As if I Needed to be Reminded Why I Stopped Going to Church (682 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.47 on 31 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Phoenix <volklcess.at.aol.com> (View user info) at 2004-01-12 13:59:54 EST
I was raised Catholic. I was baptized, attended Sunday school, and confirmed to be initiated into this cult known as the Catholic religion. I went to church for an hour every weekend with my mom and I hated every single second of those sixty minutes. I squirmed around like an unhappy little kid in those uncomfortable pews all the way through high school, and once I moved out and was free of my mom, I spent that hour doing much more useful things - like sitting on my ass watching TV.
The only time I'd appease my mom and go to church was during the major religious holidays - Easter and Christmas. One of my friends was a devout Catholic and pushed his beliefs onto all of his friends, urging us to attend church with him; just to get him off my case, I went with him once and after that, he tried constantly to make me do rosaries with him, to pray with him, to go to confession and clear my soul of all those naughty, naughty sins I'd committed. My head was spinning with all this so-called Godliness, but it was all just a bit too much for me: no premarital sex? No drinking? No smoking? All the Catholic religion was to me was a big sign with the word, "NO" on it. Fuck that. I don't need some guy in a robe telling me what God says I can and cannot do. Who thought up this stupid religion anyway?
So I stopped going to church. The whole idea of organized religion made me nauseated; in defiance of church, I decided that the fact that it was 4/20 was much more important to me than it being Easter (I was high all day and I can assure you I enjoyed that much more than sitting in a hot stuffy church packed with religious fanatics fanning themselves with the scripture readings because the church was too cheap to install air conditioning or was looking for a way to make the experience that much more uncomfortable), and the only time I ever acknowledged God was when I was using his name in vain (that goes for his goody two-shoes son, Jesus, too).
It's been a couple years since I've been to church, even for Christmas or Easter, but today's my mom's birthday and yesterday she was down in Reno and her only request from me for her birthday was that I go to church with her. My mom put up with me kicking and screaming and whining all the way till I was just about 18-years old and I went away to college, so the least I can do for her is go to church on her birthday. How bad could it be?
The church was a new one built next door to the new campus of an old private Catholic high school in Reno, so in attendance at mass this morning was a fair share of families that included high school aged kids. Everyone had supposedly raved about how absolutely marvelous this church was, but it looks like any other church to me: it had its uncomfortable pews, it had its high vaulted ceilings, it had its stained-glass windows, and it had its big gaudy alter shrouded in its holy table cloth. The only thing different at this church was that instead of the usual box, the tabernacle (where these cannibals keep the body of Christ until they eat it) was a rock; a big fake rock that split in half. A boulder sized version of a hide-a-key rock: Hide-a-Tabernacle.
As the hour wore on, it became more and more evident to me why I stopped coming to church in the first place: sit down, stand up, kneel, stand up, sit down, hold hands and pray, kneel again. Argh. The priest spoke fast, blending his words together, making it hard to understand him and causing his words to literally sound more like "blah blah blah" than anything else. His sermon lasted a lengthy half hour; when it came time to shake hands and beam fake smiles at people while telling them "peace be with you," I was denied by a bitchy high school girl who made eye-contact with me, looked at my out held hand like I had a few extra fingers or something, and then turned away, nose in the air (heh...must've been jealous). When I didn't get up to receive communion, my mom cast me a skeptical glance and I slumped deep into the pew feeling like an outcast.
That's why I stopped going to church: the sheer hypocrisy of those pious Catholics. They preach to love your fellow man, but they are always the first to judge the seemingly Godless. So I'll leave that church feeling no more elated than when I entered, and I'll continue to sin: continue to drink and smoke and have my premarital sex, and undoubtedly I'll die a lot happier than those who spent their entire life waiting to die for the exaltation of their heaven, their "life after death."
And if there is such a place as hell and I do go there, well, at least I'll have lived my life to the fullest instead of remaining chaste and ignorant, holding on to nothing more than blind faith and the idea of a place that possibly doesn't exist. If you're supposed to spend your entire life preparing to die so you can go to heaven, then what's the point of living?
I'll worship what my idea of God is without church and without pushy religious sects telling me what I'm "supposed" to believe because some guy thousands of years ago said it was right.
The church service lasted a little over an hour thanks to the priest's lengthy, incoherent sermon that no one could understand, and all I felt when I left that building was relief that the mass was over and hunger. My mom took me out to breakfast (maybe as a reward for sitting through that hour of complete tripe). We broke the bread, ate it, and it was good.
User Reviews
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2004-01-12 19:43:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
kristen: if they're to pussy to even log in, they dont deserve a response.
Submitted by Kristen (user info) at 2004-01-12 19:41:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Random Joe at 2004-01-12 14:48:46 (#)
Ranking: -2
I feel sorry for you, I truly do, and I hope God will forgive.
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She doesn't need the forgiveness of a God she doesn't believe in. Who are you to feel sorry for her? I truly feel sorry for Christians who condemn those not of the same faith or who condemn those who haven't any faith in any entity. It's not your place. (About to go Christian apeshit on this guy, look away if you don't wanna read this...last warning...still with me? Ok!) Alright then, nutsack-for-brains. You, supposedly being a Christian yourself, should know that we are not to judge or place judgement upon any of our fellow men/women. That, according to our beliefs, is God's right and God's right only. Basic doctrine. Phoenix has chosen a non-Christian lifestyle. It felt right to her. She's no longer reigned in by the same commandments and teachings that we are. You, however, are completely tied to the religion and therefore should be abiding by the teaching therein. If you pass judgement on Phoenix, I guaran-fucking-tee you will be dealt with much more harshly than she ever will. You have taken the name of Christ into your heart and this is how you choose to represent Him? Shove it.
Great post, Miss Phoenix. Have you been keeping an eye on flight prices?
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2004-01-12 19:24:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
you know what i like to do instead of going to church?
SLEEP!!!!!!
oh how glorious it is to sleep until 2pm.
i miss my sleep so much. come back. please.
what? huh? oh shit.
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-01-12 19:16:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Don't feel sorry for me, oh anonymous Random Joe. I'm fully aware of the possibility that I could be wrong; that's the problem with religious people though (and the reason you gave me a -2): they refuse to accept the possibility that *they* could be wrong.
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-01-12 16:41:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
It's a sign, quack. Maybe we're linked in some weird way...perhaps we're destined to start our own religion. hehe.
Phoenix
Submitted by quack (user info) at 2004-01-12 16:20:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
do you read minds? this is my story as well. almost word for word. i know exactly where you're coming from.
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2004-01-12 15:55:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Phoenix: Ask and ye shall receive!
I buy 4MB of bandwith a month for my phone, at $13 a month. that whole conversation was 1.5 kb..
1024 KB in 1 MB = 4096Kb
I also read my mail on there and such, due to the firewall at work. I haven't managed to exceed it yet, although as soon as I can stream music from http://www.radiostorm.com to it, I'll probably blow through that in about 20 minutes.
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-01-12 15:14:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh man, WQP, I'd *love* to share a joint with you and talk about it!! Nothing quite like those high debates...
Phoenix
Submitted by William_Q_Percy (user info) at 2004-01-12 15:13:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Great post!!
I am convinced that all circles of hell, levels of heaven, and everything in between exist right here on earth. Its very complicated, but if anyone ever wants to share a joint with me and talk about it, I'd love to...
Submitted by Denis_Leary (user info) at 2004-01-12 15:11:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
As many have already said.. don't let one church detour you. Find the place for you.
Submitted by Denis_Leary (user info) at 2004-01-12 15:09:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Although I believe that Catholics are pointed in the right direction, I think it wouldn't take much to push them off the path.
Chanting hymns, repeat after me prayers, monotone songs. Where is the glory to God in that? Where is the emotion and the feeling?
Half my family is Catholic, and though I don't agree with all of Catholisism, I do know my family is good people and probably going to heavon.
Me? I'm non-denominational. It's open and no one is judging you based on if you believe the body of Christ is his actual body or just a symbol. We're all on the same side. It's about coming together and fellowship with eachother and God. It's relaxed and when you shake someone's hand it's because they extended it to you, not because everyone is commanded.
Surprisingly it feels good to be apart of.
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:59:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
GodChicken - Sign on to AIM and talk to me, please! I'm so bored!!
Submitted by atz (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:57:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
So you reject Christianity because of some hypocritical church folk? I do admit, churches generally are a waste of time, but if you want to believe in the religion, just ignore the Catholic church and "find God" on your own terms. So much of Christianity isn't even Biblical, but has adapted over the centuries. So if you are interested in it, just start reading a Bible and make your own conclusions. And there are a few good churches out there.
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:56:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ah HAHA!
This is why you should have told her that you were going to stay home and talk to God. Chicken, that is. ;)
Submitted by IndianOcean (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:53:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Random Joe at 2004-01-12 14:48:46 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I feel sorry for you, I truly do, and I hope God will forgive.
Submitted by Velouria (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:38:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I entered the Catholic religion at birth too. Catholics run my little town/city. I used to go religiously, pun intended. When I was 16, I stopped attending Catholic church, and switched my denomination. And now that I found a nice church, I rarely attend. Go figure. I'll probably go to hell.
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:32:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks, Mr-Boo! Your comment made me smile (and caused one of my coworkers to ask me why I'm sitting at my computer with a stupid smile on my face). It only makes me want to write more when I get good feedback!!
::blushing::
Phoenix
Submitted by Mr-Boo (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:30:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Whoops. 'relation' s/b 'religion'.
Submitted by Mr-Boo (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:29:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Phoenix, once again you've captivated me with your excellent writing. This one was not only well written, but expressed exactly the way I feel about relation.
I almost feel like I'm being a suck up here, but your writing just keeps getting better and better.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:28:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
According to an article I read in the paper this weekend, "none" is the fastest growing religion in the US.
Submitted by Swik (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:23:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I like to think of myself as Christian. I not so regularly attend a non-denominational Church. It is the exact opposite of what you described. The preacher is relaxed, dresses in everyday clothes, except when a child is being babtised. He makes jokes, plays guitar, ect. I usually don't like attending Church anyway though, but there is more to life than only doing the things we want to do. At my church there is no knealing and such. It begins whene the band starts to play some Christian songs, almost never Hymns, and if you want you stand up and sing. Then announcments are read. Someone will come up and perform something. Then the sermon is given. It usually is based on a biblical passage but is put in context of everyday life.
I am not one of those who is all into Church. I go to Church MAYBE twice a month. Overall don't like going, but in the end feel like I walk away with something a little meaingful.
Submitted by reallybored (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:19:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
And if there is such a place as hell and I do go there, well, at least I'll have lived my life to the fullest instead of remaining chaste and ignorant, holding on to nothing more than blind faith and the idea of a place that possibly doesn't exist. If you're supposed to spend your entire life preparing to die so you can go to heaven, then what's the point of living?
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I like it!
Submitted by SpikeGoddess (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:19:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Well written, as always, and I feel ya, but I just can't +2 something that has so much negativity towards a specific religous group. I don't think you meant to come off hatefully, but Catholics who read this will most likely feel hurt, judged, and singled out.
Believe me when I tell you that I understand how you feel. I was also raised Catholic, and am not Christian nor Catholic anymore for reasons I've explained elsewhere. There is a lot of beauty in Catholic liturgy and tradition though, and there are a lot of Catholics all over the world who are great people who live good lives. Catholic charitiable organizations do a bundle of good the world over, and we mustn't forget not to judge people in a blanket way based on religion. Even mainstream religions (which Catholics don't feel that they are, even today in the U.S.) can be the subject of ridicule and persecution, and nobody deserves that.
I think you were really talking about hypocrisy, not about Catholics. I think your anger is towards people who are shoving their beliefs off on you, condemning you, or acting in ways that Jesus would have yelled at them for. Jesus was a pretty accepting guy, by all accounts. Hypocrisy however, he did not tolerate. So take on the hypocrites and the people who push their beliefs onto you, but reconsider your anger towards religious people who find solace and meaning in Catholicsm or Christianity.
SpikeGoddess
Submitted by MickGinny (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:16:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
god and his goody two shoes son hate religion more than you.
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:15:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
smoky - I had to read bits and pieces of the Bible for one of my college classes (Western Tradition 201) and regardless of the beliefs that formed from it, I find it to be a pretty good read.
If you're that into reading the Bible, you should check out "Asimov's Guide to the Bible." I think you'd really enjoy it.
Phoenix
Submitted by youarsoghey (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:13:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by DarthFaded (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:08:49 (#)
Ranking: 2
I dont blame you Catholicism in incredibly dogmatic and Boring to say the least...
Why don't you see if another church suits you better??? Maybe just a non-denom christian or something?
_______________________________
They never miss a chance, do they?
Everyone has their own reasons for not liking certain religions (or all of them), but your's seem a bit bitter. I've always given things an honest look before deciding whether I believe it's a crock of shit or not. Maybe your reason for hating the Catholic Church should be more a matter of the content than the procedure. Although many of the things you said are absolutely right on.
A common Christian argument:
"Only God can judge people, you filthy heathen."
Submitted by smokymtcsw (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:11:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Hey! I thought your post was well written and I beg your indulgence for this response. I do not really like the Church, but I love reading the Bible, and I think Christianity is about more than what the teachers in your Catholic church shared. You are right when you say that if Christianity is not true then Christians are stupid for living the way they do. The Apostle Paul said the same thing in 1 Corinthians 15 especially in verse 19.
14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men...
Then he goes on to talk about how pathetic it is to believe in that day and time, when following God meant more than just saying no to sex, it meant facing persecution and possibly death.
30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I die every day--I mean that, brothers--just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
"Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die."
33Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame.
Basically what he says if that if you do not believe in a living Jesus, Christianity makes no sense and we should just have fun while we can. But if you do believe in Jesus and you have a relationship with Him where you know He is real, you should not live as if you do not. Hope that made more sense than the blah blah blah sermon :)
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:09:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Quartermain - I'm not anti-religious. Everyone's free to believe what they like, and I do believe in God; I just don't like the idea that I have to be a part of an organized religion or go to church to express my beliefs.
Phoenix
Submitted by DarthFaded (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:08:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I dont blame you Catholicism in incredibly dogmatic and Boring to say the least...
Why don't you see if another church suits you better??? Maybe just a non-denom christian or something?
Submitted by Quartermain (user info) at 2004-01-12 14:07:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I don't agree with the anti-religious sentiment, but this was well written and free from any obvious illiteracies, so it doesn't really deserve a negative rating.