One can attend a church service or Jewish Synagogue without being a member of it for various reasons. Do atheists feel uncomfortable in these settings or do they find these experiences as meaningful social gatherings with family and friends if invited to attend on special occasions?
2007-07-17 15:49:18 · 35 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A building is a building. Some of the buildings have extremely effective architecture for inspiring a sense of awe.
I feel no connection to them as places of worship except for respect for the architects ability to design a structure that influences human attitudes.
I have gone and attended services in Churches for several reasons.
I think everybody should see the ceremonies carried out to understand them and why they have such a strong effect on people. I strongly suggest to atheists that they visit a different Church every other week for a few months to get an idea of what they are like. As many different styles as possible.
2007-07-17 15:58:38 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't feel uncomfortable at all. I'd say it's accurate to say that I find these experiences as meaningful social gatherings with family and friends if invited to attend on special occasions.
2007-07-17 16:08:56 · answer #2 · answered by Jess H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a non-believer and i dont feel uncomfortable and yes there are alot of family and friends there that I would enjoy seeing. If asked I would attend and respect that of others there to worship. Although I wouldnt be doing the same, I understand that this is important to them and they understand my beliefs are to me. I can and would be able to put my differences aside for the chance to spend time with family and friends. As they would do for me by inviting me.
2007-07-17 16:01:55 · answer #3 · answered by jason h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think I would find any "meaningful" social gathering at a Church - considering that I don't agree with the message that would be spread around the place...
On a special occasion - it would be different. Everyone would be there for whatever reason - and not to preach their faith (and convert the "non-believer" in their midst) ;););)
2007-07-17 15:51:19 · answer #4 · answered by kr_toronto 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Why would one worship a God they know to not exist?
Social gathers are nice with family and friends and they will come to the church to see it. Does not mean they do not have love for family and friends...it is God they have a problem with.
I had a boyfriend that was atheist but we had children together...so he came to church just for them. On special accasions. Was he uncomfortable ...no
2007-07-17 15:58:13 · answer #5 · answered by God is love. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speaking for myself,i hate churches and the hypocrites that
go into them.My now deceased brother was a minister of
a church,my sister, me and my parent's were all Catholic.
I changed into what i am now,because i have had enough of the Hypocrisy that one has to deal with in these places,if you truly believed in the teachings of your respective churches
you would not sin again and again and again,by then i would have thought that you'd have learnt your lesson,but like most humans you can be led by the nose and by some one you trust (GOD) now what price religion.
the other things that piss me off about you all is that no matter what happens ?you all say turn the other cheek.If
some one did it to me i would break both their legs and shove it fair up their anus,and for the law of god!You all break them (thou shall not commit Adultry,steal or bear false witness) all these you break and week after week you ask for forgiveness,you all sound like a broken record
And before you reply to this Remembe "there are no second prizes"
2007-07-17 16:13:38 · answer #6 · answered by the-Devil-is-King 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I like going to church, on occasion anyway. It gives me ammo, and I love sitting down to bible study and asking awkward questions. Anything to break open closed minds, and make people question things they've never really thought about, but taken as articles of faith.
2007-07-17 15:55:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not at all. I often attend such services in the company of friends and have a great fondness for eclesiastical architecture.
I never go to golf courses, however.
2007-07-17 15:52:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have been to funerals and weddings. I could care less where they are held, and I tolerate the rituals out of a mild sense of respect for the simplicity of the minds of the people involved.
2007-07-17 17:15:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I try to go to as many types of places as I can...because I would like to see how many different takes on the same book there are...and there's a lot surprisingly...but anyway, it really doesn't bother me, as long as the people there don't burden me with the whole Christian "spreading the word" thing to me (as in discriminate against me because I'm Atheist, or shove it in my face, I'm just there to listen, not partake unless asked to share MY beliefs, which sometimes leads me to being thrown out...)
2007-07-17 15:53:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋