by Susan Sieber

Created on: August 13, 2010

Attending church, or mosque, or temple, is a vital part of practicing the religion that the building represents.  Furthermore, people gathering in community, to share with and support each other, is perhaps the most valuable thing that organized religion has to offer the world today. 

The bodily act of going to church is important.  Spirituality and a personal relationship with a deity can certainly be found on one’s own.  But the sharing of spirituality, and the relationships with fellow believers which support and affirm a personal spiritual choice, can only be found at church.  Whether that church is a physical building or a gathering of believers shouldn't make a difference; the key is gathering with others to reaffirm common beliefs, and sharing as a community.

If a person has faith in a specific religion, and doesn't attend services, that person is losing out on rich human contact and community benefits, as well as risking not being able to sustain that faith on his or her own.

Spirituality and the body cannot be disconnected.  This is evident in the rituals of feasting and fasting that span many religions.  For example, religious fasting is practiced in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, on Lent, Ramadan, and Yom Kippur respectively.  Fasting is expected to help focus the mind on humility, or repentance, or reflection upon religious beliefs.  Feasts follow, to celebrate and honor shared beliefs.  The connection of mind and body is acknowledged in these food rituals. 

Believing in a religion and attending church (mosque, temple, etc.) is similarly connected. 

Belief is sterile without action.  If a person claims to believe in a religion, but never gathers with others to commit to that belief, that person is not following a religion, but instead, a personal spirituality.  Organized religion requires gatherings.  Also, gatherings are valuable in ways beyond the religious service itself.

Face-to-face, meaningful contact – no phone, no text, no Internet web casting – is something that is lacking in the technology-driven world of today.  Churches give people a chance to slow down and connect, not just at the religious service, but through group activities like religious study groups, fundraisers such as  bake sales or game nights, and other events.

Like a family, a church supports its members.  It is important to attend services not only to reflect upon spiritual beliefs, but to take advantage of the collective assets of the church community.  There may be people there who can give advice or assistance on subjects like dating, going to college, finding a job, dealing with the death of a loved one, raising children, financing a home – any number of topics that might seem impossible to deal with on one’s own.

Attending church, mosque, temple, or another type of religious gathering is important for maintaining faith, making meaningful connections, and learning about the religion.

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