Comments on: Church in Oz: A club nobody bothers to go to?

By: Fiona

Fiona — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:21:19 +0000

Sarah, what you have written is very true. I myself am a believer and a church attender. But on the whole, I believe the church has lost the plot.

Jesus is the model for every one of his believers. He walked in the power of God, bringing healing and deliverance to all around him. He loved people and related to all people, they loved him. The only ones he had words with were the religious folk who burdened people with legalism.

I guess people in first world countries do not need God, because we are comfortable and we have medical, psychological and entertainment resources.
I
t is sad because I know that when I met Jesus, it was not in church and it was the best day of my life and experiencing, yes experiencing his love and power in my life is wonderful. If only we could get back to the basics of loving God and each other in simplicity and see God for who he really is..

By: chris

chris — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:51:33 +0000

I think that life in Australia is to safe and “pristine”. I sometimes have the urge to send everyone here on a trip to a township – to understand what life is like for the majority of the world’s popoulation. Abject poverty makes one appreciate life more.
Easter and Christmas is the exception. on those days you struggle to get a seat in teh churches that I have been to

By: japes

japes — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:49:14 +0000

Not too surprising. Without commenting on the basis for religious belief I think it’s ahuman nature thing. If times are good and safe, people would rather walk the dog etc. Let things become uncertain; an epidemic strike, war threaten etc and the churches will be full.

By: Beastie

Beastie — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:46:31 +0000

The reason many people are not in church is because of the people who are in the church.

The Bible talks about Christian identification, i.e by their FRUITS… And what fruits are we finding in the church? Well the same ones you find the world, fornication, greed, rape, misrepresentation of God for profit, slander, hyprocrisy etc.

So, when someone comes to church seeking refuge, they literally step into a den of vipers. Is it any wonder numbers have dropped?

When Christians begin to exhibit the PROPER identification and act according to the Word of God and not the whims and religiosity of men, then there’ll be a change.

Who is not attracted to what is good, sincere, loving, filled with light, hope and provides respite and guidance in tough times. That’s the role of the Church and Christianity as good intended not some the rubbish portrayed as Christianity.

By: Harry Wilson

Harry Wilson — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:41:53 +0000

Ah, the churches are funded to the tune of billions of dollars every year by the increasing numbers of Australians who are not believing in them and do not go to them.

The so-called faith schools are plundering the resources of the state and contributing very little in the way of equity to our community.

And all the time the churches demand more in the way of handouts, government business, tax free status, not paying rates, getting the wages of their ministers tax free as ‘fringe benefits’ and all sorts of rorting that equals ‘organised crime’ sanctioned by the state.

On top of all that, the Church has weasled its way into the minds of young children via state schools and religious instruction.

By: jay

jay — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:06:21 +0000

George Carlin has said it all that needs to be said …. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o&feature=PlayList&p=9400A653D5BE706E&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4

………. BUT HE LOVES YOU!!

Remind you of Hillsong – or the big reamer (or is that rheemer) in Johannesburg – which as a profit line better than the ANC – and like the ANC – pays no taxes!

It is as he says – a major scam …….. but if it rings your chimes and get you friends that you can bring home without looking over your shoulder and worrying if the battery in your panic button is still fresh ….

By: Lyndall Beddy

Lyndall Beddy — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:17:01 +0000

Sometimes your posts are too profound to comment on – any comment might sound insensitive.

By: deb

deb — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:22:41 +0000

Imagine a world without churches, where would we be today? most people (at least in South Africa) get married in churches,babies births are celebrated in church services and the end of a life is remembered and commemorated in a church building of some sort.As much as secular thinking has influenced our society and politics today, the opposite is also true, the church has influenced society and politics.Think of the influence Desmond Tutu has on South African politics (whether you like him or not) and where would he be if there were no churches? Some food for thought guys.

By: Paul Smith

Paul Smith — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:38:22 +0000

Pretty much the same here in Canada. No doubt it’s more comfortable at home with all the 1st World distractions including, I hope, church services on cable. Church attendance is low and declining here, while claimed levels of atheism are on the up.It’s quite cool to be able to say that you don’t believe in any sort of god here, actually.By far the highest per capita church going occurs within the immigrant communities, so there you go…

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:15:11 +0000

I suspect, although I may be wrong, that societies that are exposed to various social problems such as crime, unemployment, low levels of education etc, are more likely follow religion as a way of bringing meaning to their lives. It may be that citizens of first world countries with a long history of civilization and good quality of life, have moved away from religion. Such as many European countries, for example Sweden. And this supports my claim: http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/burningpaper/2007/08/24/least-religious-countries-also-the-healthiest-says-survey/

Maybe Australia has reached that point as well? Please Sarah. Loneliness is not a good enough reason to believe in a lie.