My entire life, I had been following a certain church. Services were fairly calm and solemn, but not too much so. Church services were short, yet educational and I enjoyed my time there.
My father led this church, along with another man. They led it in accordance to what the Bible said, and thus, began a policy of refusing to marry those who had been married before and divorced (if the break up was their doing or fault) and similar policies.
The old men of the church had always agreed to these rules... until their own children grew up, and it turned out romance was a bothersome little thing. They began fiercely attacking the policy, amongst other things like the method of baptism (the church didn't approve of baptism the way it is actually described in the Bible, apparently) and music.
Thus, a meeting came. Many people who weren't even normally in church showed up, and every time a statement was made about how bad the policy was, they all cheered and clapped like children watching a slapstick comedy.
Some of the more ambitious (read: unfriendly) older people began collecting votes to present them to the church leaders. Soon they collected around 90 votes. I don't think I ever saw my father as sad as when they confidently presented their votes to him.
That's when I saw it. Whenever it's to their advantage, most anyone- whatever group they belong to- will drop their morality. They will drop that which they've proclaimed. I certainly didn't want to stay in a group so attached to its own ideas and its own traditions that they'd ignore the Holy Bible altogether. Even if you're not a Christian, you'll agree that it makes no sense for a church. And even worse, I knew these habits were in so many churches.
Our family left (although my father proved too weak to let go, and keeps preaching in the old church on the occasion; much to the annoyance of the about 30 people that left along with him). We went and found a new church, a Baptist one. I thought, "maybe this whole church thing has just one more chance."
From then on every Sunday, two or more precious hours of my life were wasted on watching people act as though they were on drugs. And stand, and sit down, and stand, and sit down, and repeat that song again and again and again! That's when I saw it. They were trying to get some sort of mental 'high', on purpose... by forcing their emotions, and throwing more and more on the pile by repeating songs again and again and standing, and putting their hands in the air and making strange motions.
This 'church' feel they're force feeding everyone coming there is an illusion. A mental breakdown caused by overexerting themselves. It was all nothing more than a freaking act, I realized, as they were actually saying that you were HELD BY THE DEVIL if you wouldn't stand up while singing. Soon as I became 18, I left. I'm never going to any church again... or maybe some time. Much, much later.
Do not misunderstand me. Jesus Christ has guided and protected me through this life. I can draw no other conclusion from the answers to my prayers, the protection always given and what I simply see in the world around me. So, Christianity... yeah, it's nice. But the church? I can do without.
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