Ellinas Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Well, as is no secret, and has been mentioned before, I accompany Mrs E to the local Gospel Hall Sunday by Sunday and remain tight lipped over questions of belief. Hangover from a mis-spent youth, basically.So, this morning we had a little conversation.She remarked that it was a nice morning and it would be a pity to waste it. To which I replied that I would go and get ready for a trip to the beach.Now, it is Sunday and the nearest beach is nowhere near the Gospel Hall, which is, presumably, why she decided to tell me that such a trip would not be good for my soul. Which, in turn, led me to point out that sitting in a Gospel Hall does my soul no good either.What ensued was a short investigation of motives for attending, during which I suggested to her that it was not for the benefit of her soul, but the maintenance of her social network - a point which she conceded albeit couching it in terms that her opportunity to have such social interaction was good for her soul. In other words, she gains some personal, psychological benefit.Which, actually changes everything and nothing. I now have the confidence that we attend only in order to maintain the social structures in which she was raised - and that is a position with which I actually have no great issue. And it confirms that, unless and until she sees her way past those structures, this will continue - which is a pain in the fundement. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilith666 Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Does Mrs E going only for the social benefit make it less soul-searing to attend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinas Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share Posted May 29, 2016 No. Hence it changes nothing. However, it confirms to my mind that I am right to take the approach I do and may permit a way through this in due time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyfan70 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 My wife and daughter are attending a new church - my daughter's friend goes there - but I have yet to go. I have a feeling that at some point I will be asked to go, and I might but I know my wife knows it will make me uncomfortable for a lot of reasons, so perhaps she won't. When she told me that the band started the service with the song "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode, I tried to be quiet but I ended up saying "Did they realize that that song is actually anti-religion?" Anyway, it's off to a bad start haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yunea Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 "Personal Jesus" played at a church?! They could play "Every breath you take" too I suppose... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyfan70 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 I told her that if they do a message about Jesus turning over the money changers' tables, they should play "Whip it, whip it God". She was not amused. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangitbobby83 Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 I told her that if they do a message about Jesus turning over the money changers' tables, they should play "Whip it, whip it God". She was not amused. Maybe not...but I'm betting many of us here are amused. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlindReason Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 They could play "Every breath you take" too I suppose... About twelve years ago I attended the Austin Stone and they did play it once. It was weird for me even then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinas Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 If you've yet to go, avoid like the proverbial plague. In my case, we married whilst I was still an enthusiastic member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOHO Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 "I told her that if they do a message about Jesus turning over the money changers' tables, they should play "Whip it, whip it God". She was not amused." Hockey! You funny boy! and BRAVE! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duderonomy Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 My wife and daughter are attending a new church - my daughter's friend goes there - but I have yet to go. I have a feeling that at some point I will be asked to go, and I might but I know my wife knows it will make me uncomfortable for a lot of reasons, so perhaps she won't. When she told me that the band started the service with the song "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode, I tried to be quiet but I ended up saying "Did they realize that that song is actually anti-religion?" Anyway, it's off to a bad start haha. HF, I just went and watched the Youtube video of this song with lyrics. I'd heard the song before somewhere but never all the way through. Not to go way off topic on Ellinas' thread, but why is this an anti-religion song? IMHO, the lyrics could go either way. Is it because of the band itself (of which I know nothing), or something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinas Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 ... Not to go way off topic on Ellinas' thread... Be my guest. I've no complaint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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