Church Goers hit an All time low

[the_bob_delusion]

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#i...

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. 

[the_bob_delusion]

---

@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. 

[*elizabeths-mum*]

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.

[*crikey*mate*]

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.

[grumpy*cat*rocks]

---

@*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. 🙂

[kennedia_nigricans]

---

@*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.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

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.

[bright.ton42]

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. 

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.  

[azureline**]

---

@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

[kennedia_nigricans]

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.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

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.