunday the first 21 years of my life in church and I liked my church. But I was never overly involved in church activities and my mom never pushed me to go.
I hate when people get judgemental about religion. You focus on what it takes for you to get to your Heaven, and I'll focus on me.
Ok, semi-rant over :)
Like the hot topic thing!
I don't feel that you have to go to church to worship God. I do believe there are a lot of people that look down on you if you don't go. I also agree with you about the looks I have received when I don't have the money for the offering. My question is if I can't pay my bills as it is should you really place money in the offering? I know someone that puts at least twenty in the offering every sunday. Ok that is great in all but I just don't have the money. I would hope it isn't about the money more the fact that I am there to worship. On that note I know people that go to church to confess their sins but go out and do it again. Who is to say that there is a wrong or right way when it comes to religion. I think people concentrate more about the money rather than they the religion. Good blog. We need to discuss this on the radio show.
i gave you an award my dear!
Does Jesus have anything to do with God? No one mentioned him. He said he WAS God and was the ONLY way TO him. Was he crazy? Was he a liar? Or is he who he said he was?
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