| In my ideal church, everyone would be welcome; help | | | | are selfish, vain, and greedy displays as well as a |
| would be offered to all. The church would not pressure | | | | misuse of donations, bordering on criminal acts. They |
| or guilt anyone into making donations, or make people | | | | give religion a bad name. A large number of people |
| feel they need to give more, to get more. Our church | | | | stay away from religion due to these misguided and |
| wouldn't be built on money like so many others are | | | | sometimes even corrupt individuals or organizations. |
| today; we would seek to build a nice simple church | | | | The news is full of church misuse of funds, cover-ups, |
| that would make people feel comfort and at ease | | | | and other negative instances. |
| when they enter, and full of joy and hope when they | | | | The children and young adults of today are receiving |
| leave. Our mission is to give the hope, guidance, and | | | | mixed signals about religion, they are told to believe in |
| unending support needed to all we meet, inside or | | | | god and to follow his beliefs, yet they see that so |
| outside of the church. | | | | many of these religious leaders are not practicing what |
| My belief is that God does not want to be feared or | | | | they are preaching. Could this be one of the reasons |
| worshiped as so many religions would have us believe. | | | | for the deterioration of society? People need guidance, |
| I have to believe that God is like a father watching | | | | and they need positive role models. We need to bring |
| over his children, and all he really wants from us is love | | | | religion back to respectability and hold our religious |
| and respect, as well as our being as morally pure as | | | | leaders to a higher standard. |
| we can. The most important thing we can do for him | | | | Religion shouldn't be something we dread, it should |
| is to be the best we can be, and to help our fellow | | | | offer a fun, enlightening, joyful time where people from |
| man to be their best. | | | | all walks of life can come together to learn of gods |
| There are too many churches out there that offer | | | | ways and of each other. There should be no pressure |
| their help with one hand while asking for money with | | | | placed on anyone to do or say anything. Going to |
| the other. Too many televangelists on television who | | | | church should be a time of ease, where we can relax |
| put on a huge theatrical production of what god wants | | | | and be ourselves without fear of judgment. What |
| us do, only to manipulate us into sending them money. | | | | good is church if you are putting up a front and are not |
| Do you really think the so called blessed jewelry they | | | | truly honest about who you really are inside. You |
| offer (for a small donation of course) will really help | | | | shouldn't be afraid to go to church because you can't |
| you? These people use religion to get to you, and to | | | | afford to make a donation or your clothes aren't nice |
| your wallet. | | | | enough. Church shouldn't cater to the privileged, |
| We then have the big churches, the ones who receive | | | | everyone, no matter their race or circumstance should |
| massive amounts of donations. Why is it they feel the | | | | feel welcome and embraced. Let's take the fear and |
| need to spend so much of these donations on making | | | | embarrassment out of going to church and replace it |
| the church so extravagantly beautiful? Is it vanity, | | | | with a spirit of hopefulness, and excitement of learning |
| greed, or is it because they think it will bring in more | | | | more about ourselves and forming new friendships |
| parishioners? Maybe it will, but I would rather all that | | | | with others. |
| wasted money be used to help the people in need. | | | | We all need help and support sometimes in our lives, |
| And of course many of these preachers need a big | | | | the church should be one of our greatest sources for |
| fancy house, an expensive vehicle, and even an RV, in | | | | both. People do need people, and everyone needs |
| order to better help others. | | | | something to believe in. Let's help give god and the |
| All the big extravagant displays of how well their | | | | church the chance to offer both. |
| church is doing does nothing to help the needy. These | | | | |