I felt the need to go to the church.

[Arthur Denton]

So, I felt the need to go to the church, and to be present at the mass. I feel perfectly stupid for that, since I don't do that for years. However, these last few days lots of my old friends from church have been inviting me to go with them, and I feel tempted. I'm also passing by a period with a lot of stress and I feel that the calm environment of the church may help.

No, I don't believe in prayer. I get pissed with the priest speeches 90% of the time, and in the 10% left I get way beyond pissed (I once believed that their lack of coherence and skills led them to say poor things, now I don't believe that anymore, I'm completely satisfied with the fact that they can't think on their own and depend on a 2000 year old fake book and a gaga man, but each to their own).

No, I don't believe it will help me because it is magical. I don't believe that god will help me (I'm theist, but in my theist vision god cant give a piece of **** extra for every time we blame him, call him, whatever, since we're insignificant) and honestly, I'm rather scared that I'm actually depressed and in need of medical assistance, when I feel this kind of need.

To sum it up:


I'll be going to church, just for the heck of it
I miss my church friends
I know I'll get pissed, but wth?
Do I have something to lose? (except perhaps for an hour of my time?)


Has any of you felt the same? Should I look out for a doctor? Convince me I should not go to church, convince me I'm doing harm to myself and discuss this matter (going to church, being a theist and disbelieving church, while church means any religion congregation).

[Cavemonster]

eh, go ahead and go.

If you're depressed, it's generally not a bad thing to get out of the house and mingle a bit. Unless this is a snake handling church or your vengeful ex-wife is waiting there with a knife I can't see much that would hurt you.

If you miss your friends there, go there and hang out. If you want to avoid the service, make plans to get brunch afterwards or something instead.

[Mister Agenda]

And that's how I became a Unitarian.

[madurobob]

I think there is a real benefit in the community aspect of church. I go to church occasionally just the hang out with the people I know who go there. And, for the rockin' food people bring in for the various get-togethers.

Sure, it would be nice to not have all the religious BS, but I can ignore it for short periods of time.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only atheist who occasionally attends the local church in my rural community.

[Lanzy]

if my friends were all meeting at Starbucks, I might go there, doesn't mean I'd drink coffee.

[slingblade]

You want the benefits of a social group.

It doesn't have to be at church, and only you can weigh the impact of going to church upon yourself. I could not do it. I feel religion is a heinous lie perpetrated as a control device on gullible others, and I will not be part of it again. My anger is not with any god, because I don't believe in gods and can't be mad at something that isn't there. My anger is with the lying manipulators found in any woo, including religion.

But I do remember the feeling of fellowship I sometimes got from going to church. I miss that feeling, but it wasn't church that gave it to me. It was the people. I can find similar fellowship in other venues, and I personally would seek those instead of church.

You should, I expect, have other things in common with your friends besides church. Socialize with them in those other venues, if church makes you uncomfortable.

No, I doubt you need a doctor; I can't see why you would. Wanting a social group is perfectly normal. But you do have choices about where you meet with that social group.

[AmericanFamilyGuy]

So, I felt the need to go to the church, and to be present at the mass. I feel perfectly stupid for that, since I don't do that for years. However, these last few days lots of my old friends from church have been inviting me to go with them, and I feel tempted. I'm also passing by a period with a lot of stress and I feel that the calm environment of the church may help.

No, I don't believe in prayer. I get pissed with the priest speeches 90% of the time, and in the 10% left I get way beyond pissed (I once believed that their lack of coherence and skills led them to say poor things, now I don't believe that anymore, I'm completely satisfied with the fact that they can't think on their own and depend on a 2000 year old fake book and a gaga man, but each to their own).

No, I don't believe it will help me because it is magical. I don't believe that god will help me (I'm theist, but in my theist vision god cant give a piece of **** extra for every time we blame him, call him, whatever, since we're insignificant) and honestly, I'm rather scared that I'm actually depressed and in need of medical assistance, when I feel this kind of need.

I find this hypocritical. You say religious folk can't think for themselves because they follow their mythology, yet you say you are a theist. Deities are myths and inaccurate descriptions of reality. Why on earth do you believe in such nonsense?

To sum it up:


I'll be going to church, just for the heck of it
I miss my church friends
I know I'll get pissed, but wth?
Do I have something to lose? (except perhaps for an hour of my time?)


Has any of you felt the same? Should I look out for a doctor? Convince me I should not go to church, convince me I'm doing harm to myself and discuss this matter (going to church, being a theist and disbelieving church, while church means any religion congregation).

Sounds like you are in dire need of a fulfilling social life. Look, lose the church and the church-going friends. Go join a gym or do some volunteer work. Go take a class at your local community college in a subject you find interesting. These are just a few things you can do to meet new people that don't require you to listen to a bunch of crap about how Santa Clause split the Easter Bunny in half to form the heaven and the earth. You may need a doctor, so go see one. But one thing you must remember if you are depressed: You are a social animal. Most of your depression can probably be cured if you just go out and interact with your fellow man.

[KingMerv00]

Go to church, have fun, and feel better. For all I care, believe in prayer, God, and transubstantiation.

If someone gives you trouble for attending, tell them that they are a jerk and that your private life is your own.

[KingMerv00]

Welcome AmericanFamilyGuy.

Look, lose the church and the church-going friends.

Arthur Denton, ignore the above unless your church or church-going friends are mentally abusive.

Edit: Just so you know, I'm an atheist.

[MG1962]

Welcome AmericanFamilyGuy.



Arthur Denton, ignore the above unless your church or church-going friends are mentally abusive.

I tend to agree with you. As long as the socialising is healthy, there is nothing wrong with it at all

[KingMerv00]

I tend to agree with you. As long as the socialising is healthy, there is nothing wrong with it at all

My opinion is that if you bail on your friends just because they are religious, you are a bigot.

[Roma]

So you're an Atheist and like going to church with your friends and I'm a Christian and haven't been to church for ages.
It's a free country, don't drive yourself crazy over-analyzing, if it makes you feel better you can make a donation to a local Atheist/Humanist/Agnostic group just to balance your Yin and Yang.
http://www.topsmileys.net/smilies/symbolic/yinyang.gif (http://www.topsmileys.net)

[thegrave]

If you goto go, you goto go... & dump your load on them! lol

[AmericanFamilyGuy]

Arthur Denton, ignore the above unless your church or church-going friends are mentally abusive.

I have a tendency to be a bit harsh. I concede that I don't know him or his friends, and dismissing them on the basis of their religion shows black and white thinking on my part.

[slingblade]

If I read the OP right, going to church tends to piss him off. That doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me. He tends to get angry with the priest and the claptrap he hears. Again, not a lot of fun.

If it weren't for this angry part, which I fully understand, I'd also say what the heck, go ahead and go. But I just don't have a lot of fun, myself, going places where I know I'll get angry. I don't think my friends enjoy my company much in such places, either.

That's why I suggest finding another venue to socialize with friends. One that doesn't piss you off. I imagine they'd like a happier you, too.

[AmericanFamilyGuy]

If I read the OP right, going to church tends to piss him off. That doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me. He tends to get angry with the priest and the claptrap he hears. Again, not a lot of fun.

If it weren't for this angry part, which I fully understand, I'd also say what the heck, go ahead and go. But I just don't have a lot of fun, myself, going places where I know I'll get angry. I don't think my friends enjoy my company much in such places, either.

That's why I suggest finding another venue to socialize with friends. One that doesn't piss you off. I imagine they'd like a happier you, too.

I agree. It appears he wants to belong to a social circle, and he feels church and his church buddies are his only option. Finding another way to socialize will probably satisfy him more.