Hmm?

I go to church for fellowship with like minded people

I go to be inspired to lead a more virtuous and satisfying life
through prayer and contemplation.

I don't go to church. :-P

OK - some choose not to go anyplace but are still spiritual.
So let's make the question a little broader.

Supposing you did go to a place of worship, why would you go?

Now anyone can answer that question even if they are not
religious or are atheist or observe any religion...

I go to church for weddings and funerals. But then, none of the people that i have seen getting married or buried have been remotely religious. Churches are nice settings for occasions, and that is it.

I attend weddings and funerals too and to see some historic
churches but I wouldn't call the history trips going to church.

Well, as an atheist, the only time I go to church is for weddings and funerals.

Now, for my spiritual views, my "church" is a walk in the woods, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. Or out messing with the animals. Filling water tanks and having the goats, horses and piggies come up for some loving and petting. Out for a horse-back ride or relaxing to music, floating in the swimming pool watching the clouds float by, the sound of a red-tailed hawk, squirrel, or crows.

When I said "going to church" or "attending a place of worship"
I meant going to participate in the rituals and observances of
that place of worship - not going to look at the architecture or
to see where some historical figure worshipped.

What I am really asking is supposing that you went to attend
a place of worship as a participant or member of the church
why would you go?

I was asking to find out if anyone goes because they feel coerced
to go - that they will suffer in some way if they do not go. But
I don't really think anyone goes (except maybe some fanatic's
kids) who is truly coerced or feels threatened that something
bad will happen to them if they do not attend.

So...I just wondered what various people might feel they get out
of attending and participating.

Obviously sightseeing is not really participation although attending
a wedding or a funeral might be participating in a religious gathering
depending on the circumstances.

If an atheist goes, it's out of curiousity, to watch and see what it's all about. They'll usually sit or stand quietly while the ceremony/speech/whatever happens. Depending on the type or ceremony or religion, they may participate in the more neutral aspects. Friends of mine usually host "light" pagan ceremonies for the full moon and sabbats. I go and participate, but ignore the deity related aspects. And I say "light" because they're not hardcore on the ceremony aspect. It truly is about getting together with folks and just having fun, bonfire if able, usually a drumjam and dancing.

still don't think the question can be answered by anyone. 'place of WORSHIP' is not a place i'd bother with as i worship nothing. i think the only occasion i might be seen in a church or place of worship would be if i were invited to share my views on religion. i wonder if an agnostic has ever been asked to speak in church.

depends on the accident i suppose. don't drink anymore but there was a time i might have wondered in by accident thinking the choir sounded better than the live entertainment at the bar next door and maybe hang around to see what happens if there were some single chicks.

there was a guy in june 1944 who had an accident and hung around awhile. it was the night before d day. his parachute got hung up on a church steeple and he hung there until a german shot him full of holes. the poor bastard wanted to quickly leave, of course, but.............

That's how I took your question, at first. Not 'attending a sermon' but 'visiting a church'. I've gone to a lot of churches, as an atheist...when there is no one else there.

I dig churches.

This is primarily why I go. I go to Catholic Mass (Traditional Latin Mass) because it causes me to contemplate sacrificing my own wants/desires for the good of others. I contemplate what true love really is and how to live my life accordingly. It causes me to closely examine not only my actions, but my motives and to keep them pure.

To Worship God

Because this is how it makes me feel..............


Everyone get up, and put on your Sunday best,

cause its CHURCH DAY TODAY! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Hallelujah, come on get happy,
and wipe all your tears away,
Hallelujah, come on get happy,
because today is church day!


Hallelujah, come on get happy,
and wipe all your tears away,
Hallelujah, come on get happy,
because today is church day!

And because there's NOTHING better than church!

They do often set a special contemplative and emotional mood.
The edifices themselves can be quite inspirational in their
own right as well as everything that they represent.

I do the same.

Some churches are absolutely gorgeous. But, I don't go to them for religious purposes.

I used to go because I loved learning about god and enjoyed being with other people who i thought felt the same..

I would go to church to be around people who loved and didnt judge,

But I wont go to church again.