I’m starting to think that a lot of #atheist #leftist misunderstand #religion. I went to church today. It wasn’t amazing but I did enjoy it. I think that religion, especially in the west, largely isnt about faith anymore. I enjoyed going to church because I saw people I knew, I saw people I didn’t. There was music.
It was a reason to gather.
Last time I attended a church service, it was Catholic and just happened to be Easter Sunday. Small town with a facility for retired nuns. I was visiting family with my mom (a Catholic). I was not raised with religion, as my parents were at the time very disillusioned with the church.
But I decided that since I was there, I would try to absorb as much of the scene as possible. It was a very modern service, the manner of the priest, the topics discussed which were more social than theological.
One thing that struck me was how low energy and unenthusiastic everyone seemed. Like, it’s Easter, this is supposed to be the happiest day of the year for Christians. Nobody seemed particularly happy. They had all been there and done that many times before. It was like going through the motions as an obligation, not an act of joy.
The church itself was magnificent in its own way, large and opulent, with large stained glass windows, statues. Beautiful, really. I quite enjoyed the setting, and nothing the priest said was offensive to me. I don’t believe that anyone can rise from the dead, nor be the son of a god, but the messages about not giving into messages of hate, that was alright.
Even though I wasn’t a member of the community, indeed I would be considered unworthy and ostracized, being in the presence of people all devoted to one idea did impart a sense of community. I wonder how many others there were unbelievers or doubters, simply hedging their bets in case it’s all true.