Am I wrong for not wanting to go to church?

Question

I just can't stand the hypocrisy I have found in most church goers, or the judgemental attitudes- "The Bible says being gay is wrong" "The Bible says you shouldn't say bad words" "The Bible says you should save yourself for marriage". I avoid going like the plague, although I am very spiritual. I feel closest to God when I am outside in nature, as a matter of fact. But going into church where people are flailing around and screaming (which I feel is for show) and a preacher telling me what I should or shouldn't be doing or I'll be damned makes me sick. In addition, I've found most religious people to be weird and scary. Am I the only one out here who feels this way?

Answer 1

No. You live your life the way you want to do it. It's not like someone is forcing you to go. You don't have to. If you don't beleive in it...then just don't go. You can still be close to god without church. (even though it helps alot)

Answer 2

Your not alone.I am a christian.I do love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. But I can't find a church in my area that isn't like what your saying.I also understand what your saying about all the so called rules they try cramming down your throat.But it's mostly not the rules but the way they try to make you do them.I'm a very stubborn type person. If you tell me do this or else.Usually I'll take the or else.But the reason behind the rules aren't just to keep you in control or under God's rule.It's that if you do these things, it will get you in trouble where bad things can happen to you.Often, not right away and not always just to you.But you open yourself up to things that you really wish later hadn't happened.

Answer 3

No, I feel the same way. I don't have any religion, or church, but I do believe that there is a god. I say my prayers and all that. I know that there is someone watching over me. But like you said, I don't feel like I should have to go to a church to prove it. I was raised in a strict mormon community, and those that weren't mormon were basically looked down upon. It was so stupid, I went to church when I was younger just because everyone else did. But as I got older I realized that it didn't make me happy.

Just do what makes you happy! You don't need church, or a preacher to give you that!!

Hope this helps!! =]

Answer 4

You're not alone. I find church people weird and scary, too. I used to go to a church where they people flailed around and screamed, too and then I was told that if I didn't do the same I didn't love God. I left. Now I'm happy with my own spiritual path. I don't need someone telling me what God (or Goddess) is or isn't. How the heck to they know? Have they been texting him (or her) or something? Do they have Him (or Her on Myspace? Go and explore your spirituality. Read up on everything. All religions have something to offer. Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Wicca (Paganism), all of them. Have fun. Eat it up. Find out what you believe and what works for you. Then get comfortable in your own spirit.

Answer 5

whether you believe or not, I've always heard that god is everywhere and he hears your prayers no matter what, I like going to church most of the time but the whole dancing around and stuff isn't for me but it is how some people feel they connect with god or the holy ghost. the bible say many things but it also says god forgives all sins so I guess it can go either way whether your wrong or not I don't believe so as long as you have a place to pray and feel like you've done your worshipping or whatever you do , church is basically a gathering to pray and worship god so you should not feel like your doing wrong

Answer 6

I think hardcore religious people are kinda freaky. And I very strongly disagree with Christianity and all religion sometimes, cuz I've found it to be rather none existent. No body really cares anymore.

I dont know if this means anything or not but I think religion is just a bunch of stories. I dont believe in anyhting in that sense. I think some people way back when just had a little too much time on their hands and chose to write.

Answer 7

I am a confirmed Catholic...I do not attend church...I don't feel that I have too. I can prey where ever I choose and I know GOD still loves me. Your Preacher should Not be telling you, you have to attend church. He should be telling you how much god loves you no matter how you prey to him..."The Bible" says alot of ****..Just because I'm a Catholic doesn't mean I believe or agree with the book. You are free to make up your own mind about what you want. Forget everyone else who trys to pressure you..Being yourself and loving yourself is loving GOD anyways..Good Luck

Answer 8

No your not, Church was originally designed so that people of the same belief could get together and worship, Today its some kind of hypocritical place for people to point there fingers at others. but remember when your pointing your thumb is pointing back at you, MEANING DONT JUDGE, I am sure there are good churches out there, I was baptized at one and I'm southern baptist. I'm also gay, married to another man and hes a JEW. so really according to my religion that MAN has interpreted I'M GOING STRIA GT DOWN! No you should not curse, we do it. No you should not have sex, we do it, no i should not be Gay (WRONG) GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES, ONLY MAN AND HIS NARROW MIND!!!!!!!!

So just remember as long as you live your life with love, and respect for you and those around you, keep your faith and truly be live you will be fine. IN YOUR HEART YOU KNOW WHATS RIGHT AND WRONG! you ever have GOD and JESUS get you out of some situation, after you prayed, if they did not love you they would not have bothered.

Just trust yourself, but be careful the devil is very deceiving and can make us also do things really bad!

YOU KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT YOU HAVE ALREADY ANSWERED YOUR OWN QUESTION. TRUST IN GOD AND YOURSELF!

Answer 9

sounds like maybe the wrong church(es) you are attending. Not every church is full of those types of people. Some are, but not all.

Most churches will have some form of "right and wrong" because most churches revolve around the Bible which has specific ideals. That being said, it doesn't mean that people have to judge others. I would recommend you try and different "brand" of church.

Answer 10

I've often wondered why I hear of many that brag about "Oh, I better get my behind down to the church at least for Christmas, Easter, etc.", but fail to gather in the association with others who love God like in a church/congregation any other days out of the year. I mean what makes one so holy and a follower of Godly standards on a pagan holiday such as Christmas, you know? What happened to the other days? Were they spent in drunkeness, lustfulness, greed (gamblers, cheats), fornication, adultery, lying, gosipping, extortion, making problems for self and others, I mean how were the other 363 or so days spent? What makes celebrating a pagan holiday gettin' off to church so valid? Christ was not even born on December 25 and you can research this by studying the Jewish calendar. He died on Nisen 14 which is by our calendars, late March--early April. He was 33 and a half years old when he died and if you count back a half year from late March/early April (Nisen 14), it comes out to around October 1 when he was actually born, not December 25. When Jesus was born "shepherds were keeping their flocks out of doors". They did not do this in the dead late of winter, December 25. To me it does not make any sense to only go to church because it's a pagan holiday like Christmas or Easter. Easter is what Nisen 14 is, not bunnies and sugary rabbits. Boy oh boy, there is going to be SUCH A RUDE AWAKENING AT ARMAGEDDON. So many are so lost, but this world is only temporary and is passing away so fast. Please call up a kingdom hall in your area and learn the truth about what days we should be getting out to "church" to your congregation and pagan holidays do not warrant such. The truth can only help you because we are near the end of this system of things. Who doesn't want to serve God and stop serving satan basically? I know I don't participate in what is worldly just because it's popular or traditional. God bless and hope you were able to discern what I mean.

Answer 11

Have you been visiting your local pentacostal church? Your description reminds me of one I visited when I was 18. As for are you wrong? Depends on who you ask. I don't go. The hypocrites drive me nuts. You see the wife-beater, the drunk, the adulter, all in there praying and putting money in the basket, all self-righteous and feeling good about themselves, even though they don't behave throughout the week. I had a friend once, who was sleeping around on her husband, and every Sunday, you could find her in church, I asked her one time, how she could sit in God's house as an adulter, and honestly beg his forgiveness just to go out the next Friday and do it all over again. She said going to church made her feel better. She didn't address the question.