ChaoSkeptic

Ok, hopefully that title caught your attention a little. As a Discordian and a Skeptic I should 100% opposed to all forms of organization, especially religion. But I've got to admit that I am in awe of how powerful of a memeplex that organized religions can be.

As you know, yesterday was Easter/Eostre/Erister. I somehow got conned into wake up way too early and dragging my ass to my in-laws' Fundamentalist Christian church. (I'm not exaggerating about the fundamentalist part either. It said so right on the sign!) Like I said before, Christian rituals have zero effect on me so the service was rather boring. I was amused by the remark about "colored people" not liking the dead though. And I got my hopes up when he said there would be no Skeptics in Hell. That was until I realized what he really meant.

Anyways, the service was a bore. I'm not sure anyone really enjoyed it. However, the thing about the experience that really stuck out to me was the time before and after the service. Everyone was laughing, shaking hands, hugging friends and family that they hadn't seen since Christmas. That is the real reason that people get up and go to church every Sunday, to be with people they know. It is a social ritual that people do out of tradition. They do it so that they can belong to a strong cohesive unit.

I would wager that 90% of Christians could care less about theology and apologetics. They can spout off the typical talking points about believing in God and Jesus but few know about the philosophical underpinnings and that is fine for them. Church is a place you go every week to be with people you care about. It's a place to laugh with friends and catch up on the latest gossip. The service is just something you have to slough through. It's an excuse to show up, not the reason to show up.