I haven’t been to church since I was 12 years old. Today, on January 4th, 2009, I went to a Christian church. I wasn’t forced to go I went on my own free will. I guess you can say that I felt as if I needed to be open to new things; due to the fact that my life is changing and I am finding out what I need to define me. I went to this church with an open mind. After years of being so against religion, faith, belief, god, jesus, etc. Maybe I figured that everything deserves a second chance. That includes religion of any sort.
When I first walked into the church I asked questions on how I should act, what I should do, should I sing to the songs, do I have to say ‘amen,’ ‘hallejujah,’ do I need to throw my hands up in the air in an attempt to reach for ‘God to touch me’? these are all the silly questions I considered before we were to take a seat on any pew. Before we entered the area in which praise would commence, we spent a brief second or two in the meeting room where we crossed paths with the Pasteur. Just a quick hello and a smile. I couldn’t help but think in the back of my mind that he could tell that I wasn’t in any way religious. I always have wondered if such a holy man [or so they claim to be] could sense or feel lack of faith through just a simple handshake. I would soon get over that feeling.
As we stepped into the room of worship, we quickly took a seat, and my sister told me to sustain any laughter I have within me during the procession. She refers to the giant sermon as “Rock me Sexy Jesus,” due to the fact that there isn’t really a reformed choir, it was more like a Rock Band. There was electric guitars a decent sized drum set all neatly placed upon the stage. The instruments looked more ready for a metal show than a gospel performance. I am a person who loves to ‘People Watch.’ I love to see how people walk, talk, what they wear, their conversations, etc. I can tell you I have never seen such an interesting wardrobe selection on some people, and I noticed that, despite how early it was, people seemed ready to rock n’ roll. The lights dimmed down and the singers came walking onto to the stage. The giant flat screens on the wall displayed the words of the song about to be JAMMED!
When the song started I automatically felt inspired to write about it. I’m not saying that it was due to the fact that I was in a holy place that inspiration suddenly hit me. I am simply stating the hilarity of the music inspired me to write.
Now I placed myself in the shoes of a holy figure. One who was supposed to create an entire religious empire in which people beg for forgiveness, provide me faith, and pray to me every chance they get just to get into my good graces. I am not saying that their music was immature or that it doesn’t have any meaning, I am simply stating that if I was a worshipped religious figure I would not want that musical performance to represent faith in me or in anyone. I don’t want to sound to negative, and I don’t want to come off as if I am a critical bitch diminishing someones faith, I am just pointing out my feelings towards that particular religious performance. Me and music have a special bond and it is just my criticism on music in general. I would do it or say it about any song.
Also I got to thinking about jesus and what the entire story is all about. And honestly I found it quite insulting, the music that is. That isn’t what this faith is supposed to be about. It felt as if they ‘dolled up’ this religious sermon to simply suck people in, and that isn’t what it is supposed to be about. To me at least. Faith is something that shouldn’t be forced, or amplified into your ears just for entertainment, but for the well-being of a person’s soul. And all I am saying is that the music ruined it for me completely.
The sermon and lecture was okay though. I thought the Pasteur had made good points, solid facts, and a good message. There was just one thing he said that got to me, and that was “God doesn’t disappoint, he simply just doesn’t know how.” to me that is contradictory in so many ways. For instance, God supposedly created ‘all’ and that includes Gay people, and if god doesn’t disappoint why are so many Christians against gay people. They are disappointed in them. I thought their God doesn’t disappoint because he doesn’t know how. But other than that the lecture was good. I thought it was meaniful and postive.
To conclude this story I want to end in stating a different outlook on this particular religion. I think that these Christians have an overall positive approach on life when they want to that is. When they stepped in to the ‘Rock Me Sexy Jesus’ room I noticed the togetherness. I somehow knew it wasn’t fake, but I could also tell that as soon as they would step out that room, that that t’ogetherness’ would walk out to. That one hour on Sunday is about the only allotted time these people will give to appreciate more than just themselves. What it made me realize is that this is all the human race is willing to give up in order to stand together. Just one hour in the entire week. One hour to be nice to one another, one hour to have faith, one hour to hold someone else’s hand, etc. And I think that is one of the saddest realizations I have come to in the past couple weeks.
I won’t go again. I feel as if that would diminish what I stand for. I just don’t believe in ‘God.’ that is just not my religion of choice. I am still finding what I need to believe in, or if belief is really what I need. I now know for certain that it isn’t the story of jesus, and I need not worry about my chances of a place in heaven. I did find out though, in just one hour, that I need to make my life more meaningful, and spend more time giving an hour of my heart and soul to someone who could use it. A compliment, a loving gesture, a friendly handshake, or a gentle smile. I know it all sounds so ridiculous, but there is a time when selfishness needs to turn to selflessness. I don’t need Jesus to tell me that though. People are smart, and have always been able to figure that out on their own. They just have always thought they couldn’t do it on their own. Well, you can.

comments please..?

i fixed it damn.

So you gave faith another go...

Do you believe now?

Aside from your criticism of the band you seemed to suggest you enjoyed the comradery, and wish to inject more positive interpersonal communication in your life. I believe positive interpersonal communication is essential to feeling good in your society and culture.

But do you believe?

Because you of course realize that you can be friendly towards human beings without getting up early on Sunday and pretending grape juice is the blood of God. You can become a more positive person in your community, and in your personal life, without this.

So, where do you stand with mythology, now? Do you believe?

So you gave faith another go...

Do you believe now?

Aside from your criticism of the band you seemed to suggest you enjoyed the comradery, and wish to inject more positive interpersonal communication in your life. I believe positive interpersonal communication is essential to feeling good in your society and culture.

But do you believe?

Because you of course realize that you can be friendly towards human beings without getting up early on Sunday and pretending grape juice is the blood of God. You can become a more positive person in your community, and in your personal life, without this.

So, where do you stand with mythology, now? Do you believe?

i believe that there is some good in people and that they aren't willing to give time to show. That all these years i just sat back negative looking at people as a group of inhumane souls. I am not saying that this one trip made me realize this. I know I somehow i always knew. But this visit to church just reminded me of some things.
if you are asking if i believe in jesus christ the answer would be no. i believe in the reason people 'believe' in jesus. And the reason they believe is they want good in their lives, and they want something to make them happy. i choose to find another way to be happy. I don't need jesus to remind me to do that. I need myself.

I don't need jesus to remind me to do that. I need myself.

We would have a better world, if more people did this.

We would have a better world, if more people did this.

what..?
do mean a better world if they had that kind of mentality?
i am confused.

The fellowship that church buildings have available varies entirely by the church leadership and the audience they are trying to reach. Some are very somber, others are very lively, still others are spotted with hilarity and the sublime. Some sermons will move congregations to tears, to shame, to laughter, to praise...you can experience quite a range within a church.

If you would really like to 'give Christ a chance', I would suggest taking an hour a day to read the Bible from front to back. Yes, this is a time consuming task. It took me some 48 or so hours to read it through. As much as some can get out of church, I wasn't getting an accurate picture of what Christ or the True Church was about by congregating in buildings to listen to another person interpret a book for me that I had not yet read in full. If you truly would like to give Faith a fair hearing, I implore of you to read the book in full before making your final decision. Contempt against the unknown is THE stumbling block.

The fellowship that church buildings have available varies entirely by the church leadership and the audience they are trying to reach. Some are very somber, others are very lively, still others are spotted with hilarity and the sublime. Some sermons will move congregations to tears, to shame, to laughter, to praise...you can experience quite a range within a church.

If you would really like to 'give Christ a chance', I would suggest taking an hour a day to read the Bible from front to back. Yes, this is a time consuming task. It took me some 48 or so hours to read it through. As much as some can get out of church, I wasn't getting an accurate picture of what Christ or the True Church was about by congregating in buildings to listen to another person interpret a book for me that I had not yet read in full. If you truly would like to give Faith a fair hearing, I implore of you to read the book in full before making your final decision. Contempt against the unknown is THE stumbling block.

I see what you are saying, but I just don't think I could get into the story of Jesus. For months now I have contemplated on adding a faith in Jesus Christ into my life, and what I have come to find out is that I have never really needed that sort of faith. I have always figured things out on my own. I never had to use the story of Jesus Christ or God to help me out. And I don't believe I need it now. I believe I am strong enough to handle situations on my own.

I see what you are saying, but I just don't think I could get into the story of Jesus. For months now I have contemplated on adding a faith in Jesus Christ into my life, and what I have come to find out is that I have never really needed that sort of faith. I have always figured things out on my own. I never had to use the story of Jesus Christ or God to help me out. And I don't believe I need it now. I believe I am strong enough to handle situations on my own.

Okay. I make only one request: If that changes in the future, please do not be closed to the possibility of faith as a solution.

Okay. I make only one request: If that changes in the future, please do not be closed to the possibility of faith as a solution.

i am definitely leaving my options open.

Okay. I make only one request: If that changes in the future, please do not be closed to the possibility of faith as a solution.

Faith [feɪθ]: "Belief in something for which there is no proof"

BP was right on the money. A sense of kinship and community is vital to a human, and to society as well, but blind belief is not a reciprocative thing.

Think of it this way:

A relative of yours serving in Iraq is driving through a Baghdad neighborhood with a fellow soldier. Suddenly, an unkempt twenty-something darts his body from behind the cover of rubble, and brandishes an RPG. He aims at the dusty jeep, and shortly thereafter, a bright plume of gray smoke shoots out from the rocket.

Now pause.

This is obviously a sickening scenario, which will undoubtedly have horrific results. Now think for a second. If you pray, do you actually think a supernatural being will, through an invisible force, redirect the rocket's trajectory, sparing your loved one, while brutally shattering the body of his or her companion, who was also an abiding Christian. What if the passenger was a young muslim girl? Would God show favoritism for the fervent believer?

Anyways, I'm sorry to describe such a morbid scenario; I was just trying to show you a bit of flaw in how some Christians believe there faith works. Notice I said "some". I only say that as to not generalize, not to say that few Christians feel this way.

Then again, there is the whole argument from evil...

I once got talked into going to some kind of Christian rock show with one of my friends. A few more famous bands played there like Kutless(or something like that) and thousand foot crutch. As a fan of old heavy metal I thought the music was awful...

Anyways the entire thing was absolutely disgusting. I met a bunch of people who just kept talking about how these bands had somehow strengthened their faith and how close to god they were because of how many of their shows they had seen. There were a ton of girls there who did nothing but scream JESUS!! over and over again as well as other things. There were some women in the back on her knees with their hands in the air acting like she was experiencing ecstasy.

Worst of all there was a preacher who came out in between acts and would spread these ridiculous messages of fear. The only thing I really remember vividly was something about him explaining that god looks at the good things you do as "dirty rags which can be cast away" and that he only cares about the bad things you do so he can judge you for them and the people at the concert just ate it up! Then people who hadn't given their life to Christ yet were asked to come up to the stage so they could pray with them. Nothing anywhere about Jesus' message of "love thy neighbor."

The only really great part of this concert was that I met a ridiculously good looking girl with tats and a mohawk.


One of my friends played bass in the local church band and he has developed a bit of a sour view of the church, I have never bothered to ask why though.


I could also rave about what is wrong with christian music for a while, but I think the South Park episode "Christian Rock Hard" said it better than I ever could.

^^ This coming from a man who partakes in activities related to mysticism and the so called "occult". That kind of spirituality is exponentially more beneficial to one than absorbing all the dogma spewed by a jewel-encrusted geyser in white robes.

Now think for a second. If you pray, do you actually think a supernatural being will, through an invisible force, redirect the rocket's trajectory, sparing your loved one, while brutally shattering the body of his or her companion, who was also an abiding Christian. What if the passenger was a young muslim girl? Would God show favoritism for the fervent believer?

Certainly I would not expect God to do such a thing as bend the rules for me. I would, however, expect him to keep me alive until my purpose has been served (which going to war it is not, and never has been - it has been, is, and always will be to live in the likeness of my Creator). You would not find me in a tank at war. You would not find me in a rocket's path. The Lord's protection comes from keeping His Law, not from arrogance expressed in delusional expectations of God. That is, expecting him to break the laws all the material world holds to in order to nullify the consequences of my actions. Walking away from the Law is walking into the mouth of Destruction.

This is why I am Catholic and appreciate our hymns, you don't have rock bands playing "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" as a way to praise God. Rock songs and God don't often mix. 0_0.

Rock songs and God don't often mix. 0_0.

God and tolerance don't often mix.