Went to Church for the first time in like 15 years!!

[Oeming]

And it wasnt so bad:) I guess I have been to church twice since 15 years ago, both for baptisms.

It was a Presbeterian (sp?) church and the first half was actually really cool- they played live music with actual musicians, there was a woman preacher, and it was all very positive without being gushy.
The second half was a bit boring, lots of talking and too many songs that were played against cd recordings- kind of lost its soul

It had more endings that Lord of the Rings:)

Im not a church guy, I dont like religion, although i consider myself a Christian - er, Christian "light" if you will.
But I know as a kid, it did help me out tons, I eventually shrugged off the religious guilt baggage- hoping it will help my son out in some way, whatever he decides to do.

Dont know when we'll go back again, but it was actually nice, all positive, not the "you and such and such are going to hell if you dont love Jesus" bits I remember as a kid:)

[Brandon191]

I've only been in a church once, and that was for a wedding. I don't really care to go back again. :)

[Oeming]

Yea, I understand, believe me:) But remember, I have some roots there and so a reason to go back, otherwise, I cant see myself doing it.

I still think what Jesus stood for and said (true or fictional) isnt really reflected in most churches today- they seem to have just become another political tool. Feel free to disagree:)

[Brandon191]

Yea, I understand, believe me:) But remember, I have some roots there and so a reason to go back, otherwise, I cant see myself doing it.

I still think what Jesus stood for and said (true or fictional) isnt really reflected in most churches today- they seem to have just become another political tool. Feel free to disagree:)

I agree, the way George Bush used his belifefs basically won him the election. It's very different up here, there aren't as many religous fanatics ( for lack of a better term), we are a lot more liberal then most states in the U.S. .

[Yano]

Heathen!

Well, I went to Catholic school for 12 years, so I'm guilted into it every now and then.

But I think that my Catholic education has really helped me be able to figure out what is complete BS and what is the real foundation of our beliefs. I have issues with the Church, especially how political they can be, but I still consider myself as a Catholic - you know, love your neighbor and crap like that.:p

[Jose Payan]

I agree with the church being too political. That's part of the reason I almost lost my faith. But I decided to believe in the church's teachings, regardless of the clergy's behavior. If the priest is good, cool. If not, fuck him and I won't let him affect me.

[Tschloendorn]

Everything I learned about religion I learned from George Carlin.

[Oeming]

I agree with the church being too political. That's part of the reason I almost lost my faith. But I decided to believe in the church's teachings, regardless of the clergy's behavior. If the priest is good, cool. If not, fuck him and I won't let him affect me.


I kinda seperate my faith from church teachings- probably why I dont go

[Jacob Lyon Goddard]

i actually started looking for a new church, just as all my sunday's got ruined by work

[Oeming]

Everything I learned about religion I learned from George Carlin.


what, you dont believe in an invisable man in the sky watching you? :)

[Tschloendorn]

what, you dont believe in an invisable man in the sky watching you? :)
Hey father?If god is all powerful can he make a rock that he himself can't lift?
Hey we got him now. :p

[Oeming]

Of course he can- but then when you say "hah, you you cant lift it" Then he'll lift it. Im sure he's a smart ass like that.

[Tschloendorn]

Me thinks you need to listen to some of the old Carlin stuff. :rolleyes:

[chucksatterlee]

I seem to have the minority view here, but I enjoy church and go regularly. Mike, do you remember when I was trying to get a Bible comic off the ground?

Anyway, I'm not a Jesus freak or anything, but I find great strength in faith and organized religion. Apart from spiritual strength, I enjoy the fellowship with others. I just moved to Iowa from Chicago (don't ask) and my son already has a ton of friends from church.

To each his own, though. It's all good.

[Oeming]

Me thinks you need to listen to some of the old Carlin stuff. :rolleyes:


I love Carlin- his god bits are great- but they are also his view, not mine.

[Oeming]

I seem to have the minority view here, but I enjoy church and go regularly. Mike, do you remember when I was trying to get a Bible comic off the ground?

Anyway, I'm not a Jesus freak or anything, but I find great strength in faith and organized religion. Apart from spiritual strength, I enjoy the fellowship with others. I just moved to Iowa from Chicago (don't ask) and my son already has a ton of friends from church.

To each his own, though. It's all good.

Was this the one with some other big name writers, it was to be an adaption of all of the books of the Bible?

My basic view is any manmade thing gets corrupted pretty fast. Certainly I think too much of the church is wrapped up in man-made laws, stuff that was made up and doesnt seem to have much to do with Christ or the bible. Im sure thats true of Judiasm and Islam.
Every view is welcome on my board though.

[Tschloendorn]

I love Carlin- his god bits are great- but they are also his view, not mine.
I wasn't saying it to force anything on anybody,I was refering to an old bit that he did.My fealing are pretty much do whatever you feel is right for you,and that's the last I'll say on the subject.I'm breaking on of my own rules to never talk about Sports,Politics,and Religion.

[Oeming]

I think its fair enough to express a basic opinion without getting into you know? I think we all did that:) My feelings about god, religion and how man have used it is all pretty varying, I dont have problems with any view be it monothiest or athiest.

[chucksatterlee]

Was this the one with some other big name writers, it was to be an adaption of all of the books of the Bible?

My basic view is any manmade thing gets corrupted pretty fast. Certainly I think too much of the church is wrapped up in man-made laws, stuff that was made up and doesnt seem to have much to do with Christ or the bible. Im sure thats true of Judiasm and Islam.
Every view is welcome on my board though.

Yes on the first thing. We almost had two publishers getting together, but in the end, the project was too big and Augustyn and I gave up. The price tag was something in the area of 13 Million.

On to your other paragraph. It seems to me that there is a lot of confusion out there because of man. Too many interpretations and too many man-made laws and such. I agree. I think, in the end, I go to church for fellowship and my relationship with my God is mine and mine alone.

I go to church to be reminded of God's love, but I also go to find friends to go have a beer with. It's definitely true that one doesn't have to go to church to be religous or to love God. That's why I NEVER push my beliefs on anyone. I just personally think that going every week and eating the Lord's supper is very uplifting. Regradless of the mass or liturgy, for me, if it's a good preacher and an interesting sermon and I get to eat the bread and drink the wine, I'm good.

Sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode from the man-made laws like the issue of a Gay Bishop. Who cares? Is he a good preacher? Like the idea of an un-married priest counceling people on marriage....

It is certainly true that organized religion has it downsides. There is no denying it. But in the end, we are given the great blessing/curse of free will. We can choose to do what we want.

I can certainly see why organized religion turns some people off. For me though, it's ALL about a personal relationship with God.

Now run away from me before I pull out my soapbox for real! (lol)

I think, for instance, Kevin Smith was saying this in Dogma to a certain extent.

[Jacob Lyon Goddard]

i can't wait for R Crumb's adaptation of the bible

[Jose Payan]

Yes on the first thing. We almost had two publishers getting together, but in the end, the project was too big and Augustyn and I gave up. The price tag was something in the area of 13 Million.

On to your other paragraph. It seems to me that there is a lot of confusion out there because of man. Too many interpretations and too many man-made laws and such. I agree. I think, in the end, I go to church for fellowship and my relationship with my God is mine and mine alone.

I go to church to be reminded of God's love, but I also go to find friends to go have a beer with. It's definitely true that one doesn't have to go to church to be religous or to love God. That's why I NEVER push my beliefs on anyone. I just personally think that going every week and eating the Lord's supper is very uplifting. Regradless of the mass or liturgy, for me, if it's a good preacher and an interesting sermon and I get to eat the bread and drink the wine, I'm good.

Sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode from the man-made laws like the issue of a Gay Bishop. Who cares? Is he a good preacher? Like the idea of an un-married priest counceling people on marriage....

It is certainly true that organized religion has it downsides. There is no denying it. But in the end, we are given the great blessing/curse of free will. We can choose to do what we want.

I can certainly see why organized religion turns some people off. For me though, it's ALL about a personal relationship with God.

Now run away from me before I pull out my soapbox for real! (lol)

I think, for instance, Kevin Smith was saying this in Dogma to a certain extent.

Wow, I agree with everything you said (typed?). Although I'm more of a "being a good person" type of guy. I use the church's teachings to enhance my core beliefs.

Now granted, you don't need to believe in God, or a god, to be a good person. The Catholic teachings simply works for me.

[Jacob Lyon Goddard]

as the only one here who has died...
God is real
he talked to me once

[Tschloendorn]

as the only one here who has died...
God is real
he talked to me once

You met Allen Riekman?
Cool.

[Jacob Lyon Goddard]

no, i died when i was 19

[Tschloendorn]

no, i died when i was 19
I did not know this.
You never mentioned that when we talked.

[Jacob Lyon Goddard]

I did not know this.
You never mentioned that when we talked.
i don't talk about it a lot

[Alec Stevens]

Hello, Michael,

We met briefly at the Philly Con two years ago!

An ironic title for this thread, as I've been regularly going to church for the past fifteen years! Presently, I attend Times Square Church in Manhattan (on 51st & Broadway) which is just a block or two away from DC Comics' offices. It's in the beautiful, historic Mark Hellinger Theater (which TSC owns), and about 8,000 people attend services weekly, the overflow crowd often in the three stories of the education annex adjacent to the theater, observing the services on jumbotron screens. People of over 103 different nationalities attend, which gives the fellowship a wonderful cultural diversity.

The music and musicians are top notch; my friend Todd Williams (saxophonist) has served as music director there for a number of years, having toured and recorded with Wynton Marsalis for eight years previously.

More info about TSC (as well as song samples) can be found here:
http://www.timessquarechurch.org (http://www.timessquarechurch.org)

For those who don't know me, I started out in comics and magazine/newspaper illustration twenty years ago, writing and illustrating two graphic novels for DC's Piranha Press line in the late '80s and drawing the bulk of Sandman #51 (reprinted as the lead story in the World's End collection), as well as a fourteen year stint doing editorial illustrations for The New York Times Book Review and full page pieces for The New Yorker and so on.

I surrendered my life to the lordship of Jesus Christ almost sixteen years ago, after much living (languishing is more like it) in the 'fast lane'. God has given me a peace that the world could not, and such a wonderful, loving family of fellow believers across the nations. Knowing Christ as my personal Saviour, the Bible is a living Book to me, not religious rhetoric. It is a joy to see the types and shadows of Christ in the Old Testament, not just the prophecies concerning Him, but the lives and situations of various O.T. figures which point to events in Jesus' earthly ministry circa 30-33 A.D.

>>Was this the one with some other big name writers, it was to be an
>>adaption of all of the books of the Bible?

>Yes on the first thing. We almost had two publishers getting together,
>but in the end, the project was too big and Augustyn and I gave up.
>The price tag was something in the area of 13 Million.

I saw some of this online several years ago; it was called Ikons, and the art looked good, Mike!

Some of my comics and illustration work, both secular and Christian, can be seen at my website:
http://alecstevens.tripod.com (http://alecstevens.tripod.com)

Kind regards,

A l e c <><

[ItsDLEVY]

I didn't know they let Christians write comics. I thought, like moneylending, it was one of those professions y'all forced us Jews into so you wouldn't have to get your hands dirty. :)

[Murdock's Girl]

And it wasnt so bad:) I guess I have been to church twice since 15 years ago, both for baptisms.

It was a Presbeterian (sp?) church and the first half was actually really cool- they played live music with actual musicians, there was a woman preacher, and it was all very positive without being gushy.
The second half was a bit boring, lots of talking and too many songs that were played against cd recordings- kind of lost its soul

It had more endings that Lord of the Rings:)

Im not a church guy, I dont like religion, although i consider myself a Christian - er, Christian "light" if you will.
But I know as a kid, it did help me out tons, I eventually shrugged off the religious guilt baggage- hoping it will help my son out in some way, whatever he decides to do.

Dont know when we'll go back again, but it was actually nice, all positive, not the "you and such and such are going to hell if you dont love Jesus" bits I remember as a kid:)


ahh you are a holiday christian then?
:)
im the same way. Stopped going to church every week after my dad died. the church and the parish that my family belonged to (and the school i went to for nine miserable years) left a really bad taste with me.
but i still get dragged because of easter or christmas, or another cousin getting first communion/confirmation, wedding or something.
hate having a big extended family for that reason.

so i just consider myself a holiday christian (by means of being dragged) studying buddism.
weird huh?
MG

[BlueNote27]

I was a staunch Catholic until about 8 when I went to a Christian camp and became a "born-again" Christian... I questioned my faith in a very adult manner for a few years, and now I'm a 19 year old Catholic, but I don't push church on anyone. I do encourage everyone to pursue a personal relationship with God, and if you find that church helps you in your spiritual growth, then go for it! In the end, God doesn't care if you go to church or not as much as he wants to just you know, talk, chill, and eat ice cream with you. ;)

[Murdock's Girl]

But I think that my Catholic education has really helped me be able to figure out what is complete BS and what is the real foundation of our beliefs. I have issues with the Church, especially how political they can be, but I still consider myself as a Catholic - you know, love your neighbor and crap like that.:p


I knew i loved you for a reason. :)

i just sat down now and started reading the thread...what upsets me most is that humans over the span of time have disregared the scripture, and of course misconstrued (sp?) what the scripture says.
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the KKK on jerry springer (not the best example i know, but ...) saying since in gensis that god created light before dark (which already messed up sentece) .... that whites are better than blacks...that type of shit.
ohhhh and the politics of a parish....my god...it would give the government a run for the money.
MG

[Murdock's Girl]

I love Carlin- his god bits are great- but they are also his view, not mine.

Amen to that.
I love Carlin--particularly this thoughts about the death penalty (ex: french fried felons) and balancing the budget.The man speaks alot of truth if you listen closely....but i agree with you mike...

although i wouldn't mind worshipping a sun god... :) :) :)
MG

[Murdock's Girl]

Oh and i just realized something.

Me and religion???? kinda like craig thompson in his blankets book.
yep thats me.
MG

[Angel]

i've only been to church a few times.my mom's catholic and my dad's southern baptist, so together they have a buddhist child.try doing the math on that one? :p

my parents taught us to believe in whatever we want.i think the combination of their religous background and having a child die kind of put them off of religion.i think they didn't find the comfort they needed from the church, so they wanted me and my brother to find it in any religion that works for us.

i like to read about other religions and i have no problem with people believing in whatever they want.i find it funny that a lot of religions hold alot of ideas in common, but each of them believes that they are the only ones that can be right.the only problem i have is when people try to force their beliefs on others.

i just see it as many paths to the same destination.who cares how you got there, just that you get there.for me that path is buddhism,it doesn't make it right or wrong,just what works for me.

[Mister Mets]

Glad you found a nice church.
I'm Christian "lite" too I guess, and the churches I've gone to just bore me.

[Taxman]

I've only been in a church once, and that was for a wedding. I don't really care to go back again. :)

Maybe this is just becaue you never want to get married.

[Brandon191]

Maybe this is just becaue you never want to get married.

No. If I meet a girl I can picture myself with for the rest of my life, I would have no problem getting married.

[Thudpucker]

I'd like to find a Church that matches my idea's of Christianity someday. Until then, I'll just stick with being a Christian that doesn't actually attend meetings.

[batphone begins]

i feel bad for people who think god is real :(