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.

So are lots of "Ethnic" churches

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am actually interested in attending a Catholic Church, but since I wasn’t raised Catholic, I don’t have the “paperwork” and they will know I’m not an official member of the club. Will they put a lot of pressure on me to take catechism classes? Would it be weird if I were just a permanent attendee without becoming an official Catholic?

YOu can attend, but if you want to get involved, yes, they will want you to convert -- unless your spouse is already a Catholic. THey will still want you to convert eventually -- and definitely want your kids (if you have them) convert and attend catechism.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you want to be friends with religious people? If so, go for it. On the other hand if you’re just going to roll your eyes (and believe me, you’ll want to) probably not a good idea.

I want to be friends with them, but I guess I'm hoping that there will be a lot of other people who while maybe not agnostic, aren't really very religious and are just there for social reasons as well.

I was once at a welcome for newcomers gathering at St Columba's Episcopal church where one person introduced themselves as an agnostic and the pastor said "Welcome."

Another Episcopal church -- St Marks on Capitol Hill - has a lot ofl of open agnostics and atheists. The former pastor there was also openly agnostic.

They don't mind the christian rituals and are open about their non-belief.

If you don't want to go through the Christian motions, try a unitarian congregation or the Washington Ethical Society - which is a humanist group - no religion at all - lots of former christians, Jews and "nones" .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you want to be friends with religious people? If so, go for it. On the other hand if you’re just going to roll your eyes (and believe me, you’ll want to) probably not a good idea.

This. Are you interested in giving your money for their programs? They will ask often and expect you to pledge it. Church is basically a cult. Why not find some other common hobby that you enjoy to meet people?

LOL.

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.

OP here. I am actually interested in attending a Catholic Church, but since I wasn’t raised Catholic, I don’t have the “paperwork” and they will know I’m not an official member of the club. Will they put a lot of pressure on me to take catechism classes? Would it be weird if I were just a permanent attendee without becoming an official Catholic?

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you want to be friends with religious people? If so, go for it. On the other hand if you’re just going to roll your eyes (and believe me, you’ll want to) probably not a good idea.

This. Are you interested in giving your money for their programs? They will ask often and expect you to pledge it. Church is basically a cult. Why not find some other common hobby that you enjoy to meet people?

Eh. NP but I also attend a church for the social aspect. If you don't have a specific interest, common hobbies aren't really great ways of making friends, especially adults with kids around the age of yours. I don't play an adult sport, I don't feel particularly passionate about anything that would cause me to "join" something. But church = a way to volunteer, have a social life, have people with similar aged families and personalities, and we see each other way more than the random friends that I still have from growing up, or have met bc our kids are in the same soccer league or something.

Anonymous wrote:Do you want to be friends with religious people? If so, go for it. On the other hand if you’re just going to roll your eyes (and believe me, you’ll want to) probably not a good idea.

This. Are you interested in giving your money for their programs? They will ask often and expect you to pledge it. Church is basically a cult. Why not find some other common hobby that you enjoy to meet people?

Anonymous wrote:I do not think it is a bad idea. If you are agnostic, then you are open to maybe changing your beliefs too.

Every agnostic (meaning nearly all atheists) would change their belief immediately upon seeing evidence. No maybe about it.

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

How do you handle religious conversations? Do you find yourself sometimes having to say things you don't believe, or do you just keep quiet? Do you get a sense that many others aren't particularly religious as well?

Nobody ever really talks about it. Honestly, the church leadership drinks more than I do. I feel like we are all there for the social aspect.

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't you get... bored? I get bored in church and I am a believer.

Can't you go to Unitarian Universalist or something?

I'm a UU
Typical UU churches also get involved in progressive issues/service. Ours has an ongoing diaper drive (including women's hygiene products and adult incontinence products) with the items going to a local shelter that also distributes food baskets and hygiene baskets. Many years ago they led a push to get a YWCA to allow gay couples (pre-legalized gay marriage) to have family memberships.

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

How do you handle religious conversations? Do you find yourself sometimes having to say things you don't believe, or do you just keep quiet? Do you get a sense that many others aren't particularly religious as well?

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

This sounds fabulous. Unfortunately I think I would have a hard time getting my husband on board, he leans more atheist and I don't know if he could put up enough of a façade or would even want to.

Here is that reference again

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.biblegateway.com/passage/%3fsearch=John%2b20:24-29&version=NIV&interface=amp