Although I’m Catholic, in the last year I’ve gone to a few Episcopal services and enjoyed them quite a bit. Generally, the formal style of Episcopal services (especially at the Anglo-Catholic services) appeals to me. Specifically, I really like the Evening Service (a short service of chant-like singing) and the practice of approaching the alter rail for Communion rather than the line it up style common at Catholic services. So what church (or religion) appeals most to you that isn’t your own, and why?
Ancient Roman. The gods and goddesses weren’t really taken very seriously, there was no concept of “worshipping” them, they were just there as explanations for inexplicable events. Rather like Snow White and Pinocchio are morally instructive fixtures in the lore of children today, without being endowed with any real-time influence on the world. There was no church, as such, nobody assembled and performed any rituals. There was no priesthood to speak of. Morality may have been associated with some of the deified legends, but people pretty well intuited that murder and theft and lies were uncool among civilized people, social response was punishment enough for bad behavior, and did not need any priests to attribute morality to deities.
I’m Jewish, but I have always felt very comfortable the times I attended an Episcopal Church. I neither worried about bursting into flames, nor felt like I was being treated like fresh meat. I even went to an retreat for teenagers sponsored by the Episcopal Church because one of my best friends was Episcopal, and we were in the same anti-nukes group together, and the retreat was going to plan some anti-nukes activism. It was also a Christian retreat, but I was treated very respectfully, and one of the adults in charge asked me a lot of questions about Judaism. She also recommended a fascinating book by a Catholic theologian called Faith and Fratricide about the Christian roots of anti-Semitism. I was impressed that that youth leader was familiar with the book.
Their bible studies were very penetrating, and not indoctrinating.
I like to think that if I hadn’t been born Jewish, I would have been Episcopalian (until I managed to convert to Judaism, anyway :D). Seriously, it is by fat my favorite Christian denomination.
I also found the Eastern Orthodox very interesting when I lived in Russia, although I don’t think I could see myself being Eastern Orthodox.
Which Ancient Roman are you speaking of, that it had no priests and no rituals? Those big temples they left all around the place weren’t just built as a way to incentivate the economy.
And as for no concept of worshipping, yes there was, beginning with manes and lares. The kitchen is still considered the religious center of the house in a lot of Mediterranean cultures.
I’m lapsed Jewish, but I was quite impressed the time I went to a Quaker meeting. Everyone sat silently for an hour, punctuated by an occasional comment as someone talked about their faith and feelings.
I’m not a believer, but I enjoy going to church. I sometimes do a church tour, Methodist one week, Southern Baptist another, Pentecostal, Mormon, whatever. The most intriguing is Catholic. I never know what’s going on, but the rituals fascinate me. The most enjoyable is the Unity church, they appear the most open-minded.
I’m a pagan, but I enjoy talking with Jewish people about their religion. It’s basically the idea that living well today and doing the best you can to make today better (the whole concept of mitzvah) is all that really matters.
Baptist! I went to a Baptist funeral last year, and it was the most surprisingly joyous occasion, full of singing and praising the Lord. I loved it so much that I asked my husband if you had to be Baptist in order to have a Baptist funeral, and when he said he thought you did, I momentarily considered becoming Baptist. Current religion is none, but I grew up in Christian Science.
Christian Science is one of the few churches the Lord won’t let me talk funny about. I can bad mouth LDS and JW’s, and of course those revival churches that aren’t really having revival, but Christian Science … no way.
I like Christian fellwoship churches the best, the kind that meet during the week at someones home. The music is good, the food is good and when you do go to their church you feel like you know them.
I am a member of PCUSA - Presbyterian Church. Ones I have enjoyed:
AME (African Methodist Episcopal Church). I attended daily services with a congregation during some volunteer work after Katrina. It had all of the energy and gospel music that makes it fun.
Jewish Bar and Bat Mitvahs are my experience in a formal setting, plus several of the holidays at the houses of friends. I like the historical aspect of the holidays, the readings, etc. It is a connection to the past, with a look to the present and the future.
I’ve been intrigued by Zoroastrianism for a long time. In high school, I had a friend whose family was Zoroastrian, and I wish I had taken the opportunity to talk to his parents about it more. They were very nice people and probably willing to chat about their religion with a person who was genuinely interested in learning about their practice … but it was that high school thing where my friend was always “why do you want to talk to my mom and dad? BOR-ing! Let’s hit the mall.”
(I am Catholic, btw.)
Lutheran but I always being at a black Baptist/Pentecostal service. The witnessing and music just really give me a lift and I admire a lot of what they do even if I don’t agree with some (large part) of the theology they follow.
Hmm, I’m already Episcopalian, although that’s not how I was raised - so you could say I already switched to my most admired religion that wasn’t mine.
That said, I do have a fondness for Catholicism and the Lutherans (ELCA). Episcopal hits the sweet spot between them.
I’m Methodist but I like the rituals and traditions of Judaism. Our family will be attending our first bar mitzvah next month for the son of family friends, I’m really looking forward to it.
I think being a follower of Baal in its day would have been pretty cool. You know, prostitutes and all.
Reform Judaism is not much of a jump for many Unitarian Universalists when you consider both have strains that embrace secular humanism.
I was raised non-denominational (read: Pentecostal light) and that’s all I’d ever known. But when I wanted to get back in church, I needed to avoid the judgmentalness and hell fire that I’d been accustomed to. So we tried several, and I really appreciated the quiet solemnity and regalness of both the Episcopalians and Presbyterians. However, it was just too formal for me, so we kept looking. Then I went to a UU church, and although I really enjoyed their hospitality and open-mindedness, I simply didn’t feel much of a connection, so that was a non-starter too. After that, I figured I’d give my husband’s denomination, Methodist, a shot. I loved it! Cerebral and far past Religion 101, their commitment to social causes and willingness to accept others on their own terms, sealed the deal. Therefore, despite 45 years as a fundamentalist, I highly recommend my new spiritual life of just the past three as a Methodist. They’re awesome and the food is out of this world.
I’m Lutheran (ELCA), but I’ve always been intrigued by the Catholic Church. There is very little chance of me jumping ship due to the whole not ordaining women thing and anti-homosexual equality thing. However, I find that there is something very appealing about this long tradition and formality that has incorporated many different cultures around the world and is very big on fighting for the poor. Liberation Theology, after all, comes from Latin American Catholics. I also find something appealing about the hierarchy (we ELCA Lutherans have a hierarchy, but not as much and also contained within each country - though each country’s church have communion with others) And they are some absolutely gorgeous churches and cathedrals.
(One can somewhat say similar about the Anglican Communion as well, but I find them to be a bit wishy-washy on theology at times and the fact that they tolerate things like cosmic mass is a bit ridiculous to me.)
Their tolerance is the best/worst thing about them. That is, it’s the best thing about the denomination until you find out they’re tolerating something you find distasteful.
I don’t mean “you” as in YOU. In the past I’ve been put off by bishops with a string of ex-wives, pagan/druidic priests, and open communion. And they’ll pry the 1982 Hymnal out of my cold, dead hands.
Yeah, agreed (the famous phrase of “don’t be so open minded that you brain falls out” comes to mind at times. The fact that John Shelby Spong continued as Bishop (of Newark) just boggles my mind. I do need my Bishops to believe in God ;). Not to say that there aren’t some more orthodox Episcopalians who actually believe in God and the divinity of Christ while also being progressive - I am a HUGE fan of Rowan Williams. (Progressive orthodoxy is one of those strange terms that seemingly only exists within the Church it seems ;)).