health clubs/leisure centres/supermarkets/DIY stores/pubs/nightclubs/cinemas are more important than churches?
345496
They are more important to the tax collector, however churches are very important because they give society a connection to something that is more important than just the day to day wants and desires.  Life is more important than just what you own, or what movie you saw last, or the last party you went to.
632235
probably. I'm from the UK but I don't go to church. But I would have thought so.
55957
Most churches I've neen to have a social gathering after mass. For example...my church offers free coffee and donouts afterwards. The other cathloic church has a pancake breakfast afeter each mass
16908
GO TO THE LOCAL CHURCH
256154
Christianity is a lifestyle, not a club.\n\nTeaching children to make right choices in a world where everything, including themselves, is expendable, is a difficult job.\n\nChristian education is important in that you have to have the strength of character to stand by your morals when the whol world attacks you.
131384
You need to check the local zoning ordinances.  It's one thing to conduct a weekly bible study or an occasional "worship" service, but quite another thing to run a church from you home.
536444
As a Christian, I have to say the Christian Church.  The denomination doesn't really matter.  The differences are not of the essentials of the Christian faith level.  They are minor differences so Baptists, Presbytarians, Lutherans, Pentacostals, etc. are all part of the true Church of Jesus Christ.  I might add that Mormons, though they like to claim to be Christians, are not Christians.
1079814
I don't know about "church," but in Christ you will find the real Divinity, not the imagined. The church is the place where the family dynamics work to help you grow into the "new" creation...when it is not just a social club.  Finding the right church is as important as finding the right Jesus.
124428
If you are a student or have a job working around lots of people, or if you have lots of friends in that area, I'd ask them.  Anytime I've needed to find out about going to church, word of mouth was the best incentive for me.  I would talk to people about whether or not they found the services to be moving or not, and then I would just go on their word.  I mean, they go there regularly, right?  I would hope they'd be able to make an informed judgement about something like that.  \n\nGood luck, in your search for church!  (Hey, that rhymed!)
595088
There are second, and third Baptist churches and the like, but this is all a tradition back when the first churches ever were being established in this country. Pretty soon, if a town didn't have your denominations church, it was time to plant one, making it, again, first. Nobody really cares about that anymore, and a lot of churches which are 150 years old called First Church of something, are beginning to change their names to something more relevant and meaningful to their culture. Denominational names are starting to go the same way, since the unchurched public has no idea what any particular denomination believes compared to another anyway. Something like Friendship Community Church would mean more to a person today than, for example, First Presbyterian Church.
273536
You don't need a church to be a Christian. You can stay at home an read the bible an pray to the Lord be a good Christian. All a church is so that people can congregate an worship the lord together in one spot.
97383
I think it's great to go to several churches. It's also great to find one that you consider your home church. You can do this without turning your back on other denominations. The church needs more people like you who are not only willing, but excited to cross the denominational lines. Afterall, unity is so important!
1119075
yes there is a difference. The religious named hospitals all have religious names and the nonreligious named all have nonreligious names. What do you mean by "Religions?" If your wanting to know about Christian ideology and its involvement in the nuts and bolts of administration or patient care state it as such. I tend to think you are disturbed that those pesky Christians are involved in every area of life. If I was a Christian worker in the hospital I would give you the care  you needed. Would you in turn refuse to care for a injured christian if it was your job to provide care for the injured?  Love never fails you know
171695
Absolutely.  Even though I currently live in Canada, I've always wondered why everyone has to pay except churches.  It's not like they don't make money.  They certainly do.  Now, maybe the church members are getting fleeced, but a lot of those pastors live mighty high.  And to the poster above, most legitimate churches do teach morals.  Anyway, thanks for the two points.
681406
grocery store or church.
506474
Check with some of the other Denominations. I am involved in the ACTS Retreats in the Diocese Of Victoria and we use a Methodist one and two Baptist ones besides our Retreat Center.
142895
Are you crazy?  Only 10% of Catholic even go to church each Sunday.  Are you asking why are they not preaching on street corners, or knocking on doors.  I accept there would be value to that.  \n\nThere are some small groups, Legion of Mary for example that visit homes and encourage prayer and practice.  St Vincent de Paul Society carry out welfare work in the name of the Church as well as praying together.  Orders of Nuns have set up Hospitals.  Many orders (nuns and brothers) set up schools.  Chaplains and lay-people are appointed to help Seaman at ports, the blind, defence forces personal, Scripture lesson at state schools- buy the thousands, the elderly, the deaf, the house bound, prisoners; there are priest scientists, church sponsored counsellors, marriage guidance, pregnancy help, I'll stop...  it surprises me just how many Church Ministries are carried out without making a big fuss.