Why is there so much ceremony and procedure in religious gatherings? I thought that when you go to church, you go there to learn about God and Jesus. But what I see is a bunch of dance routines and rigid procedures to turn a page in the Bible. What does all that have to do with God?
2007-10-18 05:19:09 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
great question, it isn't necessary.
2007-10-18 05:21:25 · answer #1 · answered by brian 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
You go to Bible study or religion class or seminary to learn about God and Jesus.
You go to church to WORSHIP God and Jesus. See the difference?
Pomp and solemn ritual of varying kinds are used in ALL cultures for major events. This includes weddings, coronations, etc. Because religious people hold God in the highest esteem, they naturally employ pomp and solemn ritual to indicate how important worshiping God is.
Not sure what church you went to that involved "a bunch of dance routines" and "rigid procedures to turn a page in the Bible" -- my husband was a worship leader & played in a Christian band for many years, so I have been in many different kinds of Christian worship gatherings and I've never seen anything exactly like that. The Pentacostals and charismatics might dance, the High Church crowds may process in with the Sacred Scriptures before reading from it, but I've never seen both in one location.
Anyway, if you live in the U.S., we have such a casual society, it's sometimes hard for us to see the value in ceremony, but it does help a great deal in getting people in the right mindset -- not thinking about their every-day issues, but thinking about God.
2007-10-18 05:27:31 · answer #2 · answered by sparki777 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
right now everyone knows about God. And for some people simple Sunday service isn't enough, so churches try to make something different. All of this doesn't have to do anything with God. Churches just try to keep people in church, but if truly believe in God what ever is going on in church is for glory of God.
2007-10-18 05:28:11 · answer #3 · answered by nice_girl 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nothing at all the only thing that Christ comanded us to do often is communion. Everything else is put in place by man. When you go to church you should learn his word but its also a time to celeabrate a Great and Awesome God just as the rest of your life should be. The Holy Spirit should be the only program at church follow it and you cant go wrong.
2007-10-18 05:24:03 · answer #4 · answered by Reshonda P 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reshonda's right. I actually hate the word religion because it is defined as a collection of man-made rituals. Christianity is about a relationship with God, not a bunch of rituals.
2007-10-18 05:32:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with people, not necessarily God. Ritual and repetitiveness help us to focus on Him and to get our minds in the right state of seriousness.
If you don't like ceremony and procedure, just go to a church that doesn't have it. What's the big deal?
2007-10-18 05:22:28 · answer #6 · answered by Acorn 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
what you see as dance routines...are praise and worship expressions towards God.
and what you see as rigid procedures to turn a page in the bible is actually giving reverence and total surrender to the world of God as he is worthy of it.
you are very ignorant!
2007-10-18 05:24:42 · answer #7 · answered by Tx Guy 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely right Arnold and I agree with you.
And when I see a man wearing jewelry and a long frock telling people how to conduct themselves, I'm afraid I can't take him seriously.
2007-10-18 05:29:39 · answer #8 · answered by Paul R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you're going to the wrong church.
2007-10-18 05:23:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You've been going to the wrong types of churches.
2007-10-18 05:26:23 · answer #10 · answered by villhelm 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You ask a very good question!
Stay away from such religions ....they aren't following the example of Christ too closely.
2007-10-18 05:26:31 · answer #11 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋