I haven’t been to church since lockdown 1

[HarrietHairbrush]

And don’t miss it. But I feel guilty about not going
Is that weird

Meh. I believe god is everywhere so I have no need for church. Church is really just a social thing. Awful lot of people there I wouldn't choose to socialise with under any other circumstances either if I'm honest. Unfortunately its been my experience that churches attract a lot of people who pretend to be godly but are actually anything but.

I wish there was a few days per month I could just go on my own and sit and think and feel closer to God. But tbh that's nothing that can't be achieved by sitting under a nice tree in the sunshine.

I’m the same, and I live on the same street as our minister so get the guilt every time I walk past their house. Zoom services are just not the same!

That what religion does to you. Control via guilt and fear. Enjoy being free of it

@Umberellatheweatha

Meh. I believe god is everywhere so I have no need for church. Church is really just a social thing. Awful lot of people there I wouldn't choose to socialise with under any other circumstances either if I'm honest. Unfortunately its been my experience that churches attract a lot of people who pretend to be godly but are actually anything but.

I wish there was a few days per month I could just go on my own and sit and think and feel closer to God. But tbh that's nothing that can't be achieved by sitting under a nice tree in the sunshine.

Your point about people you wouldn’t socialise with otherwise is very apt I think. I also had gotten roped into lots of jobs which I have managed to get out of since being absent I do feel bad about not taking the kids but they def don’t miss it

I miss singing hymns. I don’t feel guilty about not going, it’s not really appropriate for me to at the moment as I’d have to take DD who is 3 and wouldn’t be good at adhering to all the rules that are now in place.

It's not wierd to not miss it but feel guilty. You Catholic by any chance? Church is often an obligation. I like church as it is a good one stop shop for worship. It's a commandment to observe the Sabbath but that's not the best reason to go. Of course there are plenty of other ways to worship privately. Prayer and worship dont need to be confined to Sundays. Regular personal prayer and thanking God would be good even if you never went to church a day in your life.

God is like any friend or family member, if you dont put time and effort into a relationship then you get less out of it and your bonds weaken, so you can't be bothered, its a vicious circle.

I wonder if the guilty feeling is a sign that you need to do something to address your faith. You dont lose faith you just choose not to use it anymore. Think about what you were getting out of church before covid. Perhaps it wasn't fulfilling your spiritual needs. Is it time to change it up? Find some way to open up a conversation with God again.

My parents dragged me as a kid and I hated it. Sunday school, church, holiday clubs...ugh. I think theres a lot of stories in the bible that are brilliant for young kids (and fun too) but what's the harm in just telling them those stories ourselves rather than making them spend their childhood cooped up in a dusty old church.

I think i'd make a point of taking mine at christmas and thanksgiving maybe but apart from that I'd feel better letting them enjoy their Sunday mornings with their cartoons or if you're lucky, having a lie in.

You want them to choose to believe based on what you teach them yes, but they shouldnt feel forced into it. Otherwise they'll see believing in god as something that restricts their freedoms, rather than empowering them.

It is ok to take a step back and just reflect and pray. People, including clergy take sabbaticals. I find that meeting people I wouldn’t have otherwise and being connected was helpful pre-covid. Currently with noisy, active children it is probably outweighed by causing more risk and disruption to others. I hope you can re-charge and connect with God wherever you are on your path.

I thought church was about fellowship, common prayer and union in worship?
How does sitting under a tree equate to church- and if it does what is the point of church? Huge cathedrals, ceremony, union in prayer?