Does anyone go to church and not believe in God?

[OhDear2200]

I’m curious, I’ve been a dip in and out of church (C of E) through my life.

Can’t decide if I believe or not. But is it so bad continuing to go/be involved in the church community if I don’t believe? I like the routine, meeting people and singing

Just wonder if I am the only one!!!

Raindrops, I'm so sorry that you feel that way. It can be draining being over involved, (I know this well), could you maybe cut back your commitments?
We definitely need replenished in our spirituality. That what we need to do for each other. Do you have a trusted Christian friend that you can kind of buddy with to encourage one another. That and quiet prayer can really help
I hope you feel better soon.

Sometimes I just go so that no one talks to me for an hour. I only go maybe five or six times a year? I try to slip out before anyone offers me a cup of tea as I don’t like chit chat and usually have stuff to do at home on a Sunday. I hate singing songs to Jesus (he’s dead) so I never do that. Never take communion as it feels too hypocritical. No one at church has ever questioned it or asked me to justify where I am at in my faith journey, and I’m very grateful for that.

@OhDear2200 I love a good church thread.

I reckon its good to go regardless of belief if you enjoy it, and good to think more deeply about these things. I think spiritual life is very important.

Im reading a book called 'The reason for God' by Timothy Keller and Im finding that very clear as to how you think about faith and Christianity. He also has one called "Making Sense of God: an invitation to the sceptical" which might help you.

I have gone through a lot of confusion this year about God, his existence and trying to make head or tail of this Jesus malarkey. Im still working on it. I go to church. Sometimes it connects, sometimes its easy, sometimes its harder. Faith is a personal thing. No one has all the answers, but interestingly there is only one truth.

I have a reasonably good voice. I sing in the choir once a month, and I'm grateful to my childhood church for getting me into music. Pretty agnostic though!
I do sing in a choir outside church as well but i think it's important (for me) to always support my local church choir.

I definitely fall into this camp and thought I was alone. I'm clearly not!

I don't really believe in God but have raised a Catholic and until very recently took a lot from attending mass. I found it a peaceful, thought-provoking and soothing . I loved the familiar patterns, the singing. It was meditative. I have met so many kind, gentle people and had amazing experiences over the years through the church.

The last few years I've struggled to separate my enjoyment in attending from the messages and ideals of the RC religion. It requires a level of cognitive dissonance I'm not managing at the moment.

@Lessstressedhemum

Thank you for your reply. I don't just mean in church really, I mean in daily life as well. Just a constant feeling of being used and being tolerated just because I can do things for people and that if I don't do stuff equally I get the 'that's not exactly Christian' response.

To @CuntForThisOne - I think you might find that you are taking from the genuine ones. That is my point.

@GoldenEvilHoor then why do you go?

Our local Scottish Episcopal church has a fun and thriving community and a great choir (I'm in it). Some people admit they don't believe in God. It's fine. All are welcome.

My beliefs are fluid and ebb and flow. I was baptised into CoE in adulthood and thought carefully about the promises, but felt that there was no contradiction in my beliefs, doubts and areas of openess so was happy to go ahead. There is wisdom to be had in most religions, most faults with organised religion are faults thar can occur in any human society. I am open to ideas beyond Christianity, but don't necessarily find them contradictory to Christian teaching in a metaphorical sense. I can't see a Creator God getting too upset when I indulge in some solstice tree hugging, when "He" created them anyway

I'm fairly frequent at church and kept up the habit from initially going prior to our wedding. I find the place and community comforting. It's a lovely opportunity to pause and reflect. Sometimes just being there can be moving. Many times, I've found myself quietly shedding tears for no obvious reason, no emotion attached. I can often feel a spiritual connection in nature too, a sense of being something small in something big, and it's a healthy antidote to modern life.

Maybe I shouldn't ever go to the Sistine Chapel. I'd hate to become too overcomr with emotion

The sessions leading to baptism were useful and our vicar was lovely and open minded to different forms of belief, doubt and critical interpretations, and it was helpful to be aware that there was a broad range of beliefs within the congregation.

For a document written by many people over a couple of thousand years, there is a lot of wisdom in The Bible that still stands today, particularly in the New Testament. Some things are outdated and contradictory anyway. I'm more interested in the general message than worried about the literal truth of it.

OP, you sound like my church twin - everything you said resonates. I don't know what I believe but I love the fellowship, the singing, the sharing of the Peace, the kindness of everyone and the coffee afterwards. I love my church graveyard too - it is very beautiful and I often have a walk around it afterwards. I draw the line at modern worship songs with 'actions' though. The one about the righteous running into the strong tower makes my very English toes curl up in my shoes.

@SudowoodoVoodoo think you've got a good take in it all. Nothing is set in stone but recognising some of the broad truths helps.

take on it all, sorry

Wow this is a revelation to me. I don’t go to church but assumed those who do must be very religious.

This is interesting.

I’m atheist and go sometimes. It’s cultural, not a belief system.

I have found the Christian message of forgiveness and the concept of grace very helpful in daily life. I think it’s the message that the world needs most, tbh. The world always has needed that message. That’s why the Bible has persisted as a great book.
I think OP that if you’re feeling used you have a right to stand up for yourself. It’s not unchristian not to help. Just say you want to spend that time in prayer or reflection or something. It’s a white lie but God knows your heart and frankly it’s none of anyone’s business whether you’re able to give of yourself on a particular day or not. Be kind whenever possible; including being kind to yourself and your family. That’s all you need to do.

I go. I believe in god but I don’t have the faith that helps people navigate life - I wish I did.

I’m the opposite. I believe very much in God and I talk and pray to him, quite often. However I very rarely go to Church.

What am I taking from "the genuine ones", @Raindrops2019 Not asking in a hostile way - genuinely interested to know what you mean. I go there, sit quietly, love the music, recite the right words at the right moments, then go away again. (I wouldn't ever go to a 'modern' type service which involved clapping or guitars or that sort of thing - I go to services with music and reciting and incense - some High Anglican and some Roman Catholic. So it's all very anonymous).

I think the 10 commandments are basic rules we should all live by but having been brought up 'in the church' where it was a hive of hypocrisy and smoke and mirrors to hide all sorts of shit I hate organised religion as it actually makes my flesh crawl.

My neighbours are religious, see themselves as good people because they go to church however they are racist and homophobic- hardly loving they neighbour.

That's not actually what you asked - I am more of a believer of a greater power who doesn't go to church. And I think I might need therapy.

I go there, sit quietly, love the music, recite the right words at the right moments, then go away again

See - I couldn't say words I don't believe in.

I need to start doing soon due to DS school but I don't believe at all. I believe it's all completely made up.

chomalungma, it's precisely because I don't believe that I can say the words. They're just words. They don't mean anything (to me).

Raindrops, it can be very hard when people have these unreasonable expectations of you. I daily face the whole "well, that's not very Christian" stuff from my husband who is a very aggressive atheist and blames religion and religious people for everything that is wrong in the world. The irony is that he really has no idea what Christianity involves. All he sees are politicians who claim to be Christian and the likes of the Orange Lodge and he extrapolated from there.

You need to protect yourself. It's OK to say no. You know how much you can give and God doesn't expect more of you than that. None of us are perfect Christians and trying to be is doomed to failure and to leaving us worn out and dispirited. If you can, take a step back, try not to rise to the bait and ask God for the strength and patience to deal with things. Then just do what you can and ignore the people trying to grind you down.

Thanks for all the messages. Really interesting! And I’m glad there are fellow ‘twins’ out there.

Raindrops - I am sorry you feel that this approach takes from others. That’s not my intention, I am always polite and friendly, never demanding. I would always try to be respectful of people’s beliefs, even when they are in conflict of my own (same sex marriage for ex, or women priests).