Have you ever visited a church outside of your own religion?

Question

What was the experience like for you? Did it make you appreciate your own religion? Or were you so moved that you considered converting?
I am a baptist and i use to attend the Catholic mass because they were shorter than the baptist sermons. I know that sounds bad!

Answer 1

I'm Neo-Pagan and I attend Church with my wife to support her path.

Answer 2

I am Catholic (from birth), and throughout my life I have attended Baptist, Christian, Methodist, and others. I have learned a lot by being involved in programs from each of these churches, and honestly more than if I had only been a part of the programs from only my own church. It made me want to learn more and understand my own religion. (I am currently involved in Catholic catechist certification classes) I see most religion as man's attempt to express worship to the same God. I never felt like I needed to convert because my religion allows me to express my feelings to God in a way that I find satisfying. Some people in my experience have tried to "convert" me with a lot of pressure, which I found made me very resistant to their attempts. I would encourage people to go where they feel closest to God. Religion is a man made system, whereas faith is not. I don't think there can be only one way to God.

Answer 3

I grew up Catholic, but began to attend Quaker Meetings because it seemed to me that the Catholics in my parish didn't care if I lived or died, if I was sick, didn't have enough to eat. They were all about appearances, fashion, status. Of course this was just one parish. I don't think all Catholics are like this.

But I got invited to a Quaker Meeting by a co-worker, and ended up attending these. Meanwhile, I've also been to Baptist, Missionary Baptist, Methodist, to listen to choirs, at the invitations of neighbours, and just because they were closer. I find that there are true believers and sincere practitioners in every faith, and also those who seem to have lost the meaning behind what they do and say.

Quaker Meetings have been authentic and spiritual communions in the Holy Spirit and worshiping God with the Heart, not just lip service. I'm drawn to the truth of it, the open-ness of the meetings (they don't turn away others just because their opinions differ; in the Society of Friends, we don't hold that anyone has more of the truth than anyone else. If you seek God, He will help you find Him.

I have come to appreciate my Catholic heritage because that's where I came from. It made me who I am, and in part, that motivated me to keep searching for God, for the truth. I have returned to worship with Catholics because in part, once a Catholic always one, and also, I don't want to abandon my brothers and sisters in the
Catholic Church. They need tending to just as much as any other human beings, so my Quaker conscience will not let me give them up for lost.

Answer 4

In my life I have attended many other religions and denominations. No church has ever converted me to it , My religion comes from the Bible alone in it's entirety.

Funny but the Church I enjoy the most is in another denomination than my own. I know many saved people are in it, and in other denomination, just as there are doomed people among the denominations.

No church saves people, we go to worship God and follow the scripture, "deny not the gathering of the saints"
Even though many have found him there.

Answer 5

I was raised Latter Day Saints (Mormon) but I now attend a non-denominational Christian church. The first time I went I was nervous because I didn't know what to expect but I enjoyed it so much I continued. I've visited several denominations with friends and while they were each a little different, I found I can worship wherever I am.I think it's good to sometimes visit different churches with friends..it gives you a better understanding of others beliefs.

Answer 6

Is Catholicism a different religion to the Baptist tradition? I thought they were both branches of Christianity.
Visiting a temple of other religion, for a Christian, would be going into a pagoda, or synagogue, or mosque.
I stepped into a pagoda once but out of turist curiosity.

Answer 7

I have visited the worship places of other religions, and have visited churches that are different from the particular church beliefs I have. It interested me, and I enjoyed each time I sat in on a new type of worship. I didn't convert, but I respect others.

Answer 8

Yes, many. I'm catholic, and I've been to baptist, methodist, episcopalian, lutheran, and Jewish services. I've also been to catholic services in other countries (England and Germany, I'm in USA), which is also interesting. One mass in Germany was in german, but I still knew what was going on.

I've also been to lutheran, jewish, and greek orthodox weddings.

It was interesting how similar they all were, even the Jewish service.

Another poster reminded me that I've been in a buddhist peace pagoda, but not during any kind of service.

Answer 9

I'm a Christian and have been to many "sects" within our faith. I've also gone to Muslim studies, but never a mosque.

I found the Muslim religion to be an interesting philosophy, but didn't see it as true as Christianity. It seems like they ignore the old testament Bible prophesies, which they believe in, that Jesus has fulfilled.

Answer 10

I've led worship in others. I would ONLY attend somewhere that believed the Bible ALONE, Not one where man-made tradition is held as high as scriptural teaching, thus catholic is pretty far down my list, though I HAVE led worship in a catholic church.

Answer 11

Yes I have been to many denominations and they all seem to bash the others I like to keep holy the sabbath and go to church as a commandment of wich there is only 11 the eleventh being love thy neihbor as you love yourself.