to think texting in church is disrespectful?

[booomchikkawowow]

I work with a teenage organisation, we had a church parade today so the woman in question was not there necessarily by choice, but if she had a strong objection to church she could well have escorted the kids inside and excused herself. All through the service she was sighing and moaning about having to sing hymns etc which I thought was her own business, but when she got her blackberry out and started texting I was a little bit gob smacked!

Not only was it rude to the vicar, but also disrespectful to the religious place we were in, and those genuinely worshipping there. I'm not religious at all, but when I mentioned it to some friends after they just shrugged. I obviously am not going to say anything to her, but I was just surprised no one else looked at her oddly! Am I being a bit judgemental or do you think that it was disrespectful?

haha entropy yes but they go through the sound guy so are most likely 'vetted', or the speaker would doubtless be text-heckled somewhat

hehe I was wondering if they rotate the number or if you could text in from anywhere...

It's extremely rude. Not necessarily because it is in church but because it was whilst someone else was talking.
That's like texting when you're having a conversation with someone.

She should have either gone outside (if she was as bored as she sounded) or waited until later.

Mea culpa. Yesterday in church the minister said something in his sermon that I wanted to remember and I put a note on my phone. Obviously it would have looked as if I was texting I will remember to take a pen and paper next time.

Why is it disrespectful to text in church, but not, say at work?

It's not like God doesn't already know what you're texting, is it?

Extraordinarily disrespectful. I am not the least bit religious, but I cannot stand this sort of thing. Put your phone away for the duration of the service. It isn't that hard. And for those who think that texting is not distracting to others. . . think again.

Personally, I think it's more disrespectful to feign interest in something you're not interested in.

It's all to do with the general demeanour of the person who is doing the "texting". Loud huffing and sighing sound very rude to me! And as for moaning about singing hymns - welll you're in a church FHS! Very rude.
It might not be texting but reading the bible or taking notes, as andymaccomesback said..
Some people have the Bible downloaded as an iphone app and like to read that rather than lug a big heavy book around. Both thee activities can look like texting.

Hmm I was in church yesterday with mil who is a regular church goer. She texted throughout the service and kept trying to talk to me. I was surprised and very embarrassed.

I have my phone out in church all the time. Use it for note taking and have my bible on it. Is that disrespectful? Its just a sign of the times. People have Ipads and Kindles out for note taking etc. and that includes the pastors! Phones are much easier than lugging around a hefty bible, notepad and pens!

In this situation maybe, but I don't think there is anything fundamentally disrespectful about texting in church - but then I go to a church where we text the peace to congregation members who are off sick - I found it a real blessing when I was in hospital for 7 weeks.