If you’re an atheist, how often do you go to church? And why?
I went last Saturday, and will continue to go for the next nine Saturdays, for a class. It’s not in the church proper, but in the offices.
The last two times before that were for funerals, and the time before that for a christening. The last time that I went regularly was in the early 90s, and that’s because my then-GF wanted an in with the church’s theatre group. She pretty much dragged me along and convinced me to sing in the choir.
Before that I went regularly on weeknights because I was helping out with an orchestra, and that was their rehearsal space.
Temple? Mosque? Synagogue? Cause I haven’t been to church since college.
Assuming that you mean any of the above, I haven’t been to temple in several years. The one here is full of South Indians and I hardly recognize any of the gods. I wish there was a Gurudwara here, I’d go there because it would at least be more familiar to me, even if I am not Sikh.
I forgot about weddings! But I can only think of one that I’ve been to that was in a church. The atheist bride and groom chose the priest because he looked like a D&D character.
Sure, include those. I have never been inside of any of them, ever.
Come to think of it, I didn’t even go to temple when my mom died - the priest did the whole cremation ceremony at the funeral home. The funeral director was super considerate and helpful but when the time came to light the sacrificial fire I swear I saw his eyes darting towards the fire extiungisher.
When my daughter graduated from grade six, 2+ years ago, the ceremony was in the school church. My kids are in the Catholic school board here in Ontario, which is funded provincially.
Yeah, it’s a weird system we have.
So, given the school attachment, I’ve been often enough over the years, but it’s becoming less often as the kids get older. Other than the school thing it’s basically weddings and funerals. I think the last church funeral I attended was about 7 years ago.
The first and last time I was in a church for service was about 14 years ago to celebrate my uncle’s new pastorship. I’ve been to the synagogue maybe once some time before that, too.
Other than those times, I’ve only ever gone to church when that’s where my precinct has set up the voting booths.
Come to think of it, I was in this very awesome church just 2 months ago. It was in the early evening on a weeknight. We were the only people there, and walked through while eating our ice cream.
Last time I was in a church was for a friend’s wedding in 2001. Next time could be next month, when my wife and I visit NYC: if there will be any kind of pipe organ performance at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, I will make time for that. I may be a godless heathen, but I loves me some pipe organ music.
Weddings and funerals only… but then I’m usually late for everything so I generally miss most of the services. I grew up going to church every Sunday though.
Last August, at my mother’s funeral. Before that, various family weddings. My polling place is in the community hall of a church about 2 blocks from my house, but not in the church itself.
I guess Jewish weddings and funerals are not usually conducted in the synagogue. I was at an ultra-orthodox wedding about 6 weeks. That was quite a trip, but it was in hall separate from the synagogue. Many years ago I went to a church service because my friend was singing a solo. That’s only time I was in an actual service. The last time I was a synagogue service was in 1995 when my cousin’s daughter was Bat Mitzvah. The service was actually in a Friend’s meeting house that had been fitted with an arc and scrolls because the congregation–reconstructionist–had no building. Before that, the day before my wedding in 1964 to undergo some kind of blessing in order to make my wife’s stepfather happy. Damn-fool nonsense. I thought so at the time and still do, but it kept peace in the family.
My SOs family is pretty heavily into Catholicism and the kids go to the Catholic school affiliated with their church, so I’ve attended some services and functions with them, but not many (they are in there multiple times per week usually). And of course, weddings and funerals. Though most weddings I have been to have not in fact been in churches. I know a lot of lapsed Jews and heathens.
I don’t mind attending church services really. I went every Sunday my whole life until I was 18 after all, and it can be pleasantly nostalgic. I like singing in groups, too, and don’t often get chances to do that any more.
