by Shannon Myers

Created on: July 26, 2008

The very question whether to go to church or not indicates choice. I believe this is a decision best made by each individual. The answer to this question seems so simple that I feel it barely needs to be written about. It all comes down to this: if you feel you want to go to church by all means, go. If not, then don't. What more can be said?

This can be said: some churchgoers attend because they truly believe the church's doctrine. Others feel that because they were raised attending church, they still should go, as adults. Others take their children to church so that their faith can be passed down through the family. Some people have never attended church; maybe it was never introduced into their lives or it never crossed their minds to go.

I attended church when I was in my younger years and I was lonely, lost, isolated, and depressed. I felt the need to be with a group of people who would accept me; people who all had the same purpose. I needed direction and guidance. My social circle was small and I had no one I could depend on. So I turned to God.

Church was dependable. It was always there when I needed grounding and centering. It felt good to be with a large group of people and to feel all of our energy focused on the same thing. I felt better after I had gone. Every time I went to church, people were friendly, kind, and wonderful to me.

I stopped going for different reasons. But first and foremost, I stopped going because I felt I was going for the wrong reason. The congregation was there to worship God and read from the Bible. I was there for the positive energy. And I felt that if I worshipped with the congregation, I was being a hypocrite because I don't believe in organized religion. I don't believe that you have to attend church to participate in worship. And correct me if I'm wrong, and I may very well be but isn't church part of organized religion? Don't people get together in churches devoted to specific faiths to participate in worship, according to that faith's beliefs?

Church worship can promote a sense of belonging that people sometimes need. Churches support many worthy causes and sponsor social events where people can develop friendships and support networks.

All of this would have been great for me if a specific religion hadn't been involved. It isn't that I don't have faith; it's that I have my own faith, my own beliefs. And to attend church simply for the social aspect and not follow its doctrine wholeheartedly, to me, would be a lie.

I believe

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