quote:

Originally posted by PorterN:

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:
Yep, 3 hours every Sunday. I teach Sunday School to the 14-15 year olds for one of those hours.

Same. Although i teach Elders Quorum.

They put me out to pasture, I am the Cub Committee Chairman.

quote:

Originally posted by SgtGold:
Forgive me father for I am Jewish.

Yeah, I think that there might be enough of us here for a minyan.

Remember -- Jesus was a Jew, even though he had a Puerto Rican name.

quote:

Remember -- Jesus was a Jew, even though he had a Puerto Rican name.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Funny you should post this. I'm not trying to hijack your thread, but I was thinking of posting a thread asking for what to buy to help me learn and understand the Bible and Gods will. What are good study guides and materials? I hope this makes sense. Thank you.

In addition to a Scofield study Bible, I have enjoyed "Our Daily Bread Ministries".https://ourdailybread.org

Yes sir, church service and Bible study.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

My purpose in posting this is to get some idea of how many people put formal church attendance ahead of everything else that they might rather do, and not just to fill a slow Sunday morning when there’s nothing else going on.

I was wondering....
Thanks for letting us know why.

My reason for posting the poll was as I explained briefly above.

As for wanting the information, there are many posts and threads here that make reference to Christian beliefs and practices, including the value of attending church for companionship, spiritual (and sometimes tangible) comfort, and even such things as meeting prospective dates. Thinking about those benefits was what initiated my train of thought that led to starting this poll. For example, how many people in our online community are likely to benefit from advice to join a Bible study group to meet someone that might lead to a love match?

But that was just the start of my interest in the subject. I know that formal church membership and participation is very important for what I’d call the robustness of a society’s and culture’s religious component, but also that church involvement is declining overall. I posed the question as a poll to allow people to respond anonymously, but I very much appreciate the replies that have been posted.

I’m not involved in any religious activities myself, so I thought I’d raise the question here. I of course realize that this is far from being a scientifically valid effort for several reasons, not least because I strongly suspect that those who attend church regularly are far more likely to respond than those who don’t. I nevertheless still find the results of value in satisfying my interest in the subject.

So, thanks again to everyone.

My wife makes me and I appreciate it.

I believe its good for me and my family, I'm just not into the social aspect of it.

quote:

I know that formal church membership and participation is very important for what I’d call the robustness of a society’s and culture’s religious component, but also that church involvement is declining overall.

It's important.... but I would also say it is only one component of a decline in what I would call "community involvement" which used to be in mostly private and voluntary organizations and clubs.

A quote in JALLEN's signature sums it up:

quote:

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

I practically grew up at a swim club that started as a subdivision pool. It was put out of business when the local government began operating swimming pools.

Private organizations (including private, religious based schools) recede where government makes it hard or impossible to compete.

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:
Yep, 3 hours every Sunday. I teach Sunday School to the 14-15 year olds for one of those hours.

Just three hours? Modern Mormonism is so easy!

When I was a kid in Virginia, it was a 45 minute drive each way to church. On Sun morning we went to Sunday School/PH then went home. Six hours later, back to church for Sac Meeting. It was an all day affair. Then on Tues it was back for Primary, Wed back for YM/YW, Thurs for something else, can't remember (basketball?). All this traveling in the back of a thousand degree VW bus.

Being in UT now, I walk down the block only once on Sun, and get it all done in three hours. It's great.

quote:

Originally posted by JoeSig:
Yes - both wife & I. We are very involved in Bible studies and fellowship activities.

Accepted Christ as Lord & Savior 40 years ago.

The Lord has seen us through some trying times.

Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria, Sola Scriptura

Fixed that for ya.

Yes, usually the 11am service and we are active memebers in our church.

Pastor here!! Sort of expected to be there. LOL
Been pastor of the same church for 32 years now. Great bunch of folks.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:
Yep, 3 hours every Sunday. I teach Sunday School to the 14-15 year olds for one of those hours.

Just three hours? Modern Mormonism is so easy!

When I was a kid in Virginia, it was a 45 minute drive each way to church. On Sun morning we went to Sunday School/PH then went home. Six hours later, back to church for Sac Meeting. It was an all day affair. Then on Tues it was back for Primary, Wed back for YM/YW, Thurs for something else, can't remember (basketball?). All this traveling in the back of a thousand degree VW bus.

Being in UT now, I walk down the block only once on Sun, and get it all done in three hours. It's great.

I remember, and do not miss at all, those days

quote:

Originally posted by giz55792:
After the pastor died, the new guy and the church board came up with this crazy doctrine that once you accepted Christ as your savior, you just stopped sinning.

Wow.

That is about as far from the teachings of Christ as you can possibly get.

No. Never saw the point.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
No. Never saw the point.

A church community can be a true comfort to people. Maybe someday you'll realize the point.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
No. Never saw the point.

A church community can be a true comfort to people. Maybe someday you'll realize the point.

Agreed. Sigforum is a family. We take care of our own, here. Why is it so hard to see that a good congregation can also serve as a family?

Well, then there is also that little bit about being pleasing to your creator, and everlasting life, and such.

H&K-Guy

Nope The Creator is all around us, no need to go to a hall/church/house to worship him. I know what his words are, no need to hear someone tell me what his words are or mean. Chris

quote:

Originally posted by giz55792:
After the pastor died, the new guy and the church board came up with this crazy doctrine that once you accepted Christ as your savior, you just stopped sinning.

My goofy stepson & his wife went to a church one time, came home with a piece of paper signed by the preacher, saying they have been saved & will go to Heaven. They put a Jesus sign in their front yard. Haven't been back to church since the preacher declared them saved.

I can surely understand the skepticism folks have about religion.

Yes, mostly. Our son plays travel baseball so early spring-summer not often.