topic Re: Church Goers hit an All time low in Community Spirit

Church Goers hit an All time low

the_bob_delusion — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 04:45:21 GMT

These faithful Catholics are a diminishing demographic. Fewer than one in eight Catholics attends Mass on any weekend, the lowest average in recorded Australian history, according to figures released at the weekend.

But the church is still better off than most denominations, with Anglicans - the next biggest group - finding only 10 per cent of worshippers in church an average of at least once a month, and possibly as little as half of that going every week.

The Catholic Church's chief researcher, Bob Dixon, said the sex abuse crisis within the church had affected attendance less than expected.

He said an average of 665,000 people attended Catholic churches each weekend in May 2011, when the most recent national attendance count was done.

He predicted Mass attendances would continue the trend of slight decline for another 15 years, then stabilise after the baby boomer generation passed. Immigrants from non-English speaking backgrounds were the main source of growth.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-thinning-flock-of-catholics-at-alltime-low-20130922-2u81i.html#ixzz2fghgLHGN

Why aren't you going to the church?

I actually think going to church is good thing. It gets people together and gives them a sense of community. I just wished they change the content of what they preach.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

grumpy*cat*rocks — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 04:58:01 GMT

The old style church services are for the most part boring.

There are many more, more upbeat type churches around. We regularly go to once such church. They have a great coffee shop with cakes and other treats, and are very welcoming to newcomers. Instead of hymms they sing more 'rock' type songs that get your feet tapping. Their pastors wear jeans and casual shirts.

Both young and old attend, they have a wide variety of other programs on other days, the bible is not shoved down your throat.

My husband and I were once Anglicans but once we were older we grew away from the church. Then a friend told us about this one and we went for a visit, and regularly return. Not every week, but a couple of times a month.

I was recently injured and on crutches, couldn't get around much. We received a lovely bunch of flowers and a couple of home cooked meals, offers to help with anything that needed doing.

And we've only been attending this church for 4 months, didn't realise that we'd be missed.

No way could I endure another stuffy service with old style hymms and a man dressed in robes preaching at me.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

no_tv*10 — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 05:31:08 GMT

My hubby's best friend became a priest a few years ago

and we had to sit through the ordinations and ceremonies...and I can see why people don't go to church!!!!

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

lakeland27 — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 05:49:43 GMT

i like the way people go as long as they can dig the music and the denim. says a lot about commitment. 'i'll go as long as its fun'

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

grumpy*cat*rocks — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 06:05:04 GMT

@lakeland27 wrote:
i like the way people go as long as they can dig the music and the denim. says a lot about commitment. 'i'll go as long as its fun'

It's more than that lakeland, and nowhere in my post did I say "I'll go as long as it's fun." Please do not put words in that I did not say thanks all the same.

They do preach, but not in a fire and brimstone fashion.They accept people who are what they are. There is no judgement. There is no shouting about going to hell for doing this or that. They preach forgiveness, that the Lord forgave those who sinned.

It's a modern take on religion without the candles and incense smells.

The sermons have a lighter side, they make people laugh, but still get the message across.

If 70 and 80 year old who have been going to the old style churches for most of their life and finding them lacking, now actually enjoy coming to church each week that surely says something.

Even Father Bob Maguire in Melbourne, whilst still preaching wearing the robes etc, has a much more 'liberal' approach to religion which explains why he is so well liked and respected even by those who scorn religion.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

polksaladallie — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 06:12:47 GMT

The pastors wear jeans because jeans have lots of pockets.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

no_tv*10 — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 06:24:06 GMT

Oh my G*# the sermons and initiations I recently went to definately had incense and candles...and all robes!!! Priest could only bless me and not offer communion (as i am not catholic). Ended up find

ing out I was pregnant with twins a week later. Never again!!!!

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

lakeland27 — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 06:28:55 GMT

@grumpy*cat*rocks wrote:
@lakeland27 wrote:
i like the way people go as long as they can dig the music and the denim. says a lot about commitment. 'i'll go as long as its fun'
It's more than that lakeland, and nowhere in my post did I say "I'll go as long as it's fun." Please do not put words in that I did not say thanks all the same.
They do preach, but not in a fire and brimstone fashion.They accept people who are what they are. There is no judgement. There is no shouting about going to hell for doing this or that. They preach forgiveness, that the Lord forgave those who sinned.
It's a modern take on religion without the candles and incense smells.
The sermons have a lighter side, they make people laugh, but still get the message across.

If 70 and 80 year old who have been going to the old style churches for most of their life and finding them lacking, now actually enjoy coming to church each week that surely says something.
Even Father Bob Maguire in Melbourne, whilst still preaching wearing the robes etc, has a much more 'liberal' approach to religion which explains why he is so well liked and respected even by those who scorn religion.

i wasn't directing the post to anyone in particular. i used to go along years ago because of the insistence of others, the observations i made are firsthand and aren't a criticism really. just observations.

although the atmosphere is definitely lighter, the air of condemnation and judgement is still present and the legalism stronger than it ever was . I recall my devoutly catholic grandfather (mass every day) being far more open to peoples differences and choices than i found there.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

grumpy*cat*rocks — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 06:56:24 GMT

My apologies then lakeland.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

bright.ton42 — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 10:09:26 GMT

I actually think going to church is good thing. It gets people together and gives them a sense of community. I just wished they change the content of what they preach.

OP I didn't get the impression you go to church so just wondering how you know what they preach - and who would

be 'they?' Just interested. As others here have said many churches have changed their approach to their Services - certainly the catholic church I go to(bout twice a year) is very liberal and the sermons are human and more like a conversation. The priest sometimes

comes down and sits on the steps in front of the altar. and almost always cracks jokes. I don't know where they preach fire and

brimstone but doubt that in this day and age there would be too many keen to listen to that stuff.

I absolutely agree with what you say about church being a good thing and getting people together, I just wish

I could get myself there more often.

I really like the sound of the church grumpy cat talks about though.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

the_bob_delusion — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 10:28:55 GMT

@bright.ton42 wrote:
I actually think going to church is good thing. It gets people together and gives them a sense of community. I just wished they change the content of what they preach.

OP I didn't get the impression you go to church so just wondering how you know what they preach - and who would
be 'they?' Just interested. As others here have said many churches have changed their approach to their Services - certainly the catholic church I go to(bout twice a year) is very liberal and the sermons are human and more like a conversation. The priest sometimes
comes down and sits on the steps in front of the altar. and almost always cracks jokes. I don't know where they preach fire and
brimstone but doubt that in this day and age there would be too many keen to listen to that stuff.

I absolutely agree with what you say about church being a good thing and getting people together, I just wish
I could get myself there more often.

I really like the sound of the church grumpy cat talks about though.

I'm more Christian than most Christians and probably go to church more than them and read the bible more than them. Most of my friends are Christian and it's great for socializing. I just like people watching and I like these odd traditions. It's kinda fun actually. I'm just amazed people actually believe in this stuft.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

*elizabeths-mum* — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 20:38:42 GMT

I've been to all sorts of services and prefer traditional. I like the link that people have been singing and saying the same words for generations. To me they are timeless.

Some modern services I have been to, I find very self indulgent. People get the stage and go on and on not wanting to let go of their place in the limelight. I'm not one for wanting to hug the person in the row behind me either and the repetitive singing reminds me of cults.

Obviously I am in a minority as the traditional services are dying out but I think there is place for all forms of worship.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

*crikey*mate* — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 20:46:33 GMT

Remember when the church services were in Latin?

And every Midnight Mass, we still get the sermon about the apple. The same sermon we've been getting for the last 30 odd years! We thought we may get a different one when the Monsignor passed away, but nope - same one.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

grumpy*cat*rocks — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 00:12:04 GMT

@*elizabeths-mum* wrote:
I've been to all sorts of services and prefer traditional. I like the link that people have been singing and saying the same words for generations. To me they are timeless.

Some modern services I have been to, I find very self indulgent. People get the stage and go on and on not wanting to let go of their place in the limelight. I'm not one for wanting to hug the person in the row behind me either and the repetitive singing reminds me of cults.

Obviously I am in a minority as the traditional services are dying out but I think there is place for all forms of worship.

No stage hoggers where we go. They get up there, do their thing, then leave the stage.

As for the hugging, you don't have to hug anyone. A simple handshake or "Hello, nice to meet you, my name is ....." suffices. The Anglican Church we went to years ago used to make us say hello to those around us too, likewise when leaving the church you went past a group of people who were all about hugging and saying hello.

Repetitive singing cult like? But what about the old style service, singing the same hymns over and over? The musicians of our church sing at the start of the service, about 4 songs. They aren't the same songs every week, although there are a couple of more popular ones that have been a bit of a success on iTunes so those 2 might be sung more often, but not every week. I actually enjoy watching the band and band members.

I know some people will always remain faithful to the old traditional church services and that's their choice, but I do know that a large percentage of those that attend our present church are from those 'traditional' churches and were getting bored with it all.

And that's all I have to say really.

Amen. 🙂

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

kennedia_nigricans — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 01:30:06 GMT

@*elizabeths-mum* wrote:
I've been to all sorts of services and prefer traditional. I like the link that people have been singing and saying the same words for generations. To me they are timeless.

Some modern services I have been to, I find very self indulgent. People get the stage and go on and on not wanting to let go of their place in the limelight. I'm not one for wanting to hug the person in the row behind me either and the repetitive singing reminds me of cults.

Obviously I am in a minority as the traditional services are dying out but I think there is place for all forms of worship.

do you think that you are singing the same hymns as the christians around say 1200 (not to mention the early christians in the first few centuries A.D.)? you probably wouldn't understand a word they say.

as far as i know most of these hymns are from the 19th/18th century, and that is not very long ago.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

*elizabeths-mum* — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 06:01:07 GMT

KN, Generations doesn't mean centuries. Please read before you begin to criticise.

GCR, I'm glad your church fills your needs, it just doesn't meet mine.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

bright.ton42 — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 06:34:13 GMT

Bob I know what you mean about being more Christian than most christians. It's nice. Sorry if I misconstrued

what you said. Many of them are all about show in my

experience. And I'm not a believer either though do respect the golden rule. Do unto others, etc.

I still love the sound of the service grumpy* cat goes to, it sounds like there's a bit of life to it and as for those

traditional hymns I was brought up on them and find most of them dreary and depressing. If God's./Christ's message is

so joyful why do people have to stand there and drone on with long, miserable faces. Music is very powerful

so let it reflect the joy IMO. That's what Gospel singing does. too.

Not that I don't respect others' tastes, but not for me.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

azureline** — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 20:47:08 GMT

@crikey*mate wrote:
Remember when the church services were in Latin?

And every Midnight Mass, we still get the sermon about the apple. The same sermon we've been getting for the last 30 odd years! We thought we may get a different one when the Monsignor passed away, but nope - same one.

Still are at the Church my Grandie goes to school at..............amazing that it all feels so familiar and I understand it still

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

kennedia_nigricans — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 00:16:43 GMT

i did not talk about generations but about TRADITIONS. if you want a traditional ceremony, i wonder how traditional you want it...just a little bit or do you want to do it properly, following the original traditions.

what you consider traditional was considered modern/futuristic 1000 years ago.

Re: Church Goers hit an All time low

*elizabeths-mum* — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 06:02:59 GMT

Actually the denomination in the Christian church which I attend (albeit sporadically) is only a couple of hundred years old so has developed it's own traditions over that time as well as including creeds dating back far longer than 1000 years. I'm sorry if this offends you.

You may also wish to understand that 'traditional' and 'original' are not actually the same word, one being the first while the other can be an evolving process.