Perceptions of church goers.

[The Backlash Cometh]

Poll question: Perceptions of church goers.

Have our churches become what golf courses are usuualy known for? Backroom conference rooms?

[trotsky]

1. I've always thought people mainly go to church...

to see who else is (or isn't) there so they can gossip.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. You know the score.

[peacebird]

5. to socialize, and to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves

To feel included.

Which is great until the pack mentality sets in and suddenly it becomes important to tell other people how to live, and then try to legislate their version of "morality" into laws for everyone.

Fundies of every religions give religion of all types a bad name.

[flakey_foont]

and to be 'seen' themselves

[Donnachaidh]

9. bingo! My relative's church was the worst I'd ever seen

They gossiped about each other on the way to church, gossiped during the program, and then followed each other home, having get togethers where they would literally rip apart people who were at church, but didn't *dress right* or *might be pregnant*, etc. The hypocrisy levels were maddening.

[bryant69]

3. Of course it would be interesting to see what DUers who go to church

think as compared to DUers who don't go to church.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Good point.

[AnneD]

12. I am a DU.....

and I can thank Bush for my increased prayers and attendance. I pray for God's will to be done especially to Bush.:evilgrin: Most of all I pray for those in harms way and try to help our parishioners with family overseas and donate to the food bank.

It gives me an opportunity to be a better person and to meet and enjoy the company of like minded folks. Sunday school is where we do the really hard work, and I never miss that. It took me a long time to find a church that I felt comfortable in. We help each other through the rough patches in life and share the joyous times too. When I go there, I don't feel like I'm 'going to church'. I feel like it is an extension of my living room and we are having a party complete with a sing along. But that's just me.

[piedmont]

4. You forgot "to find a mate"

LOTS of people do that.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

19. The threatening stares I have received from married women

were enough to make me re-evaluate the definition of the word "church".

[ThomWV]

6. My son went a couple of times to try to get laid - I think it worked.

I'll ask he the next time I see him.

[ret5hd]

8. Man, i'd like to hear how option #1 voters explain their opinion!

[AnneD]

16. I voted for #1

I have and am interested in faith. I believe that God speaks to you in the language you understand-if you listen. I have been to every religious sect and denomination you can imagine and enjoyed most all of them. I believe that God does reside in every faith. 'Course that puts me at odds with those that think theirs is the only way.

[ret5hd]

18. The question was about all, not just you:

Option #1: I feel that people who go to church, always go because of their faith.

[AnneD]

21. I didn't take it as personal.....

but gave you one person's view. Some times I think folks think that you can't be liberal and religious. But I also get annoyed that Dems running for office have to profess religion and religious beliefs, like it is some kind of pissing contest (I have given up on the GOP). I think it shouldn't really matter and religion and government SHOULD be seperated...but that's just me.

[Az]

10. Which Churches?

Do you mean Christian Churches? Or do you mean Judeo/Chistian Churches? Or do you include Unitarian Universalist Churches and Buddhist Churches and Taoist Churches? There are a lot of different types of Churches out there. Not all are cut from the same cloth.

[baldguy]

11. Depends on the church.

Some people go out of a genuine faith in the religion. Some go because thats where their parents went.

Some churches are like the recruiting arm for Amway - they have 70,000-80,000 members and want to grow more.

[porphyrian]

13. The first choice isn't exclusive to all of the others.

Someone could always go to church because of their faith, and they could always use it as a business opportunity.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Other; I've never gone to church, so I'm not in any position to speculate what drives people to.

Seriously. The logic completely escapes me. I'd much rather sleep in on Sunday.

But, to each his own.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Most are ticket punchers making payments on their condos in heaven.

All one has to do is go to almost any church on Sunday and watch how many people fidget, twitch, and surreptitiously check their watches.

[JVS]

17. I think mostly for religious reasons, but I belong to a church that is fairly strict

I figure if the people at my church (which is Missouri Synod Lutheran) wanted to network, they could have joined a church that is either greater in population ( Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Non-denominational, Baptist) or simply a denomination that doesn't take such pains to highlight how it is in conflict with every other denomination out there.

One interesting thing to notice though is who comes, where, and when.

There are 5 different worship services that I could attend:
One on tuesday evening (Communion every other week)
8 AM sunday same place as above (Communion every other week)
10:45 Sunday same place as above, there is a bible study from 9:15-10:45 but I don't go to that (Communion whenever not at 8 AM)
10:30 Sunday at the Student Church (Communion every time)
5:30pm Saturday at another church (Communion every other week)

Sunday at 10:45 is the time of the full family in formal clothes. It can be difficult to find any free space to sit it, and I've occasionally been running late and had to stand at the back door of the sanctuary and watch through the glass. If there were ever a time to network, this would be it. I don't know if people network here, they probably do, I don't. Choir sings at this one.

Sunday 8:00 Early risers and people who would go to the later one normally, but want communion every week. Less families with kids, more old people. Probably not a very good networking time.

Tuesday evening: Liturgy is slightly toned down from Sunday. Dress is often more casual. Usually a crowd of between 50 and 70, but have seen as few as 30. This is traditionally when I go. People who work during the weekend or younger people. Some dedicated elderly couples. Often a parent with a couple of kids in tow. This group isn't worth networking with.

Sunday 10:30 Student Center: College kids. The pastor tries to encourage an active social life in the congregation, there are plenty of activities. I've only gone to one of these activities because they were doing something I'm into. There are also some local profs and neighbors who come to this one. I prefer this to 10:45 because I am done sooner and they always have communion.

Saturday 5:30 PM: I've only been once but the group was very elderly people wearing gym shoes. Some of them looked very frail. I doubt there's too much networking going on here.

[Skittles]

20. I feel most of them go

because they feel pressured by their family / peer group / town to go