Negative reactions from people when I say I go to church?

[ilovewelshrarebit123]

I've always believed, I was christened and my daughter is to.

My daughter is 9 and she goes to a Christian club for an hour every week and she loves it.

From this club she went to a week long holiday bible club and loved that to. After this we both started going to the church every Sunday morning, it's friendly, my friend goes to and I know a few people there. It's a baptist church and I really get something from going.

What's really surprised me is other people's reactions. My mum pulled a face when she found out we're going and thinks it's going to 'damage ' my DD. She's the one that never let up until I had my daughter christened, so don't understand this reaction!

My brother was embarrassingly vocal and said some quite unpleasant things about people who go to church. Why though, he made a big deal of having an expensive christening for his kids, which was obviously for show!

I've also had other mild comments from people . So, how do I react when people give negative reactions to going to church.

Why do people have these reactions, it's just a church with kind, friendly people who are all there for the same reason I thought.

I didn't say anything about Jesus if you knew a thing about Christianity you would see that it is mostly based on Paul's teachings which contradict a lot of what Jesus seemed to be about !

My experience of friends who've joined the Baptists (as opposed to other practicing Christians) would make me worried if a family member and their child joined.

My experience of loved once joining the baptists is that there's an element of emersion with other baptists rather than just gathering to worship… what I'm trying to say is.. it's very time consuming in a love-bombing while making sure you've no time for other people sort of way.

It's lovely at first: ready made social life that doesn't revolve around booze, helpfulness, meals, new friends……….. but it gets to a point where people either end up losing their non-baptist friends or they have to back away.

It's not about faith or Christianity when my heart sinks if a friend joins the baptists, it's the way that they do it. I just know I'll see less of them until they come out the other side.

If same person said they've started going to COE or RC church I'ld not bat an eye.

I have also had some very bad experiences from aethiest being really nasty to me because I go to church. Not sure why. I have no problem with people being aethiest (or with them indoctrinating their children with their views) but I do object to them teaching their children to be hateful towards mine because of my children's religion.

(or with them indoctrinating their children with their views)

That's so funny. Do you "indoctrinate" your children about the non existence of Ganesh or Pan or Odin?

I think it says something about your family/friends if they make negative comments about your Church attendance - I am involved with a local Church, my parents and siblings have no interest in Church but they wouldn't dream of making any comment to me about it - my DM will always help out at Church events. None of my friends even discuss the subject - most people are too busy talking about themselves anyway .

Some of my family are fairly negative about my church attendance and beliefs. We don't tend to talk about it too much except in passing. I've asked them not to make negative comments in front of dd and they more or less respect that. 'Negative' comments which are ridiculing religion, making sweeping statements (usually far from factually accurate) along the lines of 'they're all paedophiles' etc. I don't mind them discussing philosophical points with her, along the lines of 'I believe x... What do you think?' but they don't really do that.

Other than that, they tend to treat my church attendance more or less like a hobby e.g. it might affect the time I'm coming round but it's nothing to be explored in depth.

my heart sinks when a friend joins the Baptists I take it this is a particular Baptist church, not Baptist churches in general.

Agree Ragwort. I have lots of lovely friends, both Christian and atheist. Clearly I discuss my faith with my Christian friends, and those times are special and I value that dearly. But subject rarely arises with my atheist friends. If it does, they are never derogatory. Just as I wouldn't dream of being negative that they don t believe. Mutual respect=good friendships in my opinion.

Honestly? I have a huge issue about women who are part of a religion that doesn't treat them equally. For instance the fact that my mother, who is one of the strongest women I know attends a Catholic Church.

Rampant Atheist here, secular humanist to boot.

I used to have extreme views on people attending church, but then some extreme ideas float around those places. Baptists aren't the most liberated of Christians. However, as I age, I say, fuck it, let them waste a couple of hours on a Sunday whilst I eat cornflakes in bed, is it hurting me? (no)

However, as I age, I say, fuck it, let them waste a couple of hours on a Sunday whilst I eat cornflakes in bed, is it hurting me? (no)

It doesn't tend to be just Sundays though when it's the Baptist church they join though.. house groups during the week, meals with people they're socially paired up with, their kids start being too busy with play dates with other baptist kids to keep up their regular school play dates. Encouraged to date other baptists. Even kids parties taken over by new helpful friends from baptist church.. which all seems lovely, except for there's no room for usual friends to help out…

it's all quite a lot and pushes normal friends and family out.
For a while anyway.

it makes no difference to me if an aquaintance joins them, I don't care really, but if another friend or family member does then I do worry about the way they get love bombed and made so busy that they don't realise they're being isolated from the people who really care about them

heather4hire it would be a lovely world if the religious view of others had no influence on us.
I listened to a radio programme about great thinkers and "masters" mulling over the great composers, painters and scientists of the past few centuries.
They all had one thing in common.
All men.
Heinous.
I lay the blame squarely at the feet of the church. Society has been forcibly shaped by this misogynistic patriarchal circus. And it continues today. Of the top performing companies worldwide, 4% of the CEOs are women. Only 22% of University professors are women.
Religion is required to be peddled in state schools by law. Unelected political church members dictate our laws.
An this is just in this country. The Vatican is the richest NGO in the world, assists oppression of women, assists in the denial of contraception to women, colludes in the transmission of HIV and other sexual diseases.
While the church continues to weave its perverted bony fingers into our society I will speak up .

Religion is not personal. It affects us all.

I'm a member of a Baptist church and that's not been my experience at all. Yes, we have a small group that meets up during the week, and I socialise with friends from church, but that's no different from, and we're no more involved than at the Anglican church we attended in London, I think those things are common to a lot of churches. We found it the best fit for us when we moved house and I certainly wouldn't describe our views as conservative.

Comments like some of the ones above are the reason I find it really difficult to bring up my faith and the fact that DH and I go to church. I don't intend to brainwash anyone or preach to them, but it would be nice to be able to speak about MY beliefs and why I think becoming a Christian has had such a positive influence in MY life without being worried about aggression or ridicule - it's ok for people to disagree, but sometimes people expect you to respect their atheist beliefs without showing yours the same respect.

I meant to say in my comment above, we don't only socialise with friends from church, and neither do I feel there's any pressure to do so.

twocats= atheists don't have "belief" , that's a significant point.

And I don't respect your belief. I respect your right to hold your views, but your god sounds a nasty character.

Why would anyone want to worship someone who is responsible for millions of deaths ( according to the bible)? An angry, wrathful, jealous god who thinks nothing of smiting humans who don't obey his word. He is a genocidal maniac who feels it is appropriate to commit acts of global homicide ( the lovely Noah's ark tale is a good example).

And you worship this guy? He sounds deranged and dangerous. And you want me to respect your beliefs?

I am atheist. Among my closest friends I count one Christian, one Hindu and two atheist. In common they are all warm harted, kind, generous, fun people to be around. We differ in our faiths but it never comes up. I respect theirs', they respect mine (or lack thereof). I wouldn't judge you for your faith or church attendance.
However having grown up in Ireland where Christianity is dogma and some of the less kind interpretations are rampant I do object to the way some christians behave (this would also be true of other faiths but I encounter them less). I also object to the teaching of Christianity as fact in school. I don't feel it is the place of school to decide my child'a religion. I am very happy for them to teach about religions generally in an objective manner.

A bit rambling op but in conclusion some people are arseholes regardless of faith. As long as your not loudly and pointedly praying for them or throwing holy water their way it's their problem not your if they're being rude.

Kind hearted (send coffee)

I haven't read all the tread, my friend joined church through a youth group and as a adult is very involved with her church. She has a supportive church family of which I am very envious I went to Sunday school, church and youth club but when I left home at 16 to work in London I stopped going, but whenever I'm unhappy or sad I want to go again. I think it's lovely you go to church

OP, I'm not trying to be rude, just honest. You asked why some people act funny and I can tell you why I would.

To me, believing in an all powerful god that clicks their fingers and creates a universe as complex as ours is unutterably ridiculous. That look on my face when you say you attend church? That's me losing respect for you.

To me, people who believe in gods are either incapable of analyzing information in a logical way and are thus lacking in intelligence, or they have some sort of emotional problem which compels them to lie to themselves out of desperation. They may be desperately lonely, fearful... Who knows? It's sad to me that people want to live in a fantasy world when the one we have is so amazing.

To me, religion is responsible for all the worst things that have ever happened. These are the same people that were burning women at the stake as witches, trying to prevent the common man from reading, denied (and still deny) evolution and today they are still responsible for so much pain and hatred in the world all in the name of some supernatural nonsense.

To me, religion is at odds with the best things people are capable of.

To me, it's devastating to see impressionable children introduced to this rubbish.

I'm not saying any of this to be mean or attack you. You asked why people look at you funny and this is why I would. I wouldn't mean to. I'm sure you're a very nice person and I wouldn't want to make you feel bad, but deep down this is what I'd be thinking.

I wouldn't have a christian as a friend.

Family members I tolerate because I care for them, but I would not pursue a friendship with a person who worships a genocidal god. If someone tells me they are a christian I would think less of them. I wouldn't voice that to them but I have my private thoughts.