Posted on 04/06/2013 3:19:57 PM PDT by NYer
It may not be the reason you think.
The Rev. Stephen Fichter understood just how dominant a role sports has assumed in the culture when a family told him they would be out of town Good Friday to Easter Sunday to attend their child’s volleyball tournament.
“It’s truly sports that has become like the religion” for many people, said Fichter, a researcher and the pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Haworth, N.J.
From youth travel teams to big-time national festivals such as the Final Four, sports have been making increasing inroads in the busy lives of many Americans. Some scholars even trace the evolution of sports from pastime to a form of civil religion to now having become almost a folk religion.
And it is having an impact on religious groups, which report increasing difficulty convincing families that are willing to spend half a day traveling to a 9-year-old’s softball or soccer game to make time for worship services.
Some congregations are meeting the challenge by offering alternative service times and their own sports teams and programs. But many despair of their ability to compete in a culture increasingly consumed by athletics, with its multi-million dollar idols and its own sacred relics. Witness the Babe Ruth jersey that sold last year for $4.4 million.
In a study of 16 declining congregations in the U.S. and Canada, the reason most cited by clergy and members for falling attendance was the secularization of Sunday, with many identifying children’s sports as most responsible. Researcher Stephen McMullin of Acadia Divinity College in Nova Scotia reported the findings in the current issue of the Review of Religious Research.
“(Parents) will make sure Johnny goes to sports, but when it comes to church, I’ve just seen it over and over again, and even in our own congregation, the families that have children in sport will sacrifice church for the sake of their son or daughter’s sports program, so sports is another huge reason why our church is declining,” one pastor said.
There were few Easter Christians, individuals who show up for worship one or two days a year, among the earliest followers of the faith.
Facing penalties “like hanging — that tends to clear the head,” the Rev. Aidan Kavanagh, the late liturgy professor at Yale Divinity School, dryly observed.
Christians in the United States no longer need fear persecution for missing services. Demanding schedules, many of which revolve around youth sports, are the new competition for congregations.
Fichter surveyed 341 Catholics in one congregation who reported attending only on Easter and Christmas. He said he thought many people would cite disagreement with church teachings or negative experiences. But only 7 percent of respondents gave either of those reasons.
More than two-thirds said the reason they attend only twice a year was that they were too busy with other commitments. Sixteen percent admitted they were lazy. Fichter reported the findings at the joint annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Religious Research Association.
Check out an early morning Catholic Mass. Usually no singing, and 4 guaranteed different Bible passages each week - OT, Psalms, NT, and Gospel. If you get the right priest, you may even hear a good sermon and be outtathere in a little over half an hour.
I too am single and, oftentimes, sit by myself. My purpose in going to church is to worship God. When I see others sitting by themselves, I go over, introduce myself and thank them for joining us that day. One woman broke down in tears, saying that, up until then, no one had ever made her feel welcome in any church. She, and a few other single women, are now my pew partners. Give it a try! You may discover a new friend in the process.
When God was eliminated from the classroom, children could not learn of our Christian heritage. At one time children could encourage their parents to attend church.
Why should people go to church when they hear that many churches are “changing” with the times? God’s Word does not change, only our attitudes.
Maybe because it's full of so-called 'Christians' who call gay people "queers" and "fags..."
And full of 'Christians' who insinuate that those who suffer from mental illness are "Satanic..."
And full of 'Christians' who call those who attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings "losers."
Oh wait, that's some of the Christians here at FR.
Never mind.
oops. meant each day.
The purpose of gathering in church on Sunday is to worship God. If you have heard the sermon a gazillion times before, it may well be the first time someone else, absent for a long time, is hearing it. Rejoice in the knowledge that you still have a church in which to worship God. Given the secularism of our contemporary society, those days may soon come to an end. Go! Do it out of love for our Savior!. He never promised good sermons.
"gay people"? Oh yes, the historical term used by Homer, Cervantes, Shakespeare, Joyce. Gay people, indeed! How about the scientific term 'pederasts'?
My bad as well, as I am guessing you are a lady and Ok with that excuse. :)
I stopped going to church because Christianity or what it used to be, has been over-run with money grubbers, marxists, and homosexual agenda supporters.
I am tired of the churches trying to raise money from me to run “outreach” programs for the poor and for missions in places that turn out to be marxist crapholes.
Further, they are unwilling from the pulpit to condemn islam, and to attack its tenets directly.
So I walked. I get the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormons who come to my door and I ask them about islam and their willingness to go forth as christian soldiers. They are not. So, I will not participate, nor will I fund institutions which do not follow the bible, nor attack marxism or islam.
I hear ya - some of the parents in my 1st grade religious-ed class bring the child to class, but skip Mass! We have class every Sunday between the two morning Masses. Not the child’s fault, but there are times when I would love to teach the parents in class instead!
I’m shocked.
We demand to be entertained, 24x7, and church doesn’t even do that well once a week on Sunday morning. I remember when entertainment was reserved for the weekends. It is now everywhere, all the time, low attention span, earphones, smartphones, which so many swear by, telling us about needing them for emergencies, used mostly if not exclusively for entertainment.
I think sports is more symptom than cause.
The biggest single reason for the decline in faith is secular schooling. If homeschooling was widespread, our faith lives would be much improved.
When did attending church on Sunday turn into entertainment? The purpose of attending Church is to worship God. Jesus commands us to celebrate the Eucharist by saying "do this in memory of me." Scripture says "Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.
If you went to church more often you’d know that a) the Latin Mass is becoming more widely available now. The mass of your youth, and I’m not talking about those SSPX break offs.
Try and see if there is a parish run by priests from the Fraternal Order of St. PEter’s — fully in Communion with the Vatican.
http://fssp.com/press/locations/
Or if there isn’t one in your area in some parts of the country (particularly the north east, but also out west and other places) try eastern Rite Catholics — again, they are fully in Communion with Rome, and make the old High latin Mass lame by comparison. Ukrainian Rite, Maronites, etc. only the priest administers Communion, and not a guitar within a zillion miles.
Solid preaching from all these, and no hand shaking business.
If you don’t have any of these options, always try the early Mass Sunday morning. No guitars, and easy enough to sit apart from people if you don’t like passing germs handshakes. If you look around you should be able to find one to suit.
Ask yourself: Was Jesus Christ too lazy to die on a cross for you? If the answer is “no, He was not too lazy” then you ought to say thank you at least once a week by getting up off your butt and get it to Mass to say thank you and worship Him. You are letting the devil cut you off from the sacraments by giving you excuses. Come home.
I GO TO CHURCH TO WORSHIP GOD, MY LORD AND SAVOR. I go for me! I go to a Bible believing, King James Bible Preaching church. The church I go to there are no clicks, everyone is equal and everyone is welcome be it the first time or those who faith full attend. I miss the fellowship of my Brothers and Sisters in Christ when I am not there, which isn’t often. People can and will find all kinds of excuses, I’ve just read several. Phooey, an excuse is what you make it or want it to be. I do shy away from the mega Churches, I shy away from “feel good” preachers. I want to hear the truth, I want to often times feel uncomfortable, Is God talking to me through the Preacher. As for singing, “Make a joyful noise,” you’ll feel better. Go to church!!!!!
In the news. IN THE NEWS. IN THE NEWS! So MSM is good for something after all, isn't it. Having a cake and eating it, too!
Last week and this week it will be because I don't feel like sharing.
I have pneumonia.
If you read the Bible you will know that only about 1/3 of the entire population is saved.
Every knee will bow, and all will confess that Jesus is Lord, but they might come to that realization a bit too late- and there will be great gnashing of teeth.
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