Non-Christians: How many of you have been to church?

Question

I'm just curious to know how many of you grew up in a Christian church and left it or have never been to a Christian church in your life.

Answer 1

raised Lutheran, even taught sunday school when i was in high school. always sort of questioned some of the things they taught.... always was interested in religion & spirituality. read a lot of different things, am now Buddhist.
I could get something out of sitting in church if there was a good minister, but honestly there are not any in my area. I haven't "believed" most of what was taught to me since I was a teenager.

Answer 2

I was baptized as a baby and went to a church a few times in my life, but never really believed in it. My parents are not religious. We used to go to church at Christmas, mainly for the singing there. I grew up with the thinking that Jesus was some good man who lived in the past and taught charity and peace, nothing more. I don't remember that as a small child I was told about these religious teachings that Jesus "died for our sins" and all this. I was just told he was crucified by the Romans, I thought it was sad but didn't think of a deeper meaning about it.
When I learned about those teachings of Christianity later they just seemed strange to me and until now I can't understand how people can believe it.

Answer 3

Raised Methodist, began my search for my own truth at the age of 8 or 9 and attended many churches from then until the age of 40, when I converted to Catholicism - chiefly b/c I was tired of searching for a church that espoused my private beliefs and my husband was Catholic. Then I woke up about a year after I converted and found I was still questioning and wasn't being true to myself and what I privately thought about religion. Read a biography of the founders and came across Deism. Overjoyed to find that Deism fit my private beliefs like a glove and have been content and peaceful about my beliefs ever since.

Answer 4

A couple of times when I was visiting my grandmother in Sydney. I think my mother was trying to pretend she was raising me a christian. I didn't think much of the experience. Those are the only times I've been to an actual service at a church. I've been to weddings in churches as well.

Answer 5

I grew up a Christian but now the only time I go to church is for funerals ,baptisms or weddings.

Answer 6

I was raised as a non-active Christian (if that makes sense). I was baptised and we went to church as children. Then I grew some common sense and learnt things from outside the book.

From what I remember it's just sermons and singing. I don't see how that aids in getting you into Heaven...

Answer 7

Raised Roman Catholic. I have been to many churches. I understand the draw they have and can appreciate the sense of belonging and community they foster in people. I don't think religion is a BAD thing in general, I just believe it is not based on reality.
Additionally, there has been some very negative things that have happened in the U.S. lately because of religion, and I believe that some religions pose a threat to our education system and our national policies.

Answer 8

I grew up Christian, even before I switched to Buddhism I never went to Church after my first time. I believe that if a god exists he can't be found in a buillding or a book, but in nature, in the beauty of this world. In his creation, not man's.

Answer 9

I was christened as a child, went to a church school, even lived with the local priest (a woman) for a while in my teens.
I never bought into the idea of christianity. It's just not believable enough for me to take it seriously.
If forced to label myself, i'd say i'm agnostic now.

Answer 10

I went to church. I even attended a Christian school. That was a long time ago.