GF wants me to go to church with her......

[Yas786]

Eh? I read this thread yesterday and it was about a guy being asked to go to church by his Christian girlfriend. I wake up today and its talking about Islam. Only in GD!

Hehe it was only a matter of time before muslims/islam turned up in this thread...after all its GD as you said lol.

 

[elmarko]

Most of the time the agenda is about voicing a perceived intellectual superiority over another. What Spoofle is saying is that most people are not scientists, they do not understand the intimate details of the science to which they hold, they take what science tells them on faith...Faith for the most part based on personal evidence. In turn, most religious people also do not understand the intimate details of the religion they follow, they take what the scripture tells them on faith, again for the most part based on personal evidence.

Equating all religion with minority ideologies and interpretations such as Literal Creationism or ascribing a Literal Inherency to every religious person or religion is disingenuous and not an objective position...for all people of reason, then a reasoned, objective position should be a requirement, regardless of whether your philosophical position accepts a Godhead or not...should it not?

A very good point, which is why I feel it's really important to understand the method & to value scepticism.

In my line of work we have to abide by the scientific method to determine factual claims from false ones (or assumptions or premises) by examining data & creating theories with predictive value (then testing the validity of those theories).

I trust the scientific method of problem solving because I know from it's regular use that it's only way of determining fact from fiction - without it my work would be impossible.

As the arena of science embraces this method my trust is in tried & proven method - not the individuals in science or some of the theories which would be outside of my ability to understand (such as say particle physics) - my trust is in that the science behind that field has been used in real life applications or has predictive power - along with being open to the above method to openly criticise & point out flaws in a given theory.

What a person believes matters very little & people should not be insulted/mistreated based off that - it's how those beliefs impact on real life is when I take issue (which for most moderates it doesn't at all), assuming nobody is objectively harmed or coerced/exploited then people should be free to do as they please (as much as I may disagree with what they may or may not believe).

 

[Craig R]

Girl friend wants me to go to church her occasionally (once a month), it's a local Pentecostal church, I wouldn't mind if it was a 'regular' church, I'd pop in with her now and again but this a Pentecostal church and is crazy strict with their rules and they push you hard to try and bring you into their 'flock', I don't mind the Bible but I am dead against these types of places, only the other day a guy got chucked out because he was a known 'spiritualist'.

Is it unreasonable for me to flat out refuse to go?

What would you do if your partner/gf asked?

Dump her without hesitation.

 

[Scougar]

Totally unsurprised by the smarter "anti" answers here. Shame you can't see there is more than one perspective on life and the need to try to belittle anyone that doesn't see it from your point of view.

Good luck OP whatever you decide.

(It's a shame that GD is just "lol GD", which basically become a kiddies playground, rather than just general chatter.)

 

[Westyfield2]

LOL, a GD religion thread.

+1 on what Castiel & Freefaller said.

 

[Shicky]

agreed, thank you for your comments Castiel, much appreciated

 

[King Damager]

Go along, see how you find it? No point not going, that's just close minded.

Can always walk out at a later date if it's not for you

kd

 

[Rroff]

People who believe religion without doubt lack education imo.

There's so much information out there, just educate yourselves. Watch space / biology documentaries and any sane person with an open mind and intelligence should be able to weigh up what actually happened. Was man created or did we evolve over millions of years. What is the most likely outcome.

The day we find life on other planets should hopefully steer us in the correct direction.

I find the whole thing tiresome if you take a long cold, unemotional objective view there is absolutely nothing the rules out the possbility a god could exist, absolutely no solid evidence a god does exist and some evidence that could loosely suggest an intelligence behind the design of this universe.

Personally don't care if people want to follow one religion or other but they could atleast keep it to themselves, religion at best should be a personal thing and ultimately there is only one real sin and thats inflicting your will on another person - so some of these religious extremists should take a long hard look at themselves.

 

[starfighter]

When I was a kid my best mates family were Christians and went to church every Sunday. I went just so I could hang out with him. It was Pentecostal and a bit weird, they had bands playing Christian rock and people would stand up and shout stuff. Very different from the CoE that I had been to with Cubs.

I even went to a Christian camp with him, they made one of the kids speak in tongues, very weird.

I don't believe in God but do feel that stuff that religion teaches is usually good stuff and the rules are a way of living a good life which I do try and strive towards.

If my girlfriend went and I loved her I honestly don't know what I would do. I don't think I could waste all my Sunday morning every week and have to pretend to a load of people that I believed in God. But then if you really love her maybe it is worth it. Couldn't say what I would do until I was in that situation.

 

[Stretch]

the other day a guy got chucked out because he was a known 'spiritualist'

I think you have a solution.

Go a couple of times, then announce you don't believe in god. If they reject you, then ask your girlfriend who's being unreasonable.

 

[platinum87]

I will not be constrained by gods, religion, or others small mindedness.

That is rule #1

 

[Horse Pop]

What would you do if your partner/gf asked?

Divorce.

Religious people are nutters in my experience.

 

[Freefaller]

Loving the sweeping generalisations. I don't understand the venom some of you have to people's beliefs. It's no different to having faith in humanity, or in the doctors treating you or anything else. Does it mean that those who believe are weak-minded? No. It's just a good way for people (for me at least) to relieve my angst and worries of the week and / or what is going on in my life, whilst making me a little more compassionate, less selfish and forcing me to look at the bigger picture and "waking up" from the crazy information-rich/mad world we live in.

We're so immersed in our own petty issues, and in the fast moving world around us owing to the internet and the news etc... that sometimes having a different point of view on things (interpreted in modern lifestyle) doesn't do you any harm.

Sure, it's hypocritical, perhaps, that I'm typing this on an internet forum, but there's just so much more to life. Throwing mindless degrading comments doesn't make sense or make it any more valid - I guess it's all about being "cool".

I suppose on a technology forum it's not surprising, however one would think people would be a little less judgemental and a little more open minded.

 

[Maccy]

I suppose on a technology forum it's not surprising, however one would think people would be a little less judgemental and a little more open minded.

Providing you have the latest graphics card and best version of Windows available you're allowed to be as rude as you like to other members, of course

 

[friddela]

My girlfriend asked me to come to her church when we first started living together. I'm an Atheist and wasn't too keen but decided I'd give it a go for her. It wasn't too bad but it really wasn't for me and she could see that I wasn't enjoying it.

I felt guilty more than anything... Everyone in the church believed the same thing and had the same values and I didn't believe in any of it. I told her I didn't feel comfortable so she told me not to come again if I feel like that. I urged her to continue going but she no longer does (she wasn't a regular before meeting me so wasn't all my fault!).

I can't believe they welcome (ask/tell/demand) you to donate 10% of your wages... Do all churches do this?

 

[Randomface74]

Providing you have the latest graphics card and best version of Windows available you're allowed to be as rude as you like to other members, of course

damn

 

[Maccy]

I can't believe they welcome (ask/tell/demand) you to donate 10% of your wages... Do all churches do this?

Churches rely a lot on donations because they usually have a lot of fees in order to stay open - I think the church my parents go to requires up to £50k each year in order to operate. Costs for running the building, paying for vicar/choir/organ player, fees towards the local diocese (I think that's correct?)

No way is it 10% of your wages in every church though, a lot of places have fund raising events throughout the year to generate income and try to make it more enjoyable - my parents regularly go to quiz nights, wine tasting etc.

damn

And even then, I dare you to try it

 

[Outline]

It's no different to having faith in humanity

People do this??

 

[Gooner Leroy]

Only silly people

 

[Freefaller]

Providing you have the latest graphics card and best version of Windows available you're allowed to be as rude as you like to other members, of course

Of course! What was I thinking?!

People do this??

I generally think it's better to think the best of people. Put positivity out there and you get it back.

For example if you let someone in when driving, or hold the door open, sure they're just manners, but not necessary, however, that person will undoubtedly then go on to do a nice thing to someone else. Whereas if you cut someone up without apologising, or are aggressive or rude towards someone, that person will then no doubt be in a negative frame of mind which will be passed onto others.

Sure, it's simplistic and not necessarily accurate, but as blind or ignorant as it may be I prefer to think and expect the best out of people rather than assuming they will be nasty pieces of work.

Of course there are people that will have been dealt a rough hand in life, and be negative/aggressive towards you regardless - however, even then that's no excuse to treat them like crap.