What an interesting thread! I live in Northern Ireland, and people here are quite happy to beat each other about the head with organised religon on a regular basis (not that I'm saying that everyone is like this, it's the vocal minority)
It's so easy for people in my country to become cynical when thugs parade about in the name of one or other denomination, smashing and burning.
I go to a small country church which my family has attended for generations. I've been examining my motives for being a Christian and believing what I believe etc recently. Maybe I go to this church because it's a tradition, but maybe I go because the minister is an amazing teacher, and a caring and understanding friend. I have many friends among the congregation, and everyone sticks together and helps out if someone's in trouble.
People have talked about religon outside of a church. and that's fair enough, you can communicate with God on a personal level, but when it comes to getting out and actually doing stuff, you can't really do that alone. The term 'church' refers more to the people in a congregation, rather than the building which they meet in, which implies a very restrictive experience. Christians are told to go into the world, but sometimes we are too comfortable in our Sunday services and church-based activities.
Churches in Northern Ireland can be quite insular, close-knit and not always welcoming. But wouldn't it be great if they could be so much more welcoming, and reaching into the community?
I notice many bad experiences that people have had, or messages that they've picked up, conflict with the actual message that Christians try to put across about the love of God for everyone as an individual, and not dependent on them doing certain acts or deeds, or going to church every Sunday. Why is this, why do people get the wrong message? To often religon seems like an elite pursuit for the 'good' people, rather than the solution for all of us in pain, or in trouble.
AudioRedneck, it sounds like you have a great church! If I ever get to RedneckVille, I'll have to drop in!
Andrew