To start going to church even though I'm not religious?

[happyclam]

A bit of background.. I've reached a 'settling down' period of my life. I live in a smallish town, lots of new build estates etc. And recently I've really started to feel lacking a community / network? I don't have a big family and while I have friends (who mainly live in a different part of the country) and workmates, I just feel I'm missing out on a local network / community..

I'm not at all religious - but I've started to feel like I'd love to be part of local church or parish community. Went to a Christmas service and loved the whole feeling of it. Is that absolutely ridiculous idea? Is it disrespectful to 'proper' Christians? Or how else do others get a sense of community? Part of me would want to join the WI but everyone is about 80...

All thoughts welcome!

I find the “Christian Appropriation” comment bizarre.

What must that poster make of people who don’t practice Christianity at all partaking in Christmas and Easter celebrations? 🥴

I’m agnostic but have practicing Christian friends, who attend a variety of churches between them. All of those churches are very welcoming, they don’t interrogate people on the veracity of their beliefs the second they step over the threshold. It’s very much a case of sharing a sense of values, if not faith and being part of a wider community.

The UK is historically Christian so unless born into another faith many,many people will be “culturally Christian” even if they don’t believe in God or practice.

@SemperIdem

I find the “Christian Appropriation” comment bizarre

I wonder what Jesus of Nazareth would have made of it.

Every Christian has their own relationship with God. It’s no one else’s business what element s of the Church or religion you feel are applicable to your life. It’s not a cult. You would be welcome in any Church I’m sure.

The church’s I know welcomes everyone and I know quite a few non believers or people that are just interested or exploring that go all are made very welcome!
I’d say go for it! You may make some new good friends

I grew up going to church. The hypocrisy was obvious to me from my teens. It was also incredibly sexist - the women did the teas while the men were in the church leadership.
@Stripedbag101 that sounds reminiscent of the church my grandad used to attend. As a professional chef he'd often help with catering for church events, and would make a point of popping his head through the hatch to the hall and clearing his throat pointedly when the minister would thank "the ladies in the kitchen"!!

My Husband is religious and I’m not. I do feel envious of the community he has due to his faith.
Atheism has eroded some of the community aspect of day to day life I think.

Noone says and the Bible says in Jesus words: Come and see. It is up to you would you believe in God and great - congratulations when you do but you can go and sit or join when you want any communal gathering in the west without a hindrance. Churches are not prisons and are not lol - cults. Cults get exposed here very quickly, sometimes not, but I hope things like Mike Pilavachi, yuck, never happen again

I honestly think go.

lots of people attend religious groups out of habit, culture and without giving the « deeper meaning of life - type stuff » too much thought.

just maybe don’t open with it 😉

I don;t see the point. It's like going to a nudist camp with your clothes on.

It is absolutely nothing like that at all.
What an odd thing to say.

Yes, it is.

It's like going to a steakhouse as a vegetarian.
It's like joining a choir with laryngitis.
It's like visiting a tall building when you have vertigo.

All of things are perfectly possible, but disregard the main reason for going.

What very strange comparisons.

If you are a vegetarian, you would know that you could eat very little at a steakhouse, and eating is the reason to go to a restaurant.

Whereas if you go to Church - even setting aside the possibility that, if you go with an open mind, you might develop a faith, you can still take a lot from attending a Church.
For some that is just the chance to sit quietly and think for an hour each week. For some it is some spirituality - maybe from the music, or the architecture, or contemplating the history (if an older Church).
For many, many people it is the Community you are then part of - for social life, for pastoral care, for company, for a channel through which you can help other people, maybe.

You’d be welcome.

At a steakhouse, a vegetarian might smell the delicious meats and develop a taste for ribeye while enjoying the community of diners and the exquisite decor. However, it would be a strange place to go if you fundamentally didn't agree with eating meat.

If you don't agree that there is a supernatural, all-seeing being who created the universe, rules the afterlife and came to earth in human form 2000 years ago in order to be nailed to a tree, going to church is a bit odd. There are plenty of places with community singing and architecture.

But the OP hasn't said she "fundamentally doesn't agree with Christianity". She said, whereas up until now she hasn't been religious, she went to one service and "loved the whole feel of it", so it seems pretty sound starting point to investigate if she would like to find out a bit more.

The OP has said she doesn't believe in God and she doesn't believe in Heaven. Those are pretty fundamental tenets of Christianity.

Wouldn't it be weird though if you don't actually believe in God and what everyone else there believes. Why not find a hobby instead?

You would be very welcome in every church I've ever been to - and I've been to LOADS, from CofE to Reformed Baptist and all types in between.

You would be absolutely fine at a C of E church and it is very likely no-one will expect you to talk about your faith, you can be involved in whatever you wish to be and no-one will bat an eyelid. Faith is kind of considered personal in C of E, and as someone else mentioned, it is more about being a community resource thing.

Other protestant churches are far more likely to wish to convert you to their faith. And Baptists especially. But they certainly woud not feel you were 'cultutally appropriating' or otherwise 'not right' for going there! They would think that God had sent you for them to help!

Don’t know if there’s a god, but I do try (and fail unfortunately) to follow the teachings of Christ these days. I do see the value in a religious community.

Yes you'd be welcome. But you cannot participate in communion.

Anyone can go to church. I live I'm a village and I sometimes go- I love singing the songs. There's a real sense of community. Hope you enjoy going 😊

Who says? When I do go to church I go to cathedral. Everyone is invited to take communion or, if you simply want a blessing, you take your service sheet with you.

You can in many Churches.
It is a personal matter between you and God.

You’d be very welcome at my church as well and I doubt anyone would ever know about your personal beliefs unless you chose to tell them. Lots of people go to church for the community aspect or just to learn more. Hope you get something out of it.

The OP doesn't believe in God.