Non-religious types, do you ever think it would be nice

Completely. I envy people their beliefs. I was brought up C of E, went to church school and attended church regulalry but realised at about 15 that there were too many elements I couldn't believe. I still have a kind of belief which is I suppose loosely based on what I learned as a child but it's not enough to make me belong.

I have no desire to be part of an organised religion, but I understand what you're saying about belonging to a community.

I used to be part of a large group of friends who met regularly, frequented the same places most of the time, with some aspects of nights out repeated weekly almost to the point of ritual.

We've now (mostly) grown up, moved on and moved away. I miss those days.

Of course - the sense of community is great. I think the closest I've got to that is living in a small village. Nothing approaching that where I currently live.

Oh yes, i completely see where you are coming from. And i love singing hymns and carols too.

mind you, I often feel the same about people who follow football teams. ?

I've read your replies and realised it's not really the sense of community, it's mostly the services and the singing. My word, I do love a big hymn ?

Organised religion seems to be to be so corrupted; man has put too much of a twist on everything so for me I choose not to be a part of it. I like the community idea of it and I must confess I absolutely love christmas carols and have enjoyed Midnight Mass when I've gone with my non-practising catholic H! My friend belongs to a church and they are all so friendly and welcoming. It's just what they believe in that I can't reconcile with myself.

For me that's replaced by attending Welsh international rugby matches. I'm only half Welsh but I love singing before a match. Perhaps you could try that? ?

When life hits you with tough times I often feel slightly jealous for a short while of those who have faith/religion, something they can 'hang on' to.

I don't mind attending church for services when my H's (Catholic) family have weddings, christenings etc but I just can't believe in a god!

Would joining a choir help?

Only one in a church ? I love devotional song. I think I'm in love with the feeling, IYKWIM.

Baron's closest really. Though I could go back to folk clubs and singing about Olde Englande, miners and poverty. That might work ?

I've never been that bothered by hymn singing but I quite enjoy listening to good choral music in a cathedral (harks back to my childhood church).

I also love the peace that sitting in silence at Quaker Meeting gives - it's very very special.

I wish I did believe in God properly now as then I'd probably join the Society of Friends - I love their politics and the fact that Quakers tend to practice what they preach but I don't have the key faith.

I completely relate to that. I used to spend a lot of time engaged in such activities and I have to say they were some special and happy times. Then I got married, bought a house....

I sing hymns all the time! (badly) I really miss that - especially at Xmas time. Until I was about 15, my religion was a big part of my life, and Xmas meant loads of services, school choir and orchestra and church choir. And of course all the non-Xmas hymns in between.

It really was like being accepted into a huge extended family too, and although I don't feel a particular need for that now, I still remember it fondly. And when I have moved towns, I've often thought how nice it would be to go to church and instantly be part of something. I went to my sister's methodist church to go to a (Secular) lecture with her - and everyone was so nice, clustering round me... not in a bible thumping conversion way, which is just as well as they'd have been sorely disappointed!

Although we'll being our child up without a faith at home, I'm secretly looking forward to carol concerts ?

I love bashing out a good belter of a hymn. Takes me back to my school days and mufti days where one of the boys houses did daft things. Couldn't do the church thing though, I just can't believe what they want me to believe. I am starting to doubt I have any belief at all... suspect that is more to do with current state of mind rather than actual faith.

I only miss it at Christmas, carol-singing and Christmas services on TV always give me a ridiculously happy feeling. In fact, I might be a total hypocrite and go to one, I do feel I would like my children to experience such things.

I grew up in a religious house, and I do miss singing hymns (in fact, I had a friend who was the same and we used to sometimes sing hymns on long journeys for fun - but obviously I would never admit that to anyone IRL!)

I often wish I could believe in God as I do like the sense of community but ultimately I just can't believe in any concept of a god-like being. Unfortunately I don't like sport so match day song-alongs are also out!

I went to Catholic school and so it was a big part of my childhood. As an adult however I have become an atheist as I cannot accept there is a God out there.

I don't think I miss having God in my life (seeing as I don't believe in him he would be rather superflous!) And I don't necessarily envy people who have faith to help them through bad times. I have faith in myself and my ability to see me through bad times. That's all I am able to control. Anything else I can't and will have to take it as it comes. That's all I need. I don't need to 'speak to or consult God' as apparently I have 'free will' anyway?

I don't think I miss the community which comes with church going either. I assume it is like anything else. I want to be with the people I have things in common with. So I have no need to be part of the church as it wouldn't mean much to me. That's not to say I don't respect other's beliefs, just that they are not for me.

I shall be singing away to the 'Last night of the Proms' tonight (8pm bbc2)

Oooh do this! You don't have to be Welsh, as long as you know where Wales is that'll be good enough - we'll take anyone!

I definitely understand where you're coming from, I often envy religious people, but it's not something I could ever be and sometimes feel a little uncomfortable if ever I'm in Church (for funerals/weddings)

I LOVE singing hymns and the like, especially at Christmas..... but like you, JK, am a complete non-believer in God, any God and have no desire to follow a specific belief system...

Just been reading this to H, who rekons:

a) we shouldnt miss being part of a community as hitched is a huge one...

b) we just all need webcams and microphones and could have a massive hitched sing-a-thon one evening!

Oh, I love a good church service - must be high church/orthodox* and ideally in Latin or another language I don't understand so I don't get bothered by what's being said. And choral music makes me want to cry - I love carols especially.

One of my favourite places ever is Jerusalem - I may be utterly godless, but it's an amazingly spiritual place and going to sleep listening to the sound of Armenian orthodox choral singing and waking to the sound of the call to prayer is one of my most treasured holiday moments.

* Though I reckon Quaker silences would do it for me too, and I suspect I wouldn't get irked by anything that was said at a Quaker service either - I've never met a Quaker I didn't totally like and respect.

I agree, the hymns were one of the bits i loved about photographing weddings ? i don't believe in god but i find religious buildings fantastic (last years holiday involved a lot of utterly amazing monasteries and you couldn't help but feel the spirituality there)

Strange- I was thinking this last week. On Thursday we attended the funeral of a lovely friend who died aged 48, of breast cancer. She left a 10 year old and a 17 year old child, as well as her husband who is devastated.

They are 7th Day Adventists, so the whole funeral was "well we will all be reunited with D, on resurrection morn"....but as I don't believe, I felt more upset, at the waste of a wonderful life and a wonderful person.

It would be so much easier if I believed.