Anyone attend church only for social reasons?

[Anonymous]

Please, in this area I can't even count the number of people I go to church for professional/networking reasons, much less social/civic reasons. OP, you'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

I attend an Episcopal church and I am at best an agnostic. They are very welcoming, and the nice thing about them is that the culture is that no one ever asks potentially uncomfortable questions. I looks at it as “I’m okay, you’re okay, and let go feed some people (and pass the wine/scotch)”. Of course the sermons mention God and Jesus, and the services are more traditional in tone, but no one has ever ever asked me about my relationship to Jesus, my sexual orientation, or anything like that. Don’t go to one of the Bible churches - I have gone as a visitor to hear a concert and it’s all they wanted to talk about. Some people really do think about it all the time.

And yes, I give them money - I don’t “tithe”, but the building needs lightbulbs and the food pantry needs food. So I have “joined” as a member.

[Anonymous]

DH and I left the Catholic Church. We now attend a Presbyterian Church mostly but not exclusively for the community connection.

Op I honestly think a Catholic Church isn’t the right choice for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to a presbyterian church for this exact reason. It was the only way I could find to meet people our age, with kids our age. We tried a few, found one where we got along with the other young adults, had similar drinking / going out / partying / staying in habits, and were immediately invited in to the friend groups. We do lots of volunteering with them, as well as community fun things - camping trips, Hershey Park, apple picking, baking for the cold weather shelter... No regrets here. And approx. 12% chance I believe in it LOL

Honest question. If you guys attend church for social reason, do you tithe (offering)? Do you join/become a member?

How do other church members view the non-tithed member?

My belief is not as strong as it once was and have not been to church regularly for a long time. I had great time as member of youth/children group in a church setting and would like my children to experience the same. Not sure if I want to join a church and give tithe when I don't believe that much anymore.

No one knows whether you're paying or not - there is no list - and AGAIN - you can try it out as long as you want, until you die if you like. No one is going to say anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to a presbyterian church for this exact reason. It was the only way I could find to meet people our age, with kids our age. We tried a few, found one where we got along with the other young adults, had similar drinking / going out / partying / staying in habits, and were immediately invited in to the friend groups. We do lots of volunteering with them, as well as community fun things - camping trips, Hershey Park, apple picking, baking for the cold weather shelter... No regrets here. And approx. 12% chance I believe in it LOL

Honest question. If you guys attend church for social reason, do you tithe (offering)? Do you join/become a member?

How do other church members view the non-tithed member?

My belief is not as strong as it once was and have not been to church regularly for a long time. I had great time as member of youth/children group in a church setting and would like my children to experience the same. Not sure if I want to join a church and give tithe when I don't believe that much anymore.

No one knows whether you're paying or not - there is no list - and AGAIN - you can try it out as long as you want, until you die if you like. No one is going to say anything.

There may not be a published list, but the church staff and leadership knows who's pledging what.

[Anonymous]

I go to a UU church mostly for this reason. I do believe in the philosophy, and sometimes I get something from the services and sermons (I like the music a lot), but mostly I like the people at our congregation. My problem is I fell most spiritual when I’m by myself so don’t get much out of services, but UU is the least annoying of all religious services that I’ve found for my beliefs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very common to attend socially in ethnic churches. So people are quite blatant about the fact that they're there socially.

I’m white.

Good for you. The Russian Church is an ethnic church that has a lot of social events and community outreach. Not that the other churches that are other non-white ethnicities would not welcome you if you are not too afraid to attend!

[Anonymous]

OP, come back. I am still curious why out of all the churches you are most interested in Catholic. My guess is you live in a very Catholic area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to a presbyterian church for this exact reason. It was the only way I could find to meet people our age, with kids our age. We tried a few, found one where we got along with the other young adults, had similar drinking / going out / partying / staying in habits, and were immediately invited in to the friend groups. We do lots of volunteering with them, as well as community fun things - camping trips, Hershey Park, apple picking, baking for the cold weather shelter... No regrets here. And approx. 12% chance I believe in it LOL

Honest question. If you guys attend church for social reason, do you tithe (offering)? Do you join/become a member?

How do other church members view the non-tithed member?

My belief is not as strong as it once was and have not been to church regularly for a long time. I had great time as member of youth/children group in a church setting and would like my children to experience the same. Not sure if I want to join a church and give tithe when I don't believe that much anymore.

No one knows whether you're paying or not - there is no list - and AGAIN - you can try it out as long as you want, until you die if you like. No one is going to say anything.

There may not be a published list, but the church staff and leadership knows who's pledging what.

I attend church for social reasons. I donate (not a tenth of my income, however) monthly. I donate because my church supports refugee families, a women's shelter and a hospice program, among many other charities. My children are in the youth group and they learn about charity and helping others. They participate in the choir. There are lots of social events, camps. etc. The whole family has made many close friends. Everyone knows I am not that religious but it doesn't seem to matter. I spend a lot of time on volunteer activities for the church, primarily with the youth group since my children are young. It has been a positive experience all around.

My church is an Episcopal church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I left the Catholic Church. We now attend a Presbyterian Church mostly but not exclusively for the community connection.

Op I honestly think a Catholic Church isn’t the right choice for this.

The Catholic Church is really not the right church if you are primarily interested in socializing. Most people there will be cradle to grave Catholics who are not there for socializing. People go to mass because is a weekly requirement for Catholics. They will notice if you take communion or not (and you don't meet the requirements). Go to an Episcopalian Church or Presbyterian one. You will be most welcomed at a non-demononational evangelical church because they are trying actively to convert people. There are large churches with lots of social events. I ended up going to one because my child got invited to youth group. I still have doubts but the people there are really friendly, there are many social opportunities, and everyone is really nice to newcomers. It is a more liberal one but it really isn't that liberal if that makes sense.

UU church just seemed a little wacky to me. I tried a couple of times but the second time some lady started taking about how she was really a Wiccan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to a presbyterian church for this exact reason. It was the only way I could find to meet people our age, with kids our age. We tried a few, found one where we got along with the other young adults, had similar drinking / going out / partying / staying in habits, and were immediately invited in to the friend groups. We do lots of volunteering with them, as well as community fun things - camping trips, Hershey Park, apple picking, baking for the cold weather shelter... No regrets here. And approx. 12% chance I believe in it LOL

Honest question. If you guys attend church for social reason, do you tithe (offering)? Do you join/become a member?

How do other church members view the non-tithed member?

My belief is not as strong as it once was and have not been to church regularly for a long time. I had great time as member of youth/children group in a church setting and would like my children to experience the same. Not sure if I want to join a church and give tithe when I don't believe that much anymore.

No one knows whether you're paying or not - there is no list - and AGAIN - you can try it out as long as you want, until you die if you like. No one is going to say anything.

There may not be a published list, but the church staff and leadership knows who's pledging what.

Wrong. You're clearly not Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to a presbyterian church for this exact reason. It was the only way I could find to meet people our age, with kids our age. We tried a few, found one where we got along with the other young adults, had similar drinking / going out / partying / staying in habits, and were immediately invited in to the friend groups. We do lots of volunteering with them, as well as community fun things - camping trips, Hershey Park, apple picking, baking for the cold weather shelter... No regrets here. And approx. 12% chance I believe in it LOL

Honest question. If you guys attend church for social reason, do you tithe (offering)? Do you join/become a member?

How do other church members view the non-tithed member?

My belief is not as strong as it once was and have not been to church regularly for a long time. I had great time as member of youth/children group in a church setting and would like my children to experience the same. Not sure if I want to join a church and give tithe when I don't believe that much anymore.

No one knows whether you're paying or not - there is no list - and AGAIN - you can try it out as long as you want, until you die if you like. No one is going to say anything.

There may not be a published list, but the church staff and leadership knows who's pledging what.

Explain then? Seems to me that if you are writing a check every month, the people who are in charge of depositing that money would eventually notice.

Wrong. You're clearly not Catholic.

[Anonymous]

^ "Explain then? Seems to me that if you are writing a check every month, the people who are in charge of depositing that money would eventually notice. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ "Explain then? Seems to me that if you are writing a check every month, the people who are in charge of depositing that money would eventually notice. "

I am not in a Catholic church but most people in my church do direct deposit.

[Anonymous]

I go to an Episcopal church. The vestry would prefer I give through ACH transfer, but since there is a fee associated with that, and I don’t itemize my tax deductions, I prefer to give cash. There is always cash in the plate, so no one knows which bills are mine. It’s fine.