Went to 2 churches today

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First was Catholic. I used to be one. But man, it was not a great time. Their idea of mass is all wrong. Its ritual repetitiveness is not my idea of a breathing Church at all. The pastor got up and said a few things and then everyone is forced to give the exact same responses throughout the procession. The hymns are still nice, but the atmosphere is depressing to say the least. It was like being in the assembly of the dead, that was the feeling.

Then I went to my protestant church with the guitars and joyful hymns. With the off-the-cuff pastors preaching the word into my life. This was much more comforting and indeed relevant to my christian walk than the hyper ritualized mass of RCC. Where we talked about community projects openly and took the sacraments in unison.

I want to encourage every Catholic on here to please try going to a protestant church at least once. Just to see how different it is. I think you're going to find it much more liberating.
 

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I've been to dozens. I still appreciate and am thankful for the Mass.

I understand that Protestant worship services are generally lively and emotional. But I prefer solemnity and quiet, Christ in the Eucharist, that beautiful and other-worldly moment of consecration where our eyes of faith glimpse Heaven, and glimpse our Christ, and the grace of knowing that I am somewhere that has existed for 2,000 years.

I love you guys, though.
 
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chevyontheriver

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I want to encourage every Catholic on here to please try going to a protestant church at least once. Just to see how different it is. I think you're going to find it much more liberating.
Been there. Done that. Many times. Of all sorts, from dead and dreary Protestant services to incoherent ones to some reverent ones too. I went to one which had THREE collections and music so loud it hurt. I am where the Lord wants me, a place where the distance between heaven and earth sometimes vanishes, where Jesus is present, where I can worship in continuity with all of Christian history.

Turn about is fair play. I want to encourage every Protestant on here to please try going to a Catholic church at least once. Just to see whether Jesus is indeed there. I think you're going to find it surprising in the way disciplined worship works. You might find it strange at first, but you might find it more what you have always been looking for than you could have first imagined.
 
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dzheremi

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Completely aside from any Catholic v. Protestant thing (since I'm neither), we know from the early Christian writers and fathers such as St. Ignatius (d. circa 106) in the east and Tertullian (d. circa 240) in the west that the early Church around the world worshiped according to an established ritual (what would today be called a "rubric", I guess). This included hymns, preaching from/on the Holy Scriptures, and the partaking of the Eucharist.

People who study this stuff academically have traditionally divided the liturgies themselves into various 'types' -- e.g., Alexandrian, Antiochian, etc., which are known to have influenced each other such that there is a basic similarity to all of them, but they will vary according to indigenously written or prepared anaphorae (i.e., some things are particular to Egypt, or to Edessa, or to Antioch, etc.). Of the extant liturgies, the earliest we know of that is still in use today is that of St. James, the Brother of the Lord, who was bishop of Jerusalem during the first century and presided over the apostolic council which was held in that city c. AD 50 and is described in the book of Acts.

The liturgy of St. James is the primary liturgy of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and is served on special days in by Eastern Orthodox(a few times a year, if I understand correctly).

In Syriac Orthodox usage, from the Church of Mor Zakai in the Nineveh province, Iraq:


In Greek Orthodox usage, in St. Petersburg, Russia


A Protestant may look at these as 'dead rituals' or 'depressing' or something of that nature because they do not have guitars and upbeat songs and preaching, but what we're really dealing with is a fundamental difference in mindset: the Protestant who would say that likely wants to feel a certain way ('in the spirit' or whatever) during their worship services, while the traditional churches are not about feelings but about maintaining and passing on what we have been given from the Lord and His holy apostles like St. James, St. Basil, St. Cyril, St. Gregory, St. John Chrysostom, and the other authors of the anaphoras used in the various churches.

Obviously as a Coptic Orthodox person I am on the traditional side in a big way, but the point is not to foment conflict between people or churches but to point out why asking Catholics or people of other traditional churches which have maintained a sanctified liturgy to go to Protestant worship services so that they may feel how Protestants feel is likely not going to have the effect that you hope it to because the focus of the worship and the spirituality is not the same as in the type of Protestantism you are describing.
 
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Lost4words

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Catholic church, service, for me, is so amazing. Full of prayer and very Biblical in its layout, words and worship.

Can you imagine the early Christians having a 'Happy Clappy' type service? Lol
 
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nanookadenord

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First was Catholic. I used to be one. But man, it was not a great time. Their idea of mass is all wrong. Its ritual repetitiveness is not my idea of a breathing Church at all. The pastor got up and said a few things and then everyone is forced to give the exact same responses throughout the procession. The hymns are still nice, but the atmosphere is depressing to say the least. It was like being in the assembly of the dead, that was the feeling.

Then I went to my protestant church with the guitars and joyful hymns. With the off-the-cuff pastors preaching the word into my life. This was much more comforting and indeed relevant to my christian walk than the hyper ritualized mass of RCC. Where we talked about community projects openly and took the sacraments in unison.

I want to encourage every Catholic on here to please try going to a protestant church at least once. Just to see how different it is. I think you're going to find it much more liberating.

While not the same reason you have about the Catholic church, I started going to an Episcopal church and do still go, when I can. I left Catholicism because there is too much I disagree with.

It is very close to the Catholic church in so far as it is liturgical. There is a reverence there for sure. Some even have a few contemporary type songs for a more modern worship with hymns also being sung during the mass. I didn't think I would like it, but I really do.

This is not a come to the Episcopal church type of post for everyone. Just wanted to share with the OP another church he can try.
 
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rockytopva

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Catholic church, service, for me, is so amazing. Full of prayer and very Biblical in its layout, words and worship.

Can you imagine the early Christians having a 'Happy Clappy' type service? Lol

I like happy clappy....

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; - Ephesians 5:19-20

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. - Colossians 3:16-17
 
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Anthony2019

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I like all different genres and styles of worship, but I have a strong preference for the type of worship which reflects the awe and majesty of God.

If a member of royalty came to visit, we would show the utmost dignity, courtesy and respect. Why should we do less for our Almighty God?
 
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Can you imagine the early Christians having a 'Happy Clappy' type service? Lol

I'm sure they had plenty of joy in their service, if that's what is to be meant by "happy clappy"
 
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Anthony2019

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Catholics, and even many Anglicans such as myself, believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist. As we are remembering Jesus's death and taking the bread and the wine, we are called to be humble, penitent, to seek his forgiveness and to seek reconciliation with other members of His body. It is an orderly, structured service with a lot of thought, preparation and soul-searching involved - and quite rightly so.
 
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It is an orderly, structured service with a lot of thought, preparation and soul-searching involved - and quite rightly so.

How is structure and order conducive to spiritual experience during attendance?
 
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dzheremi

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How is structure and order conducive to spiritual experience during attendance?

Because the opposite is obviously a breeding ground for confusion, prelest, and/or demonic possession.


God is a God of order, not of confusion, convulsions on the ground, drunkeness, babbling nonsense, etc.

There is indeed a spirit involved in this activity, but it is not the Holy Spirit.
 
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God is a God of order, not of confusion, convulsions on the ground, drunkeness, babbling nonsense, etc

That's mainly eminating from one branch of Protestantism. The vast majority of Protestant churches do not drink that Kool-Aid.
 
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Anthony2019

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How is structure and order conducive to spiritual experience during attendance?
It depends what you mean by spiritual experience.
I go to the Eucharist (or Mass) because Jesus said in John 6:54 "Whoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day". It is a time of reflection and contemplation, prayer, forgiveness and reconciliation. Those who partake in this sacrament are meant to examine themselves and whoever eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body (1 Corinthians 11:27).
As for spiritual experiences, I have experienced a great sense of peace and joy when taking part in our communion services. But I don't go to church to look for these experiences. I go primarily to worship God and if He chooses to reveal Himself to me in some special way, then He will do it on His terms and not mine.
 
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dzheremi

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That's mainly eminating from one branch of Protestantism. The vast majority of Protestant churches do not drink that Kool-Aid.

I didn't say they do. The question was "How is structure and order conducive to spiritual experience during attendance?", so I wanted to show what the absence of order brings to show how structure and order safeguard believers from some really bad things that can come through the open door of free-form spirituality.
 
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First was Catholic. I used to be one. But man, it was not a great time. Their idea of mass is all wrong. Its ritual repetitiveness is not my idea of a breathing Church at all. The pastor got up and said a few things and then everyone is forced to give the exact same responses throughout the procession. The hymns are still nice, but the atmosphere is depressing to say the least. It was like being in the assembly of the dead, that was the feeling.

Then I went to my protestant church with the guitars and joyful hymns. With the off-the-cuff pastors preaching the word into my life. This was much more comforting and indeed relevant to my christian walk than the hyper ritualized mass of RCC. Where we talked about community projects openly and took the sacraments in unison.

I want to encourage every Catholic on here to please try going to a protestant church at least once. Just to see how different it is. I think you're going to find it much more liberating.
I attended a full blown Latin Mass a few years and thought that the spectacle of it all was awe inspiring. I also found the same in a Greek Orthodox meeting.
The happy upbeat pentecostal thing might be a bit of fun if you're in the mood to party but really it does lack that sense of awe and majesty of our King.
 
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That's mainly eminating from one branch of Protestantism. The vast majority of Protestant churches do not drink that Kool-Aid.
Actually, that's not so. Unless by "Protestant churches," is meant counting every splinter or a splinter of a splinter, plus every independent and non-denominational congregation. The majority of Protestants attend churches that have an orderly and dignified service based upon the ancient format.
 
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