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In the United States we have the fabulous possibility of attending more than one church service with the freedom of religion. Do any of you do this, what is your commitment?

I'm not sure what you mean. Here's what my partner & I do, and perhaps you can tell me how that fits into what you're saying.

We are members of an MCC (Metropolitan Community Church for GLBT Christians, that mostly follows a Protestant liturgy). We were both raised Catholics.

We also attend Jewish services with our friends, and my partner sometimes sings with his nondenominational gay chorus at a local temple. I find Jewish services very moving, and I always look forward to being invited.

Last Sunday my partner was godfather at a christening in a Methodist church, to which we do not belong.

Some years back, when I was living with a Lutheran boyfriend, I would read from their church pulpit during Sunday services. He was a member of the church counsel, and his family had actually built the church over 100 years earlier, so his wish to employ my professional voice for them was permitted, even though I wasn't a member.

BTW, I have especially fond memories of those services. After my reading, I would retire to the back of the church, where he would join me. Then we'd go up to the choir loft, seldom used at that time, the 2 of us sitting up there all alone. No one in the main congregation below could see us holding hands, something that rather conservative Upper Midwest farming community would never have graciously accepted.

Still, they were lovely people in all other respects, and I happily attended many church breakfasts and suppers there, and greatly enjoyed their company. I believe they all knew my BF was gay, and exactly what I was to him, but in true Norwegian fashion they never said a word or acted badly to us.

The rule seemed to be that nobody said anything about others, unless you went out of your way to let them know something unpleasant to them. They never sought out bad things about others. A kind of home-spun "don't ask, don't tell."

Well, I ramble as usual. But to answer your question, I've attended many different services, though never Muslim so far. I view it more as a social event, rather than a religious one, not being a religious person. I suppose that's why theology means almost nothing to me, unless it's vehemently anti-gay, or hateful of other human rights that I support.

I attend an Unitarian Universalist "church". I've also attended Dignity (gay Catholic) and AGLO (Archdicesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach) with friends. Planning to attend my Grandmother's "Cowboy Church" this weekend when I vist her/my parents in Texas this weekend. My commitment level to UU is moderate. Eventhough UU is very liberal with strong humanist influence sometimes even the minimal "God talk" a little much for me. I would be interested in attending a total humanist "church" like the Ethical Culture Society. Unfortunately though there isn't one close by. Overall, I am contant for now with UU but if a Ethical culture society were to start closer to where I live I would give serious consideration to changing.

On the occasional Sunday I will go to a UU church, then for a hike out in the TX Hill Country.

So yes. ;-)

(edit: And I worship Jewish guys. So, ha.)

I have been to all kinds of services. Generally, people are willing to let you into their church as long as you are polite. So, I have been into Catholic, Orthodox (Greek, Russian, and Ukrainian), and several Protestant churches, a very liberal Jewish temple, a buddhist temple, a Hindu shrine, and dozens of pagan gatherings.

Thinking about that reminds me that Chris Hitchens sites that he has as well, and he is still a gas bag. Ick.

i'm a member of a non demoninational church.

sometimes i also do go to temple on a saturday if i'm not too busy.

Gay Church (the gym) and Geek Church (Hastings).

I come from a multi-religious household. My mom is Jewish and my dad is Catholic. Surprisingly they have remained married for almost 30 years despite all that! Regardless I grew up attending and participating in both religions. When I was old enough my parents gave me the right to choose. I chose neither, but I had the option. My twin went completely catholic, baptised her child and now teaches God school, as she calls it. I think my older sister will eventually go Jewish. She is way too much of the quintessential JAP (Jewish American Princess!)

Where I'm at, I can only attend about 2 church services because their usually on Sunday around the same time, some though have two services in the same day. If you are citizen in the USA you typically are making deals with people outside of your niche almost everyday, which leaves out any passion in "Missions" from common culture, unless the household is living on foodstamps and welfare. Employment opens you to many walks of life.

CreaseHem saidIn the United States we have the fabulous possibility of attending more than one church service with the freedom of religion. Do any of you do this, what is your commitment?

Church is a Christian term, your thread topic would seem to indicate all religions and not just Christianity. Having said that, I still consider myself Catholic, but I am very interested in many aspects of Buddhism. I often go cycling past Resurrection MCC, and may drop in one Sunday.

I had a BF that called the multiple orgasms the "holy grail" but we never called it a religion.

I am muslim and go to the mosque on Friday's, but my partner is more or less catholic...doesnt really practice but we do stuff for Christmas, put up a tree etc

Sunday mornings usually have me attending the church of the bicycle

Hey CreaseHem!


I'm christian and also a member of the Sikh philosophy network.

I know just what you mean. It is pretty fabulous to be able to explore more than one faith.


-Doug of meninlove

I was brought up Roman Catholic, and I took in the teachings of Catholicism. Yes, it upheld the doctrines of the Trinity, that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary to die on the cross for our sins, his resurrection and ascention to heaven, the Apostolic Church interceding between God and sinful mankind...in short, everything one could consider Christian.

But there was a problem...

What would happen when I die?

The Catholic church taught that if after living a time of holiness and then commit a mortal sin, then die before undergoing Penance (a course of good works and specific prayers offered to God and more so, to the Virgin Mary to restore my saving grace) then I would go to Hell without a hope of redemption.
With an attitude like that, I grew up believing that God has got it in for me (and sometimes I still believe this now) and by the time I was a teenager, I had become an atheist.
It was by reading the Bible (in many Catholic countries, not endorsed by the Church) that I was converted, and started attending Protestant churches, which teaches that salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ only.
As a result, although I attend a Baptist church, I can equally be at home in a C.of E. church, a Methodist, Presbyterian, Reformed or of any denomination. I have even been to Catholic services, especially while travelling abroad. I love the artistic interiors of Eastern Orthodox churches, and I had visited a few of those in Israel. I have been inside Islam mosques, but being non-muslim, I never took part in their services, neither was I allowed to. As for Judaism, just stand at the Western Wall in Jerusalem at the start of the Sabbath, and basically, you are partaking in their prayers and rituals, as strictly speaking, the Western Wall and the forecourt in front of it is a synagogue.
No matter what others say about religion, there is something about people worshipping a deity according to what they believe which is so uplifting to the spirit.