Do you go to church if you dont believe in God?

helpimcrap · 9 Mar 2012 at 16:58

Don't practice but respect others who believe in it AS LONG as they don't use it as an excuse to harm others without provokation.

I'm an aetheist and believe in just treating others as i am treated. Mess me around or abuse me and i am not so mild mannered.

Would love to get married - be it in a church or wherever and i'm not really being contradictory because it's the belief in commitment is what i would get married for - not god. And certainly not some of the suggestions on the thread - i want to marry a LADY! lol

churchhawk · 9 Mar 2012 at 17:02

Go, but wear a devils costume.

spudbynight · 9 Mar 2012 at 18:24

Stretch said:
Because shoe shopping doesn't involve being subjected to ideological/spiritual/intellectual constructs you don't agree with, or mix with people that way inclined. It's more than just a boring morning out.

How do you know you don't agree with anything if you don't go? Surely having an open mind you might have an interest in hearing what others might have to say. You could just as some do, think about Skyrim.

It really isn't any great hardship. At least you won't get asked your opinion constantly. Maybe it might be preferable to going shoe shopping after all.

spudbynight · 9 Mar 2012 at 18:25

churchhawk said:
Go, but wear a devils costume.

Yes, good idea. That will show everyone just how much better the OP is than they are.

Top work.

steve-h · 9 Mar 2012 at 19:36

SheepBeast said:
Tbh there's a pretty valid point in there somewhere

There is actually... agree to go to church with her, but in return she has to read 'The GOD Delusion' or some relative book.

Amleto · 9 Mar 2012 at 19:38

Think about this: what are you going to do when everyone else is singing songs that profess jesus as saviour etc. Are you going to feel comfortable?

Immsy · 9 Mar 2012 at 19:44

Church and religion, the biggest con in modern times, so no I wouldnt go

Lopéz · 9 Mar 2012 at 20:03

Gilly said:
Nope, I would not.

I will go to church and pay my respects in the event of loss of life. I will go to church and give my blessing through my presence in the event of a Christening or Wedding.

I certainly wouldn't go on a consistent basis.

My views are identical to yours mate.

EDIT

I'd not feel comfortable getting married in a church myself when I don't follow a particular church or faith.

Lopéz · 9 Mar 2012 at 20:06

4T5 said:
I actually quite like visiting Churches, The architecture is usually awesome & the history is fascinating & wandering the graveyard can tell you a lot about the area & how it came about.

Now church architecture on the other hand - I could spend all day wandering around somewhere like Canterbury cathedral.

spudbynight · 9 Mar 2012 at 21:35

Amleto said:
Think about this: what are you going to do when everyone else is singing songs that profess jesus as saviour etc. Are you going to feel comfortable?

I fail to see what would make anyone feel uncomfortable. If you don't believe in God what on earth is bothering you? It becomes simply a song.

RomanNose · 9 Mar 2012 at 21:39

spudbynight said:
I fail to see what would make anyone feel uncomfortable. If you don't believe in God what on earth is bothering you? It becomes simply a song.

So would you feel comfortable signing Islamic songs? Hymns are basically prayers.

spudbynight · 9 Mar 2012 at 21:43

RomanNose said:
So would you feel comfortable signing Islamic songs? Hymns are basically prayers.

Funnily enough I have a bit of an idea what a hymn is.

The point I am making is you don't need to sing anything. I have no problem being in a mosque and having others around me praying.

As I have pointed out earlier if you have no belief I couldn't see any issue with singing anything. If you don't believe in God then what is a prayer? Dawkins has no problem singing carols at Christmas.

The OP has just been asked to go to a church service with his girlfriend to support her. Why she feels the need to be supported is really up to her. He can go to the service and just be respectful without compromising his own beliefs in any way. Nobody can force him to go but by not doing this he is showing disrespect to his girlfriend.

steve-h · 9 Mar 2012 at 21:45

spudbynight said:
The point I am making is you don't need to sing anything. I have no problem being in a mosque and having others around me praying.

That's because you're using to praying to things that aren't visible or have any supporting evidence...

spudbynight said:
Dawkins has no problem singing carols at Christmas.

Hardly the same, because that is just singing.

Rich_L · 9 Mar 2012 at 21:45

I would compromise by taking her to the church, meet the family etc, go to the pub for the service, come back and meet everyone after

SheepBeast · 9 Mar 2012 at 22:56

a1ex2001 said:
Not really one is a painless risk free visit to a church every once in a while, the other could be viewed as an uncofortable, painfull and sometimes dangerous practice. It's a classic GD response and it almost certainly never happened.

Wow. Your powers of observation are mind blowing

Gackt · 9 Mar 2012 at 23:29

Well, if you have time to waste, sure, join the rest of the blind people.

Ahleckz · 9 Mar 2012 at 23:31

I agree with basically everything spudbynight has recently said.

FWIW, I'm an atheist.

shifty_uk · 9 Mar 2012 at 23:34

Does anyone in the UK fully believe in god anymore? Other than the older generation and ethnic minorities. I haven't came across anyone of a similar age or younger that does.

Spook187 · 9 Mar 2012 at 23:40

Surfer said:
Ok your girlfriend wants you to go to church with her on a weekly basis (sundays possibly more)

Your argument is you dont believe in God so why go to church?

Her argument is that i should go to support her and its a family event (her family all go to church and most of her friends from church)- you dont have to believe in God. Its something she loves and is a big part of her life which she wants to share with you.

Do you go and tolerate it? Or not?

It kinda feels that she would want a boyfriend who believes in God but if he doesnt then she would try to convince him (constantly!) to go to church and then he would believe in God etc

Sorry mate but no,i would not tolerate this whatsoever,see what you said there,try to convince him(constantly)a classic example of the bible bashers not listen to reason,closed minds.

can i ask does she believe in sex before marriage or not,(another way of religion trying to control people)

Vidar · 9 Mar 2012 at 23:53

Off topic slightly, I believe in God... I simply refuse to set foot inside a church for anything other than a Wedding, Christening or Funeral, chuches tend to attract the deeply ignorant and judgemental.