In non apocolypse related news...jesus's childhood home may have been found

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by #-3

Bit literal, but yes.

It's something we secularists just aren't good enough at, and it's a problem that needs solving.

It is an easier problem to solve for the religious, since so much of their entire existence depends upon congregating together in echo chambers.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

I grew up Anglican which is really the perfect form of Christianty, you get all of the benefits, a warm glow of salvation, excellent choirs and hymns and some really lovely churches and cathedrals but without any of that fundy true believer proselytizing nonsense, I almost miss it, like you though I have come to believe its all a bit foolish

The Anglican Church was very welcoming, comfortable, and made few demands of one’s faith. But eventually standing and reciting “I believe in...” and taking communion was something I couldn’t do anymore. A secular version with the allegories and parables and sermons and music and tea after would suit me just fine.

[psyang]

I went to a Jann Arden concert at the Jubilee several years ago, and honestly, I walked out of it thinking I had just been to a non-religious church service. There was singing, the mood was joyful, the stories were funny and powerful - deeply touching. It was a beautiful experience. I've seen her live a couple times since, and that same sense was never recreated, but I've always had a soft spot for her because of that concert.

One subtle aspect that is often missed regarding church services is the idea that going to church isn't really for my benefit. It isn't a show, we aren't there to be entertained. Instead, it's a place to give worship to God. The focus shouldn't be on ourselves, but on God. And in that giving, we receive.

At the Arden concert, though the focus was obviously on Jann, I left feeling a joy for humanity, a renewed sense of the collective good of all people, and a strengthening of my own desire to be good to others. That is what a good service can do.

[bubbsy]

I'm not Christian, though am married to one.

I have read thru the first 5 pages of this thread, and just wanted to say how nice it is that a topic like this could be discussed so openly, without anyone getting worked up, offended, etc.

It's days like these that remind me why I got trapped on CP in the first place.

[flamesfever]

I think it's important to know how much the Church and the practice of Christianity has changed with time. A great book, which addresses many of these changes, is "The Heart of Christianity - Rediscovering a Life of Faith" by Marcus J. Borg.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by edslunch

The Anglican Church was very welcoming, comfortable, and made few demands of one’s faith. But eventually standing and reciting “I believe in...” and taking communion was something I couldn’t do anymore. A secular version with the allegories and parables and sermons and music and tea after would suit me just fine.

Become a Mason or an OddFellow

[Swift]

An interesting read overall. Both the historical education from textcritic but also the last couple of pages of discussion.

I grew up Catholic in Ireland. My parents weren't religious (my dad only went to Mass for weddings and funerals, preferring to sleep in every Sunday) but in those days you would've been a social pariah if your kids didn't get baptised and confirmed. What you guys call "Catholic schools", we just called "school". I never truly believed in it once I became a teenager and it fell out of my life completely as it did for most of my generation.

While still not believing in any of it, I have respect for the traditions of it and like wimbledon will visit big old churches whenever I'm visiting somewhere. In fact, in the last few years I've taken to visiting a local church here on Christmas Eve just to sit in some peace and calm for a few minutes and ruminate on things. I actually also went to a Mass randomly a couple years ago and I can see why people go in for it. There was a genuine feeling of warmth and goodwill in the place. Not sure if other denominations do this, but shaking and hands and saying "peace be with you" to smiling strangers was a quite comforting experience.

I cringe when I see other atheistic people completely knock every aspect of religion without trying to understand the important role it plays in many lives.

[troutman]

There is a Unitarian Church on 16th Ave NW:

https://calgaryunitarians.ca/about-us/

Unitarians are united by values rather than belief in one set of creed or dogma. Our values include acceptance of one another, compassion, and a commitment to justice and equity. We believe in exploring the mysteries of life, we believe in ethical living, we believe in living out our spirituality in this world by working for peace, justice, equality, democracy, and respect—for one another, as well as for the interdependent web of life, of which we are all a part.

We believe that it is not who or what you believe in that is important, but rather, how you live your life.

https://cuc.ca/unitarian-universalis...iples-sources/