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**Stengapsept** · 01-25-2007, 01:00 AM

it showed that he was not unwilling to have faith, and believe all manner of things. He just wasn't impressed by what he thought he knew of Christianity.

Peter

Dear Peter,
There is something of wider significance in what you say here. I know many people of my sort of age (early 50s) who are looking for a 'spiritual practice' (as they put it) and who feel alienated at the crass materialism of the western world, but who, whenever I mention Christianity to them, tell me that they are not impressed by what they know of it.

The age group may be significant, as I have a feeling that my generation may have been the last in the UK to be routinely taken to Church on Sundays; certainly where I was brought up, it was 'expected'. Yet all it seems to have left with many of these folk is the desire never to go anywhere near a Church again.

I have tried, as tactfully as possible, to press a little as to what it is they object to, and it does seem to be the Church as an institution, as well as the 'type' of person who 'goes to Church'. The institution is seen as remote and more concerned with forms of worship and perceived behaviour, than it is with love and service; the people are seen in a not dissimilar way, as rather narrow-minded and self-righteous folk who are altogether too keen on voicing their disapproval of the behaviour of others. Church congregations are said to be rather cliquish and exclusive.

Now, as it happens, the people I have spoken to about this have all come from either Anglican or Nonconformist backgrounds in the UK, and so it may be that either my 'sample' is unrepresentative, or represents only what it represents, but I intuit enough of this sort of complaint elsewhere to wonder about this.

I suppose I am wondering if someone will cheer me up by saying that it ain't so Joe - and why, if others have encountered this feeling, it has happened?

It isn't that, like some of my students, they simply have had no contact with Christianity, it is what you say in your post, Peter - they have not been favourably impressed by what they have experienced.

Any thoughts any one?

In Christ,

John

01-25-2007, 01:00 AM	#10
Stengapsept Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 651 Senior Member	it showed that he was not unwilling to have faith, and believe all manner of things. He just wasn't impressed by what he thought he knew of Christianity. Peter Dear Peter, There is something of wider significance in what you say here. I know many people of my sort of age (early 50s) who are looking for a 'spiritual practice' (as they put it) and who feel alienated at the crass materialism of the western world, but who, whenever I mention Christianity to them, tell me that they are not impressed by what they know of it. The age group may be significant, as I have a feeling that my generation may have been the last in the UK to be routinely taken to Church on Sundays; certainly where I was brought up, it was 'expected'. Yet all it seems to have left with many of these folk is the desire never to go anywhere near a Church again. I have tried, as tactfully as possible, to press a little as to what it is they object to, and it does seem to be the Church as an institution, as well as the 'type' of person who 'goes to Church'. The institution is seen as remote and more concerned with forms of worship and perceived behaviour, than it is with love and service; the people are seen in a not dissimilar way, as rather narrow-minded and self-righteous folk who are altogether too keen on voicing their disapproval of the behaviour of others. Church congregations are said to be rather cliquish and exclusive. Now, as it happens, the people I have spoken to about this have all come from either Anglican or Nonconformist backgrounds in the UK, and so it may be that either my 'sample' is unrepresentative, or represents only what it represents, but I intuit enough of this sort of complaint elsewhere to wonder about this. I suppose I am wondering if someone will cheer me up by saying that it ain't so Joe - and why, if others have encountered this feeling, it has happened? It isn't that, like some of my students, they simply have had no contact with Christianity, it is what you say in your post, Peter - they have not been favourably impressed by what they have experienced. Any thoughts any one? In Christ, John
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