> > I agree... sort of. I guess with Catholics, they keep practicing, even when they don't believe. I think people of other denominations just stop going to church, just cut God out of their lives completely. Which is worse?
>
> Neither. Someone just going through the rote motions of going to church doesn't have God in their lives any more than someone not attending church at all. Christianity is, or should be, a relationship rather than a religion. In fact, it's the only religion in the world that is ideally NOT a religion but a relationship. This is what, IMHO, makes it worth pursuing anyway. Who cares about some being that creates the world and is then happy if we drone out some weekly recitation, kneel and face the correct direction when we pray the same ritual words, then go home and lead an unchanged life? I'd frankly be bored sick if I were God and received that kind of attention. Certainly I wouldn't particularly feel any closer to anyone doing that than to those who never showed up at all. The Bible confirms that ritualistic acts aren't going to get God in your life (Titus 3:5, Eph. 2:8-9).
>
> I would go so far as to say that "belief" is not even the deciding factor. The devil believes in God. It takes an explicit act of commitment to God for things to matter, as illustrated in Romans 10:9-10. After making that very personal commitment, does it even make sense to revert back to ritual? There is very little in the Bible about ritual. It talks of communion and baptism, which could be considered rituals, but even then there are such things as "do this in remembrance of me," which clearly indicate the purpose for engaging in these rituals. If you're just going through the motions, you might as well not be at all. The bulk of what the Bible instructs us about God's will concerning our lives are lifestyle issues. In all things, give thanks. Pray without ceasing. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Honor thy father and thy mother. Abstain from all appearance of evil. Love God, because he first loved us. Love thy neighbor. None of these are rituals -- all of these are very personal things, having to do with our relationship with God and our relationship with other people. If you're just going through the motions, because you don't believe in God or don't want a relationship with him, you might as well not bother.


Er... Well, I agree with the majority of what Sam said, but not everything.

As to the question of which is worse, I believe that going to church without believing is worse than not going to church at all. Of course, it is all the same to God, since He looks at what is in our hearts. However, Christians are charged to not be a stumbling block to non-believers. Just because you've stopped believing doesn't mean that other people aren't looking to you as an example of what a Christian life is.

Sam's statement that "there is very little in the Bible about ritual" is something that I think misrepresents the facts. It is true that there isn't a lot in comparison to the amount of non-ritualistic matter in the Bible. (This among other things shows that God does indeed value the relationship is more than the ritual.) However, check out Leviticus and Deuteronomy for a major enumeration of ritual. And this is still relevant to us today, for when we keep God's laws we are showing our devotion to Him. Christ's sacrifice nullified the need for our strictest adherence to ritual; there is nothing else other than a relationship with God through Christ that will save us. We can't be good enough, give enough money to charitable causes, or even lead enough people to His Truth. Sam already addressed a lot of what I just said. I'm simply trying to make the point that although we are saved by grace, not by works, our works can demonstrate our relationship and are even necessary to make it worthwhile. And I think Sam probably was trying to say that too.


Ga"and if any clarification is needed or specific support wanted let me know"halia