Going to church when you don't believe in God.

[Whenthenight]

I find it fascinating that so many intelligent people believe in God. I believe in there being a strong energy field in the world that helps things happen but more in relation to nature and spirit.
I am confused that intelligent people believe that God made the earth and then Adam and Eve etc all in 7 days. Didn't dinosaurs come before humans?
I have however, in the last 2 years been drawn to the church. I know, the irony. The community of support, singing, kindness, the feeling of belonging. I've done a little volunteering and been to a few lovely church services at my local church for different things, made friends even.
But, I just don't believe in God and can't understand how/why others do? I've considered speaking to the minister about my questions but not sure it would go down well.
Do people who go to church really believe all of what is written in the bible? Am I missing something?
I feel like a hypocrite every time I walk through those church doors, but there's a sense of togetherness that I can't help but love.
Very confused.
Can anyone shine some light?

You've probably answered your own question really. I'd say most people I know who attend church go for the social side of it rather than for any religious reasons.

I love your post, op!

Card carrying atheist here. But I get what you mean about that sense of community. It's not something that you can find easily outside the church. All except two of the playgroups I used to attend were in churches for similar reasons. I now only go to church once a year, for the carol service. I find it warm, welcoming, calming and very festive. I'm welcomed with open arms by everyone, even though I don't set foot in there at any other time.

I think speaking to the minister would depend on your minister really. But I can't see them having an issue with it. They're not daft, they know not everyone believes.

I think a lot of religion is less about the literal stories, God with a beard, Adam and Eve, the 7 days etc, and more to do with faith, belief in a higher power, or to use another word, energy. Which is something that it sounds like you have already.

I started off going to church as a non-believer (I went with DH, who is a believer) and have since developed a really complicated relationship with my faith - there have been times where it was quite strong (and I got baptised during one of these) and others where I have much more doubt than faith. I've spoken to a couple of different clergy about this (the church we go to is actually a cathedral so has quite a large staff) and found it very useful and completely non-judgemental - they know that many people go without believing and would always rather start that dialogue and be asked questions than not. I certainly don't think you're doing anything wrong (I also kind of think that maybe you are finding Christian love and therefore God in your own way and that that doesn't have to mean believing every word of the Bible, but then I'm going through quite a faithful period at the moment!)

So if you are thinking Church of England, it is hugely broad in terms of what people believe. A few will believe that the Bible, esp. Old Testament is the literal truth, but many more that it is more symbolic and have no problem with evolution etc. You might want to do an Alpha course to find out about the basics of the faith, or ask for a recommendation of a book to read. Also, don't be afraid to ask the minister - that's their job, they'll probably be delighted and they should point you in the direction of a few people who will talk to you about what they believe. That said, many people go to church for community, peace, and a sense of love/friendship and some would argue that they are experiencing God, they just don't know it. As long as you are respectfully curious, you should always be welcomed, I hope.

I found a book called The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel really helpful when I was trying to figure this out. He's a US journalist who set out to "disprove" Christianity and ending up believing in it.

Even if you don't believe it all, I think it could be helpful just in understanding the basis for why Christians believe in certain things. He goes through the different forms of evidence for the Christian faith. I have a Jewish friend who found it fascinating.

www.amazon.co.uk/Case-Christ-Journalists-Personal-Investigation/dp/0310345863/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=case+for+christ&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1598386088&sr=8-2

In the congregation there will be as many understandings about god and the bible as there are people. It's fine to go along, listen, talk to people, and gradually come to an understanding of what you believe.

Very few people who are not religious actually understand what what religious people believe.

By the way, there is literally no one at my church who believes that God made the world in seven days or who doesn't believe in dinosaurs (!) or evolution. There are Christian groups that believe the Bible is the literal word of God and interpret every word literally but many more that don't.

These responses are fantastic.
Thank you.
I've never before felt a sense of collective love and care as I have in a church. I've recently been reading about the importance of close communities and both churches and pubs are considered "hubs" for this sort of connection. It got me thinking about how I feel when I go to the church. I've even felt a sense of being kindly "parented" by the interesting, wise sermons which have helped my life. But I've felt a traitor until posting here. I guess I don't believe in the stories literally, but I devour their sentiment.

It sounds like you might really enjoy an alpha course!

I’d expect the vicar would be delighted to discuss this with you- please do try talking to him or other Christians. Have you thought about doing an Alpha course or similar?

I guess I don't believe in the stories literally, but I devour their sentiment.

Depending on what you mean by the 'stories' (he does, for instance, believe in the divinity and historical existence of Christ) you could be describing the Dean of the cathedral I go to! He taught me for my confirmation classes so I know a lot about his own interpretation of the Bible and he is very, very far from a biblical literalist, and as far as I know he doesn't feel guilty going to church...!

People can believe in God but not take every aspect of the Bible as being literal. It doesn't make them lacking in intelligence.

Glad you're getting some sort of community from your church. Most people go to socialise and don't sit about talking about God.

Well I believe in God, believe in evolution and dinosaurs so I think you’d find it’s not incompatible. There are some (IMO) odd Christians who believe in the 7d creation thing but it’s not representative of all and a good church would be happy to debate and discuss in a friendly way. Personally I don’t have an issue with the Big Bang either. I mean someone must have made the gases they didn’t just appear out of nowhere🤷🏻‍♀️

As I said, I'm an atheist. But I've never doubted that Jesus was a real person. Just happened to be a preacher that was really good at his job.

I think it's Jehovah's Witnesses that take the Bible as literal fact from start to finish (happy to be corrected though). Thuys is a fascinating and thus far very respectful thread.

I see my Catholic heritage as part cultural, part moral framework, part spirituality. I love High Anglican church sacred music. I love the traditions and the sense of community. I love the universality of Catholicism and being able to go anywhere it the world and understand. I believe much of the social and moral teaching is to the benefit of society - not the pro life extremism, but the idea that we love all people and that all people are created equal. That God created no boundaries and so the children arriving by boat have as much right to a good life as my own children.
Having sat with a good number of dying people and children, I do believe there is more than breathing or not breathing; I think religion offers hope when there is little to hope for. I think there is a calmness and comfort born out of faith. The Lourdes experience is very moving, despite the Catholic Disney tat.

Ah your not alone. The minister of my local COE church agreed with me that the bible is mythology

Christianity is very broad. Those who believe in a seven day creation, the flood etc are fundamentalists and that is a minority position in the UK. My church is very liberal and a number of people do believe that Jesus was a great preacher and healer and nothing more. Please ask your minister about questions of faith. Honestly it would be a huge relief for any vicar to talk about stuff we are passionate about rather than endless risk assessments and arguments about whether we can sing in services or not. You might have found yourself in a conservative church but you don't know until you ask.

You’re assuming that we have never applied our intelligence to our faith 😁 Maybe the church is full of intelligent people who have spent a lot of time studying, thinking and discussing before drawing their conclusions?

Maybe you need to look for the love and acceptance elsewhere. As an atheist it would feel incredibly weird to pretend to believe in something ludicrous just to feel loved

Lots of the suggestions above re:books, alpha and speaking to the minister are spot on. Lots of alpha courses currently running on zoom. Don’t worry about going to church and not believing, you don’t need to pretend to either. A church that is following Christ’s teaching will welcome those of all faiths and none to share in community with them.

Catholic calling.... not sure about the feeding of the masses with 2 fish n five loaves.not impacted my faith.,the bibles were written by people (men) , sometime after he event. They reflect the times. Ultimately you treat people as you eat to be treated... so if you and your family were being bombed what would

You are not a traitor or hypocrite and you should be welcomed into church. If asked about your faith then be honest and respectful. I imagine there are many other people like you, or who were once like you, in the congregation.