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!

You’d be very welcome at my church. We have quite a lot of families who come to things like toddler praise and family breakfast club who aren’t confirmed Christians. We have loads of activities and things where volunteers would be welcomed with open arms.

you don’t have to be Christian. We have a number of people who either go up for a blessing at communion or stay in their seats.

This morning it was the coolest place for miles around !

It absolutely isn't welcomed at every church

But OP can still go and just sit those bits out

You can't take communion if you don't believe. That is deeply insulting. They will believe you are going to hell if you do that.

Who is "they" ?
Firstly, I wouldn't have the foggiest what another person taking communion in Church believes. Secondly their relationship and understanding of Gog is personal to them. I don't know anyone who thinks someone would go to hell for taking communion, and I know a lot of Christians.

The OP doesn't believe in a creator and doesn't believe in the afterlife. That's not even "a vague concept of god/faith". Even the woolliest of CofE vicars must accept that "there is no God and there is no Heaven" is 0% spirituality.

Why are you making stuff up about the OP ?

All she has said is she is 'not religious'.

Even the word 'religious' means different things to different people.
She hasn't said that she is an atheist. It sounds to me like she is a person with an open mind who is interested enough to go along and find out more.
Though, quite frankly, most Churches would still be welcoming if someone wanted to just come in and sit for an hour, to get out of the rain.

Read the whole thread. She says she doesn't believe in a creator or in an afterlife.

I must have gone to one of the more hell and damnation churches

Here you go,

"I just don't think I believe in afterlife / a creator"

to me, that sounds like being unsure, and willing to be open to hearing more.

I'm a Christian and my church (C of E but very informal) is very important welcoming of people who don't believe. The only exception would be if someone was being disruptive, but your question makes it clear that you have no intention of that. Praying you have a positive experience

I am a Christian and you'd be very welcome at our Church. In fact I think there's lots of people who you could relate to in that way. Our Church in no way has a tier system - everyone is welcome and embraced! Our Parish Board has members of the LGBTQ community, newcomers to the country and is very diverse. I think any good Church reflects society and has open doors & hearts.

70% of the entire congregation only there for hospitality. Many atheist. Vicar not bothered. We all give, both time and money. I understand there are some people for whom religion and spirituality are very important, but at my church these are the very fewest. Most of us are there for the community.

Of course it does, because you can't bear to take the OP at her word. You have to insist that the non-religious are lacking in something and have some hole that only your brand of religion can fill.

The whole thread is literally asking "Can I come to church in a non-religious capacity, treat it as a local community centre, and just enjoy the singing for singing and the company for company and the architecture for architecture?"

And everyone says "Sure, no problem." But that's not enough. You have to believe you know better than the OP. You can't stop yourself thinking that what the OP really wants isn't what she days. So even when she says "I just don't think I believe in afterlife / a creator" (and there's no reason to believe that's anything more than the OP being polite ) you know best.

There's your answer, OP. They know best

Totally fine but also have you thought of local volunteering? I have lots of fun with my friends being a rainbow leader

Of course it does, because you can't bearto take the OP at her word. You have to insist that the non-religious are lacking in something and have some hole that only your brand of religion can fill.

Gosh. Yet more stuff you've completely made up.
Not sure what you are getting from this really, just reporting in things from your imagination.

I'm happy to take her at her word. She'd still be welcome at my church.

Please retract that accusation.

I haven't made anything up.

I didn't make up the fact that the OP says she doesn't believe in a creator or an afterlife. I showed you exactly where that quote had come from.

And I haven't made up a poster saying this, when the OP says she doesn;t believe in either of those things: to me, that sounds like being unsure, and willing to be open to hearing more.

Apologies, @DappledThings, I thought you were another poster.

Please retract that accusation. I haven't made anything up.

Apart from:

because you can't bearto take the OP at her word.

You have to insist that the non-religious are lacking in something

and have some hole that only your brand of religion can fill.

I mean, those are all things you are imagining about me.

However, it is really annoying for people when threads get taken over by two posters arguing, so I'm not going to keep answering you after this.

Our church would welcome you. I am an active part of my church, and see it as a place of friendship, support, comfort, peace as well as worship.

Another suggestion (sort of similar to WI, but hopefully some younger people too!) is Trefoil Guild, which is the adult section of Girl Guiding.

A very Christian attitude, I'm sure.