religious services

[Chaigidel]

this thread is for the communication of interesting or odd religious services that you have participated in.

voodoo, christians(and protestants), muslims, jews, buddhists, and hindus(and whoever I missed for odd rituals)

please share your experience with religious services

*note you dont have to be religious to have seen one of these events take place obviously; so please share all.


I was raised in an Episcopalian which is like protestants who wanted to be catholics in a ritual sense; all of our services were very sedate and nothing like more "animated" church services and these are what im most interested in.

I know the sufi's get pretty dancy and wild, and this is similar to pentecostal ways of dancing and speaking in tounges-- so stuff like that yo.

[MonopthalmusLXXXVIII]

What do you want to know about Pentecostals? I am one. Feel free to ask questions.

[Chaigidel]

have you ever been to any super intense religious services? what was the most extreme case of reaction in one of these services?-- try to pick something that didnt happen to you so that you can act as observer ---

[MonopthalmusLXXXVIII]

Uh, well let me think for a second. Do you mean like speaking in tongues or things of that nature?

Well, I'd just like to say that we are not crazies and not fundies.

Something crazy always happens.

Uh well, sometimes when the pastor gives a really good sermon, they'll start the music up again, and everyone will start dancing, that will go on for a good hour. And no, no one passes out. (thanks John steinbeck for your views)

Speaking in tongues is very common, in fact the pastor will be speaking in tongues during prayer, during the sermon and during the music.

let me have a while to write to give you a scenario.

Well, Im not sure what you mean by super intense, every service is pretty intense unless the pastor is discussing something of importance.

I am pretty much an observer, as I never dance, and I pray alone.

Well, the service usually starts out with prayer, then we sing two or three songs. The pastor then prays, this is when he usually speaks in tongues. Uh, basically many people are speaking in tongues during prayer. Several people weep and shout while speaking in tongues, others are quiet. It is literally sometimes, utter mayhem, but organized.

There was one time that a woman spoke in tongues, and someone interpreted. When I first heard someone speak in tongues I was shocked. After a while I got used to it and even began to enjoy it. (I have never spoken in tongues, its not something that you just DO.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uam1vODjQzk&NR=1

Kind of like that, though I didn't hear anyone speak in tongues. Imagine that in a group of about 30-40 people and thats what my church is like.

[Dayman]

(I have never spoken in tongues, its not something that you just DO.)

Yea, it pretty much is. As is everything.

[MonopthalmusLXXXVIII]

Please don't try to bait me, it ain't polite Boeing.

[Dayman]

Please don't try to bait me, it ain't polite Boeing.

I'm not baiting you, if you can defend your beliefs why hold them? I can understand if you don't feel like debating about it, I get like that sometimes!

Anyways, I never understood the whole speaking in tongues deal. Obviously you think it's the Holy Spirit, but what is it? Can you understand it? I've always been intrigued by it.

[Chaigidel]

so you never really saw any snake dancing or what not---I see what your saying though; I doubt we will find too many who have experienced extreme religious hypno states

I have heard often of the "spirit" seizing the crowd and everyone is filled with energy and joy and dances the night away-- is that credited to the "holy ghost"?

[MonopthalmusLXXXVIII]

Yes. but we do get tired. Anyways, why do you ask? are you writing a paper or something? I am used to people saying pentecostals are crazy, so if all of TWC wants to say so thats fine.

[Irishman]

Well, Im going to see the Dalai Lama in April, that should be interesting.

Otherwise, there was a christian concert to which I was invited, this was right after I lost my faith and it was rather interesting to see about 500 people with their hands in the air. It really affected them.

[Gaidin]

Otherwise, there was a christian concert to which I was invited, this was right after I lost my faith and it was rather interesting to see about 500 people with their hands in the air. It really affected them.

Sidenote: my old campus chaplain(not the fire and brimstone guy) once said that christian bands had the hardest time of all latching onto the message of christianity when they write their music.

I thought it was ironic.

[Gaidin]

Only one phrase describes my church experience. Fire and brimstone.

[Irishman]

Well it was more ironic in the fact that for me, it was a punk band (Im not a fan of punk) called K something, I cant remember. It is an awkward position to be in to not like the message or the music.

(I have nothing against punk, its just not my style)

[MonopthalmusLXXXVIII]

Its glossalia. Look that up on wikipedia. Us pentecostals get a lot of flak for it. If someone spoke in tongues in a baptist church, they would be escorted back to their vehicle.

The speaking in tongues began after Jesus died, look in acts if you have a bible. No you can't understand it, but sometimes it can be interpreted. I have had some experiences that I cannot explain. I made sure to check my pulse and whether my eyes were dilated amongst other things.

And yes I was an athiest for a long time, mainly due to so many christians not behaving like Jesus would have wanted. And I won't tell you how I got into a pentecostal church, you would laugh, but the people there lived Jesus teaching. They were human alright, but I met some people that were truly doing there best.

Further, we are called satan worshipers because we don't follow the trinity.

And I am sorry if I came off as abrupt, I am quite sick.

[Dayman]

Its glossalia. Look that up on wikipedia. Us pentecostals get a lot of flak for it. If someone spoke in tongues in a baptist church, they would be escorted back to their vehicle.

I've heard of that. I'm not sure, I think charismatic Catholics do it as well.

The speaking in tongues began after Jesus died, look in acts if you have a bible.

I think that's a misinterpretation of that the apostles and co. were able to speak many real languages. Tongue being another word for language.

No you can't understand it, but sometimes it can be interpreted. I have had some experiences that I cannot explain. I made sure to check my pulse and whether my eyes were dilated amongst other things.

I'm sure it can be explained and all. It's probably like being in a rave

And yes I was an athiest for a long time, mainly due to so many christians not behaving like Jesus would have wanted. And I won't tell you how I got into a pentecostal church, you would laugh, but the people there lived Jesus teaching. They were human alright, but I met some people that were truly doing there best.

I don't think you were really an atheist then. But I know what you mean, there are people out there that really live their convictions.

Further, we are called satan worshipers because we don't follow the trinity.

That's ridiculous.

[Kiki52]

I once went to the New Life Church in Colorado Springs (yes, that same one where the guy was shot dead by Jeanne Assam) where I saw Ted Haggard before he got fired. That church is scary.

This happened a few years before the shooting happened there, but when I went there they seemed really mean. I only at that time attended a worship service with Ted Haggard, and I heard him at that time talking about how he needed to fire some people because they weren't that friendly. Another thing he spoke of at that time was that people at that time were leaving the church for some reason and New Life Church was losing half a million dollars per week because of lack of donations. I am surprised it hasn't become defunct and sold up until now. Mind you, this was when Ted Haggard was still the leader of his church.
Before Ted entered the room, they worshipped by getting off of their chairs and walking around and closing their eyes and dancing. It was like a chaotic moment. They had their hands up in the air.

I seen a lot of people who look like those security guards around, I saw this one woman there who was semi-helpful. You could identify them sorta easily, sometimes they wear this orange shirt that says SECURITY on there or wear this read thing and this black leather belt. But the woman next to her was was very rude I tried to talk to her, and the woman beside her looked at me like she was freaky or something. Not very nice at all. The woman who shot and killed the man, Jeanne, was wearing the same uniform as shown on a news photo but at that time I didn't know those were security I thought they were just bouncers or something.
But one scary thing, I was in the youth thing at the church and these girls were talking then one big tall security guy who looked scary said to them "Hey, you need to come with us" and I was scared.

So basically that was it.

[MonopthalmusLXXXVIII]

Well its true, I am evil cause I am pentecostal and I don't dare walk into a Church of christ. I am not ready for Martyrdom.

And the things I couldn't explain were not in a service, it was in a one on one with my pastor and I was quite angry at the time. And I am known for my ferocious temper.

And when people speak in tongues its not just jibber jabber, some speak in spanish, others in french or german. All kinds of things.

And yes I was an ardent athiest. My life had made me hate god, you would understand if I gave you a Bio, but then I can't.

[Irishman]

My life had made me hate god, you would understand if I gave you a Bio, but then I can't.

Sorry mate, your not an atheist if you hate God!

[MonopthalmusLXXXVIII]

That does sound sensible Irishman. You probly are correct now that I think about it.

But! I was adverse to religion in any shape or form, that much is certain. I was never religous before going to a pentecostal church anyhow.

[Dayman]

That does sound sensible Irishman. You probly are correct now that I think about it.

He is, remember an atheist has a complete disbelief in god. You can't hate something you don't believe in!

But! I was adverse to religion in any shape or form, that much is certain. I was never religous before going to a pentecostal church anyhow.

Well, that doesn't mean you were meant to be an atheist. You seem like you were what Irishman said, a deist with a grudge.