Christians, do you allow non-believers to take Communion? Let's say an atheist knows when Communion is at the local Orthodox or Catholic Church. He slips in the back a few minutes before hand. Then goes in line and gets his free bread and wine. He does this every time Communion is offered at that church.
Would this be allowed in your Church?
2007-11-04 07:47:25 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The reason doesn't matter. I am wondering if a known atheist could do this. (Obviously an unknown person would assumed to be Christian). Hell, let me know if a known atheist could do this even once.
2007-11-04 07:52:24 · update #1
"Why would I want to?"
Uh, I used a hypothetical atheist, not you. Do you think everything is about you?
2007-11-04 07:54:47 · update #2
When I was a child I regularly attended church with my parents they are LDS (Mormon) and each Sunday the Sacrement (similar to communion) is offered... No one is denyed the oppurtunity to partake no matter what his/her beliefs are and no matter why he/she is there to partake..
As long as the person does not disrupt the meeting with their presence (I.E. someone yelling out, someone running around, someone generally making a nuisance of themselves) they are welcome to partake in any manner they so choose... If this is the case the person is politely and firmly asked to leave the meeting... In one case law enforcement was called as the man involved was not only disruptive and belligerent when asked to leave but also became physically confrontational pushing shoving and ultimately taking a swing at one of the men who was calmly escorting him out... The 3 men escorting him out were using conversational space invasion to escort him out without ever placing a hand on him (I.E. get a bit too close and the other person will take a step back to reestablish conversational distance while the other two keep the sides pinned in so the person moving back only has one direction to choose from.) The man took the swing when he realized he had been manuvered to a side fire exit door and with one more step would be outside... At which point the three men restrained him wisked him out and telephoned the police..
Stopping someone from partaking would cause a scene and disrupt the flow of the meeting disrupting others worship as fully and completely as any of the above a person could do themselves..
What does it matter if someone not of your belief has a wafer and some wine as I recall it's the symbolism that's important to believers not the actual item... The Atheist does not place the same symbolic meaning as you do and is therefore only getting a bite of wafer and a sip of wine...
2007-11-04 08:00:59 · answer #1 · answered by Diane (PFLAG) 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Sure, I've done it.
My daughter is Catholic, and I've been to mass with her a few times and took communion, as well as at her confirmation and baptism. Her mother and I both took communion, as part of the ceremony. The priest didn't know we were Atheists, so God sure didn't tell him.
My son married into an Orthodox family and had to convert, or else her parents wouldn't allow it. As far as I know my son is an Atheist, and at the ceremony my wife, my son, and myself all took communion. Once again, it was unbeknownst to the priest that we were Atheists, but as in the previous case, God didn't bother to tell them.
So I'd assume that either God doesn't care that we took communion, or God doesn't exist. After all, we certainly didn't burst into flames after doing so. Tasted just like any other wine I've had, and though it had the consistency of cardboard, the bread tasted normal as well.
What do you think?
2007-11-04 07:55:45 · answer #2 · answered by Kemp the Mad African 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Free bread and wine? LOL.. why on earth would an atheist want to partake in Communion? It certainly couldn't be for the tasteless wafer and cheap table wine...
2007-11-04 07:57:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why would somebody want to do that? Do you think church is the only place to get bread and wine?
If an atheist wants bread and wine, s/he is not going to waste their time going in a church. They're going to go to the grocery store, where you can actually buy bread and wine! *gasp* What a concept!
2007-11-04 09:14:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
no, my church takes the position that nonbelievers should not participate according 1 Corinthians 11:27
"Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord"
2007-11-04 07:59:39 · answer #5 · answered by Matthew 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Something tells me there are more efficient calorie acquisition techniques out there, especially considering how many church potlucks there are afterwards.
The Methodist church I grew up in would cheerfully permit this sort of "abuse". But they serve grape juice instead of wine (indeed, Welch's was founded by Methodists for communion purposes).
2007-11-04 07:52:07 · answer #6 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I know a Catholic priest who belongs to a (somewhat heretical) Catholic sect who belives in giving communion to anyone who asks. He has been disciplined for this, and even threatened with excommunication, but he belives it is the right thing to do and persists.
2007-11-04 07:57:33 · answer #7 · answered by cosmo 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I could be wrong, but I don't think they even allow non-Catholics to take communion....let alone Atheists.
I'd probably gag on it... lol
2007-11-04 13:08:23 · answer #8 · answered by Yinzer from Sixburgh 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Are you implying that Atheists are freeloaders, or require handouts from Christians? Or is this a test of exactly what constitutes generosity to most Christians?
2007-11-04 14:19:01 · answer #9 · answered by writersblock73 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have taken communion. My sister in law who was Catholic said it was OK and it was done as respect to her mother. The question is, How would they know if you don't tell them.?
Whats an unworthy manner? I did it out of respect for someone I cared about. I don't think that would be unworthy.
2007-11-04 07:54:03 · answer #10 · answered by punch 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋