For all those who say we are sinners..

[Dev]

I was raised in a certain religion and when I was ready to reveal who I was I made a point after my mother brought the church into it to have a talk with the local bishop.  I told him how I felt and in return he was not mean or rude, but did tell me I would go to hell because of my life if I continued to persue it.

Well, needless to say I told him right then and there to remove my name and address from church records and I don't want to see any church people come to my door.

I still will defend the church when people who really don't know the beliefs say something incorrect or slam the teachings, but I would never step foot in it again.  I have also fallen back on my studies of religion to develop my own belief. 

I respect churches and can see myself one day attending one if I found one with good values but at the same time I don't know if I could be more than a visitor because I don't follow a path of god and light so to speak.  I don't believe in a good or bad side and if forced to take a side, I doubt I would agree with any church Ihave ever visited.

[tekla]

I love churches, the architecture is among the best creations of man.  It's just the fan clubs I have problems with.  Given an absolute lack of evidence, the logical and rational choice is not to say "Well, since we can't prove or disprove it, we must, therefore, believe."  Lack of evidence should lead one to skepticism, not faith.

And I know the basis of The Church, and I'm sure its the 'greatest story ever told' - but I'm pretty sure, its just that.  A story.

And its not a neutral story either.  The very use of the world "Father" for the godhead is not only the most radical change of thought on the planet - since prior goddess worship predated it.  But is in fact, the basis of the entire patriarchy system of Western Civilization.  A record not without a blemish or two.

[Kaitlyn]

I love churches, the architecture is among the best creations of man.  It's just the fan clubs I have problems with.

I agree, old churches are very beautiful.  However, they always make me think about the kind of homes that ordinary folk had to live with while tithing money to the church, all so that these massive, uneconomical edifices could be built and maintained, and the clergy could live in relative splendor.

Given an absolute lack of evidence, the logical and rational choice is not to say "Well, since we can't prove or disprove it, we must, therefore, believe."  Lack of evidence should lead one to skepticism, not faith.

I'll go you one further - "gods" in general, and "God" in particular can absolutely be proven not to exist, by the same reasoning that shows square circles not to exist.

The very use of the world "Father" for the godhead is not only the most radical change of thought on the planet - since prior goddess worship predated it.  But is in fact, the basis of the entire patriarchy system of Western Civilization.  A record not without a blemish or two.

Let's not forget about YHVH's wife, Asherah.