Why Do Some People Say, “Church Sucks!”

Leatherman®

Question from a blogger this morning. Thought this group would have some good information for him...

Your Thoughts Here

Julien

Church sucks because it doesn't give any answer...
It's old-fashioned and doens't attract young people like me...
I don't agree with many things Church says about condoms, gays, priest's mariage, etc. etc.

Jamal

Church is okay for the rather naive

I mean, if you like dogma's and people in funny robes telling you what to do...

this goes for all religions

searchlightsoul

geez, I mean you go to church for more then a decade, hate it every time and then one day realise that it has no relevence to you at all.

Collin

Whatever floats your boat. The church's opinions differ a lot from mine and add to that the dogma...

Leatherman®

Here's the original post...

That’s a good question. I would like to honestly know why a person does not have any interest in attending or associating in any way with organized religion….no matter what the flavor. I would like for other bloggers to help me in finding out the, no doubt the many, reasons why so many people have no desire to attend church. You can post your results on this article, you can cut and paste this to your blog, you can create your own survey, but please share your results with me.

Why do this survey you ask? Another good question. I think that we, those in church, should care about what people are thinking and how all people perceive the church. I think that the church must adapt to the needs of those people around them. I think we can easily, at best, develop blindspots and at worst grow complacent and uncaring.

If you don’t attend church won’t you please share you honest reasons on this post? If you do attend church and have a blog, would you please put a link on your blog to this post for the unchurched to share their thoughts with me? Thanks!

Thought that might help put the question in context.

inmytree

I choose not to attend church because I don't:

-believe...
-see the benefit...


I would rather drink coffee and watch the tube/read the paper...if that makes me "ingorant", so be it...it's my choice and no one elses...

of course there are the "open-minded" who sit back and judge....:rolleyes:

Smellyman2

Religion sucks

Church is boring, but sometimes funny.

miller8966

Im a big fan of going to church....helps teach moral values in people today.

Cosmo

Here is my response... you've probably heard it all before.
...
Well… it’s not the ‘Church’ so much as the hypocricy of some of the people inside (including Church leaders) that made me look for God elsewhere. I mean, I’m sure they’re nice people and stuff, but it’s the whole “Here’s what I say… (it ain’t what I do)” thing that turned me away.
I’m talking about Christianity, because that is the prominent religion in America and the one I know the most about. I know enough Catholics who have either warned me or have shown me the trappings of that religion… so, I’m not going to step on that landmine. I don’t know enough about Islam or Judaism to make a fair assessment… and those off-shoot religions like Hare Krishna or Scientology… who am I kidding? I’m not going to shave my head and play a tamborine at the airport or have enough money to reach the higher rankings in those religions.
The problem I have with Christianity isn’t Christ… it’s Christians. It’s like they get a ‘Get Out Of Hell’ Free Card that they play. Jesus forgives you… so, go ahead and be a dick to people. Example: If it’s ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’… then don’t lie and cheat on your taxes, regardless of how you justify it. Cheating is cheating and you know it and so does Jesus. Don’t ask for His forgiveness in January and file a false claim in April. The answer to me seems quite simple… don’t do crappy stuff and you won’t have to keep asking Him for His forgiveness.
Now, I know ALL Christians do not this… but, it just seems to me that if Christians as a whole were more ‘Christ-like’… less concerned about what other people are doing or believing and concentrated more on what Jesus said at the Sermon at the Mount… then, maybe I’d give up the Sunday morning NFL.
Til then… if religion fits your needs… then, good for you, may you find peace with that. As for me… I’ll find God in my own way. I’ve been shown too many dead ends by religion… I think, that for me… personally… I’m better off on my own path.

know1

We sure have a bunch of close-minded....and therefore ignorant people on this board with regard to the subject of religion.

know1

Cosmo wrote:

Here is my response... you've probably heard it all before.
...
Well… it’s not the ‘Church’ so much as the hypocricy of some of the people inside (including Church leaders) that made me look for God elsewhere. I mean, I’m sure they’re nice people and stuff, but it’s the whole “Here’s what I say… (it ain’t what I do)” thing that turned me away.
I’m talking about Christianity, because that is the prominent religion in America and the one I know the most about. I know enough Catholics who have either warned me or have shown me the trappings of that religion… so, I’m not going to step on that landmine. I don’t know enough about Islam or Judaism to make a fair assessment… and those off-shoot religions like Hare Krishna or Scientology… who am I kidding? I’m not going to shave my head and play a tamborine at the airport or have enough money to reach the higher rankings in those religions.
The problem I have with Christianity isn’t Christ… it’s Christians. It’s like they get a ‘Get Out Of Hell’ Free Card that they play. Jesus forgives you… so, go ahead and be a dick to people. Example: If it’s ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’… then don’t lie and cheat on your taxes, regardless of how you justify it. Cheating is cheating and you know it and so does Jesus. Don’t ask for His forgiveness in January and file a false claim in April. The answer to me seems quite simple… don’t do crappy stuff and you won’t have to keep asking Him for His forgiveness.
Now, I know ALL Christians do not this… but, it just seems to me that if Christians as a whole were more ‘Christ-like’… less concerned about what other people are doing or believing and concentrated more on what Jesus said at the Sermon at the Mount… then, maybe I’d give up the Sunday morning NFL.
Til then… if religion fits your needs… then, good for you, may you find peace with that. As for me… I’ll find God in my own way. I’ve been shown too many dead ends by religion… I think, that for me… personally… I’m better off on my own path.

I totally understand what you're saying here and agree with most of it. I was wondering where you found God, though, since you said it made you look elsewhere.

Cosmo

know1 wrote:

I totally understand what you're saying here and agree with most of it. I was wondering where you found God, though, since you said it made you look elsewhere.

...
I see Him in the the peace I find in Nature and the wonder of the Universe. I don't think He gets a fair assessment in the Bible... all that stuff He does to people in the Old Testament... those are things Man would do to people... not God. I believe that the authors of the Bible strapped human traits, such as anger and rage to God. God isn't something to 'FEAR'.
If you want to see the God I am talking about... go to the beach this evening, sit on the cool grey sand and watch the waves crashing in as the Sun sets... or get up early in the morning and watch the Sun rise over the desert... or sit beside a quite mountain lake and and listen to the wind blowing through the pines... that's my God. I find Him in His church... not in that building around the corner from my house.

Collin

know1 wrote:

We sure have a bunch of close-minded....and therefore ignorant people on this board with regard to the subject of religion.

True and that goes both ways

norm

This is one of the many reasons.

http://forums.pearljam.com/showpost.php?p=4012968&postcount=1

The Illinoisemakers

Went to church on Sunday, and thought it was pretty good. I like it when the pastor doesn't try to talk way over my head. Keep it simple. I'm there to learn about Jesus, and how the Bible describes him. I'm not really interested in your personal interpretation of the Bible, and Jesus. The way you see and identify with him might not be the way I do.

JaneNY

I went to church for 18 years, when I was home. I never really liked it but I had to go. Never really connected. The windows and statues were pretty, but I might as well have been at an antique show. I don't believe in the bible, so there wouldn't be any point for me to be at church anyway. I've never really felt part of the town I live in so I wouldn't want to encounter acquaintances at church either.

know1

Cosmo wrote:

...
I see Him in the the peace I find in Nature and the wonder of the Universe. I don't think He gets a fair assessment in the Bible... all that stuff He does to people in the Old Testament... those are things Man would do to people... not God. I believe that the authors of the Bible strapped human traits, such as anger and rage to God. God isn't something to 'FEAR'.
If you want to see the God I am talking about... go to the beach this evening, sit on the cool grey sand and watch the waves crashing in as the Sun sets... or get up early in the morning and watch the Sun rise over the desert... or sit beside a quite mountain lake and and listen to the wind blowing through the pines... that's my God. I find Him in His church... not in that building around the corner from my house.

I totally agree with what you're saying here and see God in all those things as well.

People are imperfect. That applies to Christians and non-Christians alike. The thing is, people will point to an individual's imperfections and then apply that to the church as a whole.

The interesting thing to me is - why don't people judge Nature's imperfections as harshly as they do man's?

know1

Collin wrote:

True and that goes both ways

I totally agree.

Cosmo

know1 wrote:

I totally agree with what you're saying here and see God in all those things as well.

People are imperfect. That applies to Christians and non-Christians alike. The thing is, people will point to an individual's imperfections and then apply that to the church as a whole.

The interesting thing to me is - why don't people judge Nature's imperfections as harshly as they do man's?

...
Then, if you are not going to act (be) Christ-like... meaning, attempting to follow the guidence of Jesus' teachings... then, don't call yourself a 'Christian'. By calling yourself a Christian and continually breaking the laws of Christ and laying all of your crap on His back by whining about being an imperfect Human Being... you are just trying to cheat the system to justify your bad deeds.
I'm human.. i know I'm not perfect and I know that I'm at fault. The only difference is... i'm taking responsibility and accountability for my own actions and refuse to place all of my poor decisions and choices on Jesus.
...
As for Nature's imperfections... like what?

Collin

know1 wrote:

The interesting thing to me is - why don't people judge Nature's imperfections as harshly as they do man's?

Man can change and nature can't?