Do you have to go to Church to be religious?

[Hero*]

to be a good christian u should attend church every sunday.
u also should have been baptized, had your 1st communion, and you have attented your confirmation.

[Subjugation]

Going to church is important to be "religious", but going to church is not important to be spiritual. There's a huge difference.

[Galleleo]

In my views, church has nothing whatsoever to do with how religious you are. If you want to believe in god, if you want to be a christian but not attend church.. why should it make you a lesser christian? For all you know that person could be a better christian then 80% of the people in that church.
(or any other faith of course)

I think that people should be free to believe what they want, to do what they want, and to do it the way they want to do it. Aslong as they don't invade my or other peoples privacy or rights by doing so.

[Jeenyuss]

to answer tha thread title

i sure hope not

[Liquid Blue]

404 is going to church a big deal in the Jewish community? I'm pretty sure there's another word instead of church (aka mosques for Muslims), but I can't think of it atm.


Also, JT thanks man, that's what I was going for- spiritual. I believe in God, try to be nice to my fellow man and help out when I can, but do you think it's more important to be spiritual or religious? I'm not trying to slant to either side here, I think that if you go to church every sunday and help out in your community through religious functions that is perfectly fine, I'm just wondering if for most people, there is a desire to be more religious, or more spiritual. I guess I'd have to have everyone agree on a concrete definition of the two terms before I could even begin to see. Everyone?


What is your definition of being spiritual?

What is your definition of being religious?

If they mean the same thing to you, that's cool just let me know why.

And if they mean different things, which one are you more of? Are you happy that way?

[ZeUs!!]

Do bears shit in the woods?

[DoTheFandango]

No, they shit in rivers.

[ZeUs!!]

Rivers generally flow through a bear's natural habitat, the woods

[Bioture]

To be "religious," yes church would come to mind and it should be in your diet somewhere. To be "spiritual," however, can't be determined by a congregation or your actions on a particular day. I had a conversation with a friend recently because she didn't understand how dressing up nice would honor God. She's right, of course, that when we get dressed up it's mostly for the benefit and respect of the congregation.

Honestly, some of the most Godly and most spiritually rich people I know swears, smokes, and avoids churches.

[D1st0rt]

In my opinion, the most important thing you need to do to be religious is follow the principles of said religion. Someone can participate go to church every day, but if they cut someone off leaving the parking lot and then curse 'em out then I don't think they gained anything by going to church. What I think is the most important thing is to have faith in some kind of higher power and try to live your life as a good person. Being Catholic, there's a rule that says I can't eat anything an hour before communion. That is obviously man-made, and I doubt a good person will be condemned because broke that. It's kind of like when Ghandi said "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

[Subjugation]

Also, JT thanks man, that's what I was going for- spiritual. I believe in God, try to be nice to my fellow man and help out when I can, but do you think it's more important to be spiritual or religious? I'm not trying to slant to either side here, I think that if you go to church every sunday and help out in your community through religious functions that is perfectly fine, I'm just wondering if for most people, there is a desire to be more religious, or more spiritual. I guess I'd have to have everyone agree on a concrete definition of the two terms before I could even begin to see. Everyone?


What is your definition of being spiritual?

What is your definition of being religious?

If they mean the same thing to you, that's cool just let me know why.

And if they mean different things, which one are you more of? Are you happy that way?

I think being religious is when your religion is a large facet of your lifestyle and personality.

I think being spiritual is when you are sincerely grounded in your existential belief system---when you truly have faith, and make a conscious effort to live your life with respect to your existential beliefs.

[K2Grey]

Being religious is when your choices and actions follow your religion, as opposed to you bending your religion to suit your choices and actions.

[DoTheFandango]

Rivers generally flow through a bear's natural habitat, the woods

But saying that they shit in the woods is like saying I shit in the Suburbs. I do, but not just anywhere.

[RATTY...]

As far as dressing up goes, I've never dressed up for church; it's always jeans and t-shirt.

Atleast wear some decent clothes when you go to the church bastard, it doesn't take much time to put on some clothes.

A pair of jeans, a belt and a sweater/shirt should do, wearing a t-shirt in the church is just stupid.

[Superted]

o.0

Why is it stupid?