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It's no secret I'm trying to find my way. To say I feel lost right now is the understatement of the year. I'm a life long Catholic, and that's what I will always be. However I was out of town today visiting some friends and they were going to a church service at "their" church. A nondenominational cluster [expletive] of religion and capitalism. I was open to the idea of this church though. My friend is in a softball league there, they have group activities, etc. Maybe I could get involved in stuff like that if I liked the church. It was a huge church, well it was an old auditorium. While there I had an awakening, but not in a good way.

1) When you walk in there is a merchandise store, selling pretty much everything you want with the churches name on it, not to mention some pretty politically charged stuff too. Also why do you need a coffee shop at church?

2) I [expletive] you not, you could swipe a credit card to donate during the collection.

3) The preacher drove a Cadillac CTS-V. Clearly a vow of poverty is not required.

4) With more people then my entire town at the service I hardly felt like a sheep in a flock.

5) Rock music in Church is F'n weird, but not as weird as people closing their eyes holding their hands int he air and gently swaying back and forth to that rock music during church.

At this point in my life going to my church for me is at worst case scenario an hour to reflect, to relax, to hear some nice music, and listen to a sermon which is usually pretty good. Best case scenario it lights a fire under my ass and I'll feel the way I felt about God when I was a kid. That's what I hope for out of Church but it just isn't happening. This mega church thing sure the hell isn't for me.

Today I saw the poorest of the poor spend $20 bucks a piece on t shirts that had a clever saying about this church on them. $20 a piece that if we are honest probably came out of my tax dollars. I saw an entity that is clearly a for profit business, but gets tax exempt status preaching politics from a very powerful platform, while using the idea of God's love as a reason for segregation, hate, and divisiveness. I saw an extremely wealthy man who as far as I can tell has no talent but to get on a stage and be charismatic explain to people that God wants them to be happy, wealthy, and like him, but they just aren't living their lives right, and if they just give themselves (and their money) to the church he (I think he meant God) will use his powers to make their lives perfect and if for some reason God chooses not to bless them with the things the preacher himself has like healthcare, a mansion, Cadillac, and a $1,500 suit that's ok. God will make it up in the afterlife.

It was disturbing. Don't get me wrong the Catholic Church is as money grubbing as any one else, but at least at my church they quietly pass the plate and don't tend to preach about if you only just give a little more to "God" your life will be better.

So I'm going to go to mass in the morning at my quaint little Catholic Church to try and wash the stink of that farce of a church off me. I feel so sorry for the people I saw today that are just 100% bought in to this place. Maybe I'm way off base here, but I have to question whether the church leaders even believe or if they just now they are on to a cash cow.

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Ima, i went to a place like that - it sounds like the same church actually, though it's obviously not - a couple years back with a girl I was dating and I am fairly certain before it was over, I was cussing. Then, on the way to the car from the church, I absolutely flipped my lid with how insane the place was. People started staring. I didn't care. That bull [expletive] is so [expletive] stupid, I don't get it. They don't really even teach anything.

I'm fairly certain the thought process of those that go is something like this:

1. Everybody goes to church on Sundays, so I have to go.
2. Which church? Where does everybody else go? The one where a preacher flies his helicopter from church to church on Sunday mronings, spreading Gods word and taking everyone's cash? Yep. Thats the one! Let's go there.
3. Get up, get all dolled up so you project wholesomeness and wealth I mean respect to god.
4. Go to church and try to impress everyone.
5. Go to brunch where everyone else goes....and try to impress everyone.

Back when I was a single guy, I loved going to brunch at those places in my clothes from the night before and drink my beer while watching all these fake mother [expletive] parade around.

I don't get megachurches. It sounds to me like they are entertainment rather than church. I am also a Catholic, and I go to a church that is very progressive. I know that other Catholic parishes are not like mine and that the Vatican is not like it either, but I am somewhat traditional myself, so I'm OK with it. And the whole "give me money and God will bless you" thing--that is totally against the Gospel IMHO. As far as paying taxes is concerned, I think it would make a lot more sense for churches to pay taxes and make outright political statements than not to pay taxes and to skirt around making political statements. There is an IRS classification for non-profits called 501(c)4 (as opposed to the usual 501(c)3) where you can make political statements--but donations to your organization are not tax deductible. But with the Supreme Court having ruled that the tax exempt status of churches is constitutional, it would take a constitutional amendment to make churches pay taxes, and I don't want the current politicians anywhere near the Constitution.

Is there a college near you, Dreamer? We got fed up with our parish and a pastor who blandly read his scripted homily without even looking up. Snooze city. But apparently his strength is as an administrator for the church K-6 school.

We ended up at the parish serving the University of Colo. The pastor is around 35; the other priest just turned 30. The atmosphere is electric. Homilies are passionate, funny, insightful - really have re-engaged us with the Church. Fr. Peter's Easter homily began by saying he was a technology geek - loves ordering stuff online - and using the tracking number to anticipate its arrival - and comparing that to the the anticipation of Easter (maybe you had to be there).

Plus they have a lot of mountain retreats with students - something we hope to get involved with (we told Fr. John even as behind the scene support - cooking, etc.).

Check out Fr. John's podcasts "Catholic Stuff You Should Know" to get an idea of what I'm not explaining very well.

Anyway, just a suggestion. You might find a more energetic environment without the megachurch crap. Works for us anyway.

Sadly the nearest college is about an hour away. It might be worth the drive though. I remember the Parish at my college was great. I always enjoyed going. The Priest was still older but not crusty old guy old. He was full of energy though, and after church he would stand out front and talk to everyone. It was great. My current Priest is an alright guy but he's hard core old school Catholic. I can only be talked down to so many times before I tune him out.

The megachurch thing though. Never again. I was just disgusted by it all. I've never seen a more blatant scheme to get peoples money before in my life. God was not in that building, or if he was he was shaking his head in sadness. I felt so out of place yesterday. It's the only church I've ever been to where people were not welcoming, granted my experience is fairly limited. I know when I go to other Catholic Churches because I'm out of town for some reason people always are friendly and ask who I am where I'm from etc. It's nice. Not at this place, although granted when there are a few thousand people packed into a place everyone is probably a stranger.

Back to the Catholic Church, I don't know why they think they have to move Priest around so much. The last one we had was great. Not real great at the Homily, but other then that wonderful. I always felt like I learned something and more importantly I always felt like I belonged there. In fact I've liked all of our Priests until this current one. I don't dislike him, but he's just not inspiring.

Rad I'll check out that podcast for sure.

Interesting post, IMA. What kind of political stuff was on the tshirts in the store? What was the sermon about?

Not being Christian and having limited experience in churches, I only know what I've read in books or articles about places like Joel Osteen's church, which bought the old stadium in Houston where the Rockets used to play. I know he preaches the so-called "prosperity gospel" which sounds a lot like the church you went to: God wants us to be rich, so if you pray to him (and to me!) and give him money (by giving me money!) you will get that new car you're wanting. But if you don't, well, pray harder (give me more money) and I'm sure it's just around the corner.

The whole thing is so cruel, so crass. They're praying on one of the most fundamnental human desires - to understand God and be nearer to Him/Her, and to figure out what this whole world and our lives within it mean. And they're using that to get rich. I'm less offended by the wall street rackaterrs behind the subprime fiasco. At least they're honest about what God they're serving.

They all now have Starbucks style coffee shops now. Open every day and some have drive up windows. Seems like a sneaky way to avoid paying sales tax.

The sermon is really what burned my ass. The preacher was going on about Wahington and how "we are not going to allow them to take Jesus out of our lives, and I think you know who I mean when I say them." He made several references to Obama, but of course wouldn't say his name, implying that the President is some how attacking Christians and is "not one of us." It was disgusting.

As for the shirts the one I remember the most was a take on the Obama "hope" poster and it said something about a false Messiah.

The more I've thought about the whole experience the more ticked I get.

Wow.