Do you skip church if you have guests?

[TheOrigFV45]

Just that - if your guests are not church goers do you still go?
We are the guests, leaving for home at 11am.
DS2 said he doesn't want to go to church and it got me wondering what people generally do.

@Crafy1905 the difference being I wouldn’t come and belittle their beliefs in a place where one of them had asked for advice from other people practicing that religion... I’d probably just leave them to it!

@Rose8777 That's entirely your prerogative. People are free to criticise, or not.

No. A slightly different question, if you are atheist and have guests arriving for the weekend who you know to be devout followers of a particular faith, would you look up the local relevant places of worship times of services in advance for their convenience? And would you be upset if they took the time out to attend a service whilst guests in your home?

@WhatisFreddoingnow

I’ve certainly met Catholics that believe in Genesis. My understanding (or perhaps lack of) is that the Catholic Church is one of the wealthiest in the world, and also believes its above the law when it comes to confession. So when it comes to small things such as confession for not going to church or using contraception or sex out of wedlock etc it is a minor issue in the scheme of things compared to cover ups and protection of criminals including paedophile priests. So I have little respect for religions where people still choose to facilitate this whether it’s inadvertently or not. There are some good Christians out there and some even better atheists. And I do believe in God but one that doesn’t put the fear in us if we don’t follow some man made rules to control people and their thoughts. At the end of the day just be a good person. There’s no hell - hell is living a life on earth with no goodness not a fire pit with the devil!

I’m finding this discussion interesting.

I’m a lapsed Anglican who was put off religion by confirmation classes as a 12 yo. Each week the priest would start the class by asking each of us if we were there on Sunday, (knowing the answer perfectly well).

Missing church would lead to a dressing down. I especially remember 2 bollockings; one for going with my parents to take my granny to visit other family, and the other when I was in a school residential. According to the Priest on the first scenario I should have told my DPs I wasn’t going with them and in the second found a local church. At 12 years old.

All the classes did was to make me wonder why a wise and benevolent God would condemn me in the circumstances.

Studying the reformation in England and Europe for history A level confirmed my suspicions.

I’m now an Atheist.

There's a rich history of Catholic scientists and science and faith are absolutely not in opposition to each other.

There's an even richer history of catholic persecution of scientists, like Galileo.

The catholic church only accepted that the Earth went around the sun, and that the sun didn't go around the Earth...in 1993.

'There's a rich history of Catholic scientists and science and faith are absolutely not in opposition to each other.'

'There's an even richer history of catholic persecution of scientists, like Galileo.
^*
The catholic church only accepted that the Earth went around the sun, and that the sun didn't go around the Earth...in 1993.*^'

I didn't actually know that about 1993. I can't honestly imagine that any Catholics actually believed that the sun went round the Earth by then, though. (Although there are apparently people who believe in a flat earth.)

To be honest all I can see here is another religion bashing thread.

Anybody who would be staying overnight in your house would know you well enough to know whether or not you would have a strong wish to go to church. Any guests who would be offended are not good enough friends to be overnight guests!

When I feed a homeless person or care for someone, that's the actions of the Catholic church as well.

When I feed a homeless person or care for someone, it’s nothing to do with religion but being a good human being!

I didn't actually know that about 1993. I can't honestly imagine that any Catholics actually believed that the sun went round the Earth by then, though.

That's probably true. I'm just pointing out that that is what the (scientifically enlightened) Catholic church believed.

The church accepted the heliocentric model in 1822 not 1993. It ended the ban on teaching the heliocentric models in the 1750s and by 1800 had stopped teaching the geocentric model.

What was published in 1993 that makes you think that was when it changed it’s teaching?

Rafals, I would guess the 1993 reference is to JPII who, I think, commissioned the Galileo affair to be finally and officially put to rest, which was done in 1992, I think, but might have been 1993. You are obviously correct that it was accepted though in 1822.

1822.... so just 200 years late, not 400! Wow...so scientifically enlightened.

I shall apologise for my error in 2218.

@somewhereovertheroad

To be honest all I can see here is another religion bashing thread.

That is EXACTLY what it is. There a few posters on here who should hang there heads in shame. There are some disgusting, vitriolic, foul comments on here about peoples faith.

Says more about them tbh.

In the unlikely event of me staying with people who regularly go to church (I’m not sure I know anyone who does!) I would absolutely not mind them going to their service.

I would also absolutely expect them not to try to get me to come with them!

They might not be able to skip church if they attend regularly. It might be their turn to do crèche duty, prayers, readings, welcoming, tea and coffee, etc.

They might not be able to skip church if they attend regularly. It might be their turn to do crèche duty, prayers, readings, welcoming, tea and coffee, etc.

This is true. Although usually a visit from friends or family is planned far enough in advance so that it's possible to make sure that you're not on a rota for that day, or if you are, there's enough time to swap with someone.

Because if they're friends who I haven't seen for some time, I would want to miss church that once to spend time with them, and my conscience would be completely clear.

@commonpeoplelikeme

1. I'm sure there are. There are athetists who think the world is flat. However, I would argue that these are the exception to the rule.

1. Of course the Church is wealthy. Any institute that had been established over 2000 years ago would be wealthy. Much of its wealth is tied up in priceless art and cultural artefacts that stops it going into private ownership. It (and it's affiliates) are also one of the largest charitable organisations in the world.

1. To a Catholic, confession is above the law. It is a moment when you are reconciling yourself back to God. You are not 'talking' to the priest but to God. Everyone in the world deserves the mercy of God if they repent. Most confessions are done behind a screen anyway so the priest doesn't know who you are.

1. Sexual abuse is abhorrent and those who commit it and cover it up deserve the fullest punishment of the law. We don't facilate it. There are strict safeguarding proceedings in place and priests and staff are mandatory reporters (outside of confession). I don't compare my sins to others. When I have sinned, I have wronged God regardless of what 'minor' thing I have done.

1. Totally agree that people should be good. Catholics believe that we aren't saved by faith alone but by good works. There are good and bad Catholics and athetists. Not going to hear disagreement here.

1. Hell for many Catholic thinkers is often described as the 'total abscene of God'. I don't personally believe in a literal lake of fire.

@Ali1cedowntherabbithole

I'm sorry to hear about this. I'm not Anglican so can't really comment. Only I can say that the vicar was not being a good example of Christ.

@JosieJasper

I wrote a previous longer explanation of this comment. I am as much a part of the Catholic 'body' so my good actions (whilst my own) demonstrate catholic values. It's great to hear of anyone commiting good works.

@craft1905

Not an expert on the Gallilo/ Church affair but my basic understanding is that many of scientific peers rejected helliocentrism at the time, not just the church. The Jesuits (a Catholic group of priests who are dedicated to knowledge and learning) had astronomers were actually ardent supporters. The infamous trial was actually because Gallilo insulted the Pope (and attacked the Jesuits).
I believe the 1993 was a moment of reconciling this moment in history. Geocentrism certainly wasn't taught in schools in 1992.

A few wonderful priests who have made great progressive advances are
Georges Lemaître ( Big Bang Theory) and Gregor Mendel (modern genetics). But the list goes on.

Athetists or not, you can't deny the great scientific achievements of of Catholic priests.

I wasn’t trying to suggest it was forward thinking, it isn’t. I was correcting the mistake you made in your previous post.

Why on Earth was that post deleted? That seems a little heavy handed.

Very heavy handed. No idea that religious institutions could no longer be criticised on MN.

Well quite. I might not put it in quite the terms you did, but not being able to criticise is a dangerous precedent.

@Craft1905 This is a ridiculous post. Very blatantly anti Catholic and it would never be allowed to stand if it was anti semetic or anti muslim.

Why would it not be okay to criticise an Islamic institution or organisation? What I said was not anti individual catholics. Churches are institutions are should never be immune from criticism. And I stand by what I said about the catholic church and can back it up. Many of my family are catholics. They are in the main decent people, but the church is a different thing altogether.