3 ms·

People left the church because it was stuck in a obsolete understanding of the world and did not offer people satisfactory answers to their questions. Past a c

by remir 9y ago

People left the church because it was stuck in a obsolete understanding of the world and did not offer people satisfactory answers to their questions. Past a certain point, if a religion wants to survive, it must renew itself, otherwise it risks becoming irrelevant. I bet there would be more people in church if the pastor said: hey, forget about the Bible, forget about the angry, prideful and violent "man in the sky" of the old testament. Forget about the old laws. Forget about the Pope. Instead, go within. You don't even have to pray or bow down to anybody. Just be silent and still your mind. Jesus told us that the "kingdom of heaven" is within us, so that's what we going to explore today. And if you don't believe in Jesus, then that's cool, too. Let's go beyond beliefs and dogma and simply connect with ourselves and be present in the moment.

collias 9y ago
There are a few churches like this out there today. Sadly the idea of "going to church" is so foreign or looked-down-upon these days that few people actually try it out. And eventually the churches die.
drdeadringer 9y ago
At least some of this exists in UU churches.
Noos 9y ago
This is like going to a chess club and suggesting they get rid of all the rules about chess, all of the history of the game, all of the books advising people how to play it, and that annoying ranking thing, and giving them the board and pieces. Then you tell them to make up their own game and sit back and watch the social connections form. It generally doesn't work, because you can be present in the moment playing golf or sleeping in much more easily. if you try and make a chess club essentially without chess, why bother?
- remir 9y ago
  If chess clubs are dying around the country because people lost interest in chess, that doesn't mean they aren't looking for something else to play. When Jesus spoke about churches (ekklesia), he wasn't referring to a building, an organization or leadership structure or rules. He did not speak about "sunday school", singing songs, or any or that. He was talking about a spontaneous gathering of people who felt "called out of the world to follow him and serve God". It's not like he told his disciples to go ahead and start this "Christian" religion and build the buildings that people would go to every Sunday like clock work. We are the product of culture and memories. A lot of people have a negative association with religion for a lot of different reasons, but that doesn't mean these people are not spiritual and would not appreciate meeting other like-minded individuals in a non-judgmental environment.
  - vlehto 9y ago
    I think it's deeper than that. Lots of religious people don't go to church. Many who go, do it just because of habit or some personal principle of "I'm church going Christian". Churches are not drawing people in, not even their prime focus group. Despite indoctrinating kids from the crib. The few mega churches that actually work, are obvious scams. Jordan Peterson doesn't go to church because he doesn't feel like the preacher actually believes in jesus. There is something deeply fucked up within Christianity that makes it difficult to sell. I can't put my finger to it.

by remir 9y ago

collias 9y ago

There are a few churches like this out there today. Sadly the idea of "going to church" is so foreign or looked-down-upon these days that few people actually try it out. And eventually the churches die.

drdeadringer 9y ago

At least some of this exists in UU churches.

Noos 9y ago

This is like going to a chess club and suggesting they get rid of all the rules about chess, all of the history of the game, all of the books advising people how to play it, and that annoying ranking thing, and giving them the board and pieces. Then you tell them to make up their own game and sit back and watch the social connections form. It generally doesn't work, because you can be present in the moment playing golf or sleeping in much more easily. if you try and make a chess club essentially without chess, why bother?

remir 9y ago
If chess clubs are dying around the country because people lost interest in chess, that doesn't mean they aren't looking for something else to play. When Jesus spoke about churches (ekklesia), he wasn't referring to a building, an organization or leadership structure or rules. He did not speak about "sunday school", singing songs, or any or that. He was talking about a spontaneous gathering of people who felt "called out of the world to follow him and serve God". It's not like he told his disciples to go ahead and start this "Christian" religion and build the buildings that people would go to every Sunday like clock work. We are the product of culture and memories. A lot of people have a negative association with religion for a lot of different reasons, but that doesn't mean these people are not spiritual and would not appreciate meeting other like-minded individuals in a non-judgmental environment.
- vlehto 9y ago
  I think it's deeper than that. Lots of religious people don't go to church. Many who go, do it just because of habit or some personal principle of "I'm church going Christian". Churches are not drawing people in, not even their prime focus group. Despite indoctrinating kids from the crib. The few mega churches that actually work, are obvious scams. Jordan Peterson doesn't go to church because he doesn't feel like the preacher actually believes in jesus. There is something deeply fucked up within Christianity that makes it difficult to sell. I can't put my finger to it.