[SoothingDave]

That is not showing devotion toward God, it's bowing to social and cultural pressures.

You say. I say that someone attending Church because the Church, speaking as God's representative on earth, mandates you attend, that person is obeying God. Not "social and cultural pressures." The Church is not a social club.

SD

[JeffAtlanta]

Not "social and cultural pressures." The Church is not a social club.

Most of latin america is Catholic due only to social and cultural pressures. Unless they went to a Catholic school, I doubt less than 1 in 10 could quote one bible verse or even intelligently explain the church's teachings. I doubt that even less would be able to name any of the minor prophets or what their teachings were.

To be fair, I doubt that many Protestants could either. Like Catholics, the vast majority of Protestants are Christians and specifically protestant, only because of family, social and cultural norms.

There is a reason why demonations tend to clump together geographically.

[A2J]

I say that someone attending Church because the Church, speaking as God's representative on earth, mandates you attend,

Chapter and verse please.

From the bible, of course.