I'm not a Christian but I need to start going to church

[11101]

Hear me out. The black church is one of the most important strongholds in the black community. You benefit more by being apart of it than not being apart of it. As long as you don't take what they say too seriously you'll be good.
Let's run over the pros and cons
Pros

• Networking. 80+ percent of black people are Christian. You'll have access to a large variety of people that you normally wouldn't meet anywhere else.
• You blend in. Try telling other black people you're an atheist and see how they look at you. No point in getting ostracized for that shyt.
• Activities. Church events can be fun at times
• The women. All them beautiful women in them tight ass dresses. And don't give me the look. If the pastor can lay pipe I can too
• The music/congregation. I don't care what anyone says the music and people in the church can be downright lit
• Instantly more aware of what's going on. The church is arguably the most important institution in black neighborhood. By going every week you can get a finger on the pulse of your community.

Cons

• Time investment. 2-3 hours every week. Not a big deal
• The collection plate. Solution: All you gotta do is hit em with when it come your way.
• Not actually believing what is being said. Solution: Despite being a non believer the Bible actually teaches some important lessons and can be interesting at times. You think all those politicians are really Christians? No but they understand the importance of the church. Besides half the congregation don't really believe either

I think it's clear the pros outweigh the cons. I didn't like church when I was a kid. I'm not a kid anymore. You guys can add pros and cons if you'd like. But regardless, I'm taking my black ass to church next week.

 

[MR. SNIFLES]

PRO TIP: CHURCH CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. JUST FIND ONE THAT IS ACTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

 

[CouldBeWorse]

Miss me with that shyt

 

[Easy-E]

As a non church going believer; you're right on the money for the most part.

I've been thinking about this over the last three days; there's only 3 legitimately safe spaces for black people in America, where white folk leave us alone and that church, barbershops and beauty salons.

I've have the theory that a lot of people are in church for the same reasons as you want to.

That undermines a lot of structure; ppl are there for a purpose that that other folk interrupt.

 

[semtex]

Naw

 

[11101]

PRO TIP: CHURCH CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. JUST FIND ONE THAT IS ACTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

 

[11101]

Miss me with that shyt

Explain

 

[CouldBeWorse]

Explain

I'm not christian and none of those pros are exclusive to the church or good enough to make me waste my time there either.

I can meet women,network, etc elsewhere.

 

[11101]

As a non church going believer; you're right on the money for the most part.

I've been thinking about this over the last three days; there's only 3 legitimately safe spaces for black people in America, where white folk leave us alone and that church, barbershops and beauty salons.

I've have the theory that a lot of people are in church for the same reasons as you want to.

That undermines a lot of structure; ppl are there for a purpose that that other folk interrupt.

I mean the structure was doomed from the start.You got one nikka taking money from everybody and telling nikkas how they should live based on a fictional book. You might as well milk it for the benefits homie.

 

[semtex]

I'm not christian and none of those pros are exclusive to the church or good enough to make me waste my time there either.

I can meet women,network, etc elsewhere.

Yep. Even as an introvert. Coffee shops and bookstores No-nonsense environments

 

[11101]

I'm not christian and none of those pros are exclusive to the church or good enough to make me waste my time there either.

I can meet women,network, etc elsewhere.

I mean church is a good place to do it. But if you want to do it elsewhere that's cool. We got options

 

[Larry Lambo]

Makes sense.

A lot of successful people have utilized the church as a resource. It's fairly safe to assume that not all of them were believers.

Only thing I'd warn is that you probably won't get "results" for a while, which is what stopped me from that playing that angle. Church relationships develop over a period of time, so if it absolutely bores you, then it will be tough to be motivated to keep going.

 

[BeeCityRoller]

The black church is positive because of the community aspect. The cookouts, programs, cleanup efforts, youth programs, etc is important on the local scale, but they don't go far beyond that. I'd be cool with putting a $15, $20, or more (but not 10%

) in the collection plate weekly if the efforts of the church made more impact on the grand scale. With there being more black churches per capita theres no excuse. Claude Andersons been saying it - the white conservatives down here make it happen, the jews make it happen, but we don't. Either you are in all the way or not. You say its about blending in, but the sheep mentality in our community is exactly why we stay stagnant and allow outsiders to change our ideology. Promiscuity, single motherhood, abortion, LGBT, all things that used to be frowned upon in the church that are now accepted largely because of influence outside the church. Believing in Jesus/God is the only requirement for entry into the black church - to me thats not nearly enough and shouldn't even be the litmus test.

I knew women would be listed as one of the reasons before I even stepped into this topic. If you are a decent looking, well dressed black man in the church you are in the minority. But I'm not a fan of carpetbagging in the Christian Church because these women are not bound to strict rules like in the Nation of Islam. And in the church thats not where your head should be either I know its been said before but these are the same women who were at the club twerking last night and have their sick-and-shut in grandma watching her kid during service.

 

[levitate]

Nah.

I'm not very good at feigning belief/interest.

 

[Easy-E]

I mean the structure was doomed from the start.You got one nikka taking money from everybody and telling nikkas how they should live based on a fictional book. You might as well milk it for the benefits homie.

I don't wanna go back in forth over atheism/theism, but, the structure of church in the black community is flawed.

Not enough building, too much telling ppl what to do in their lives.