5 ms·

Plenty of us still go to church every week!

scruple 4y ago
What do I do if I want to "go back" to church but I don't believe? Speaking personally, and without spilling a few paragraphs of text here, it seems like that's where I am today.
- neilv 4y ago
  I don't know, but one idea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_humanism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_humanism
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- pianoben 4y ago
  I grew up attending an explicitly irreligious "church" which provided stimulation, moral instruction, community - all the things about church that really matter to one's life, but minus dogma. Maybe you could find something similar? (it was the Ethical Society in St. Louis, MO, in case you're curious)
  - pyuser583 4y ago
    Does it offer day care?
    - pianoben 4y ago
      I haven't gone there since I was a child; I'm 40 and live in another state now. I understand that they have a web site - maybe they have that info there!
- pyuser583 4y ago
  This is a major, major issue. Religious people say “there’s a god sized hole in your soul” maybe, but there’s defined a “church sized hole” in American society. This becomes huge once you have kids. Churches run child care, schools, family activities. They also service as hubs for ethnic groups. They’re really important, but so far no secular group has filled the gap.
- exolymph 4y ago
  Go to church anyway. You don't have to believe to attend services.
- rwmj 4y ago
  Church isn't the only local activity by any means. As I noted in my other response[1], if you want to do charity there's volunteering groups. Or sports? We have a football team, bowls, ballet, pilates or general keep-fit. Or drinking? We have a pub meet up where they discuss philosophy (I'm not making this one up, promise!) [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35397479 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35397479
- fnordpiglet 4y ago
  Become a Quaker or Unitarian.
- dmoo 4y ago
  My take on this is that if your religion doesn’t make you do anything you’d be ashamed of if there was no God then there is no harm. Sometimes the rights and rituals help provide context for important life events regardless of any faith you might lack.
- DoreenMichele 4y ago
  Go to church. Be polite. Be respectful. Don't wear your lack of belief on your sleeve. No big, really.
- gamechangr 4y ago
  you join a "friendship group" or "cell group" that is offered at your local church. It's a weekly meeetup where people get to know people. Just hang out for a few weeks, then bring any questions you have up.
- lazyant 4y ago
  maybe look into Unitarian Universal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalism
drewcoo 4y ago
Define "plenty." Then make this line stop dropping past the plenty level: https://news.gallup.com/poll/248837/church-membership-down-sharply-past-two-decades.aspx https://news.gallup.com/poll/248837/church-membership-down-s...

What do I do if I want to "go back" to church but I don't believe? Speaking personally, and without spilling a few paragraphs of text here, it seems like that's where I am today.

neilv 4y ago
I don't know, but one idea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_humanism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_humanism
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
pianoben 4y ago
I grew up attending an explicitly irreligious "church" which provided stimulation, moral instruction, community - all the things about church that really matter to one's life, but minus dogma. Maybe you could find something similar? (it was the Ethical Society in St. Louis, MO, in case you're curious)
- pyuser583 4y ago
  Does it offer day care?
  - pianoben 4y ago
    I haven't gone there since I was a child; I'm 40 and live in another state now. I understand that they have a web site - maybe they have that info there!
pyuser583 4y ago
This is a major, major issue. Religious people say “there’s a god sized hole in your soul” maybe, but there’s defined a “church sized hole” in American society. This becomes huge once you have kids. Churches run child care, schools, family activities. They also service as hubs for ethnic groups. They’re really important, but so far no secular group has filled the gap.
exolymph 4y ago
Go to church anyway. You don't have to believe to attend services.
rwmj 4y ago
Church isn't the only local activity by any means. As I noted in my other response[1], if you want to do charity there's volunteering groups. Or sports? We have a football team, bowls, ballet, pilates or general keep-fit. Or drinking? We have a pub meet up where they discuss philosophy (I'm not making this one up, promise!) [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35397479 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35397479
fnordpiglet 4y ago
Become a Quaker or Unitarian.
dmoo 4y ago
My take on this is that if your religion doesn’t make you do anything you’d be ashamed of if there was no God then there is no harm. Sometimes the rights and rituals help provide context for important life events regardless of any faith you might lack.
DoreenMichele 4y ago
Go to church. Be polite. Be respectful. Don't wear your lack of belief on your sleeve. No big, really.
gamechangr 4y ago
you join a "friendship group" or "cell group" that is offered at your local church. It's a weekly meeetup where people get to know people. Just hang out for a few weeks, then bring any questions you have up.
lazyant 4y ago
maybe look into Unitarian Universal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalism

drewcoo 4y ago

Define "plenty." Then make this line stop dropping past the plenty level: https://news.gallup.com/poll/248837/church-membership-down-sharply-past-two-decades.aspx https://news.gallup.com/poll/248837/church-membership-down-s...