Hotel vs Church

We know what happens to pearls in your house Footers.. Fnah fnah...

I don't need to explain myself anymore and neither should anyone. Just chill and accept!

Just never heard anyone try to redefine Christianity as "not a religion" before. The motivation intrigues me.

Well you will have to stay intrigued

My previous Rector used to say she had faith but was not religious. By that she explained that she meant she was not particularly moved by the trappings of organised religion, but that faitj and spirituality (based, obviously in her case, in belief in Christ) was the important thing in her life.

We had discussion at Lent course this week about the importance of a church building and where we found Christ. Interesting stuff. Footlong - i wish you were at our Lent course. I'd love to hear that!

This!

Thank you Amenesia!

It won't last long.

Seriously, if you heard someone say "Hinduism is not a religion", wouldn't you think "Hmm, what an odd thing to day"?

I think you have been posting things on here far too long!!

I'm not sure a church building is important or necessary, at least for those of genuine faith (those who profess a community-based faith may place more importance on it). But if you're talking about where you found "Christ", then you're subscribing to Christianity, whatever your location, no?

Beg your pardon?

?

WHAT?

I'm a Christian (so are others), Footlong is an atheist (so are others). For the (long) time we have been on Hitched we have had some memorable, interesting, enlightening and informative discussions about faith, religion and belief.

Christianity is a religion (there I said it) that encourages questioning and discussion and I welcome it.

Amnesia. My last post was not aimed at you..sorry

This is an extremely sensitive issue. I think the point of this forum is to share wedding planning ideas, not to start questioning peoples faiths! FTLOMB, as a spectator to this thread, I would say you have been extremely offensive and have gone beyond giving your opinion, you are just being rude. Also, open your mind to the fact that some people choose venues for a ceremony for other reasons than just pretty pictures, but if that is their reason, WHY NOT!?

To answer LexiP's original question (although I am sure now she is far too apprehensive to ask another one!) we are getting married in our local parish church. This bears no reference to our religious views or upbringing (to which neither of us have either) but because we feel that it is a very special building and place to say our vows to each other. Had we found a hotel, mosque, park or beach where we felt this, then we would have chosen there. My only suggestion to you would be to go with your hearts and do what's right for you as a couple. This is the important bit, not the rest of the day. Who cares if people have to drive 30mins to the reception, if they want to share your day with you, they will.

Good luck

No no, don't apologise to me.

I consider myself to be quite a robust Christian and can stick up for my beliefs. Hitched has taught me a lot! Discussion is part of it all for me and I never mind the oppotunity to explain why what I think is important to me.

I don't think anyone mistook who it was aimed at.

I wonder if the separation of "faith" from "religion" has any bearing on how the original question could be answered.

To others who object to non-religious people getting married in church: If you have "faith" but not "religion", and given that if you are UK born, you have been raised in a Christian country and therefore your "faith" is likely to be embodied somewhat by "Christianity", is it then more acceptable to get married in Christian church?

I don't see how she has been offensive, just because she has expressed a view?

I also don't agree with the other poster who said Christianity is not a relgiion! Even though you don't go to church every week, etc, you say you belive in God and Jesus and incorporate them into your life you own way, how is that not being religious/

My future FIL accompanies his wife to church each week but doesn't really believe himself. Does that make him more religious than you just because he goes with her to church?

The God of the Old Testament may smite you down for this. ?

I don't think I 'object' it as such but don't understand it. As someone said earlier, I don't understand how your wedding vows mean as much when you are declaring them to a God that you don't believe exists?

Please provide quotes where I have been either extremely offensive or rude. I don't see it at all. I have not questioned anyone's faith, other than as a matter of conversation. And even then,. I haven't questioned faith, I have questions about faith/religion. I'm very engaged in this subject, it's one of my favourite topics of conversation (others will vouch for that) and I don't believe I am anything other than sensitive, indeed defensive, about the right for people to hold whatever faith or religion they choose.

I will watch my back ?

I would say all of your above posts contradict this point exactly.

I didn't say you questioned anybodies faith, but you did continually question another posting into needing to justify her reasons for her opinion...that is rude.

I asked the poster three questions: if she is not religious, which god does she believe in? why the intriguing (and incorrect) assertion that Christianity is not a religion? how does that position translate to other religions?

They all seem fairly mild to me.

And since when was it rude to ask people to justify opinions?

Personally I'm offended at the suggestion made earlier that if you don't go to Church every week, pray every day, and read the Bible regularly, you're not religious. I don't actually like the word since to me it implies a restricted, prescribed way of thinking. However, I do describe myself as Christian. I believe in God and the teachings of Jesus. I don't go to Church regularly since most weekends I have to work, and others get taken up with visiting people. Does tins, however, mean I must only have a nonspecific faith, rather than follow a religion? What about people living in places without Churches? Or the housebound who can't get to church and can't read anymore? Can they not have a religion. Utter tosh, sorry.

Love the reply barefoot

Interesting, since I'm basically disagreeing with the points you make on page 3 of this thread. I am saying that despite terminology, if you describe yourself as Christian, that means you follow Christianity, which is a religion. Faith and religion are not synonyms on their own, true, but the Christian Faith and the Christian Religion are.

The thing is in life, does everyone live by a book totally, or follow rules totally. No as its not realistic. I have believe in God in my own personal way. There are aspects of Christianity in my life but it doesn't mean I follow the religious rules. There are so many branches of Christian faiths..which is the correct one? I choose to follow my heart and have faith. If I chose to pray thats not following a religion, its choosing to be spiritual.

What if none of them is the correct 'one'? What if Islam is the correct 'one'?

It really doesn't matter what it is the correct one as beliefs are not black and white...they are beliefs!

Being a Jedi, I wanted to get married on Alderaan. But unfortunately Darth Vader blew it up. ...sighs....