Why do people "church hop"?

[PJM]

People are seeking a spiritual home, a place where they feel they fit, are welcomed, and appreciated.

PLEASE read my reply on POST 37 {the OP}

GBY

 

[PJM]

By which I assume you mean, to keep trying things until you find something you like. If that gets old, pull out the pink spoon and sample more options until you feel full or satisfied.

PLEASE read my POST 37 reply {the OP}

GBY

 

[Rosebud77]

Hmmmmm,

Not sure that is a FULLY correct reply

I think the position os agreed on 10% BUT it does NOT have to ALLbe cash. If one contributes in other ways [ministries} too

And I KNOW contribuations to ANY other worthwile organization; like Pro Life and the Missions also count as a part of it.

Thanks and GBY

Paul, speaks of giving what you can afford…

biblehub.com/2_corinthians/9-7.htm

and Jesus in Luke 16

says it all…
[/quote]

 

[7_Sorrows]

I live in a town with only one Catholic church so I can’t look for another parish.

I think people want to feel they belong or are among like minded people.

I think there are many reasons people church hop or parish hop.

 

[MichaelP3]

Thank you.

a question if I may

Does TRUTH have to be singuklar per defined issue?

GBY

Not sure what you exactly mean there?

If I may take chance and answer how I understand it. All where I have been have always (maybe not always but if not I don’t recall) focussed on things we all will agree as true. Out of all its the Charismatic evangelicals that I find myself feeling the least “at home”. Although still nothing contradictory was said.

 

[PJM]

Searching for the best coffee and donuts at the church social after Mass?

I recon that as good any other

 

[CuriousMike]

I rather like the post suggesting that people go due our “consumerist society” and “need for entertainment.”

People often say they attend X Parish over Y because the music is more reverent or because the congregation behaves differently. Is switching to a more “traditional” setting the same as above, in that we are seeking “entertainment” in the form of peace?

Unless there was a significant incident at my Parish, I would not feel the need to attend another Parish exactly the same distance away. Occasionally I visit the Latin Mass chapel in my city, and have attended more often when the Mass times suit my plans for the day, despite the longer travel time. If I decide on attending a Daily Mass somewhere, I go to the nearest Catholic Church or Chapel. That’s about the extent of my “church hopping.”

Inter-denominational “hoppers” maybe aren’t seeking entertainment as they are a particular truth, one that fits their scope of the “fullness of truth,” regardless of its Biblical relevance or the understanding from the eyes of Sacred Tradition.

 

[Kielbasi]

I think there are many reasons people church hop or parish hop.

Unless you own a moving company, “parish hopping” would be a rather extreme habit.

Parishes are of course, by definition, geographic subdivisions of a diocese, just as Louisiana calls the subdivisions of their state “parishes” instead of counties.

I think you mean “church hop”.

 

[PJM]

Originally Posted by PJM View Post
Thank you.

a question if I may

Does TRUTH have to be singular per defined issue?

GBY end quote

Not sure what you exactly mean there?

If I may take chance and answer how I understand it. All where I have been have always (maybe not always but if not I don’t recall) focussed on things we all will agree as true. Out of all its the Charismatic evangelicals that I find myself feeling the least “at home”. Although still nothing contradictory was said.

Take any definable issue; can there be your truth ans MY truth?

SORRY I was not specific enough

GBY

Patrick

 

[Vera_Icon]

There are many reasons one would move from one church to another:
1: Change in doctrinal stance.
2: Unwanted drama interfering with worship.
3: Friendliness in one church lacking in one’s home church.
4: Distance and convenience sometimes plays a role.
5: Ostracism from one’s home church
6: Unwanted liturgical/ doctrinal changes made in a certain denomination.
7: Excessive requests for money that morph into demands.
8: Excessive relativism that states it matters not where you pray, as long as you pray.

People tend to drift in today’s society and with people enjoying freedom of worship, they are free also to change their place ( and/ or denomination) of worship.

I agree with your above list of possible reasons. I would like to add one that may not be very popular but I experienced it- language of service. Sometimes, if you immigrate, your denomination is popular among people of a language you dont understand very well. After a while you wish to attend a different church where you can grow spiritually- instead of using all your energy to translate the sermon. After an hour of translation, you may not even remember the most important message of the service.

 

[Padres1969]

FRIEND, I’m not sure exactly how to resond to this, so PLEASE do NOT take my comments personally

But much of what you, I {ME HERE} think you’re sharing revolves around, dare I say “personal likes and dislikes”

I asked the question {I’m the OP}, because it seems to Me {and many Catholics as well} that church worship ought to be Divine Worship, so excepting for theological and Moral errors advocated, what We {each of US} like and does not like seem highly irrelevant:shrug:

God Bless you

Some of it is likes and dislikes. Much of “parish/congregation” hopping can likely be attributed to likes and dislikes with the congregation itself, the homily/sermons, the coffee, etc…

And indeed for many non-denoms (or members of congregations that get mistaken for non-denom) I know similarly it can be simple matters of like and dislike that cause them to come or go. My cousin (by marriage) has come and gone from no less than 4 churches/congregations that I know of in the last 7 years. Mostly based on either likes/dislikes or simple geographical convenience. In fact he’s gone full circle and is now back at the megachurch he was attending when I first met him. He’s to my knowledge never had any theological or moral issues with any of his previous churches, he simply found the next church he attended had a better style or was easier to get to. Any differences in theology, which are typically small, don’t really concern him so much as its a community of bible believing Christians (even if they may have beliefs that don’t align perfectly with his).

But, not all the issues I listed in my last were simple matters of like or dislike. Many of the examples I provided were deeper moral, theological, social disagreements that go well beyond like or dislike. I hold myself as an example of that. I could be argued to have church hopped. But I certainly didn’t do it because I simply liked or disliked something about the Catholic Church. I did so because I always had deep theological and moral disagreements with Catholic doctrine and teaching, disagreements that grew over time to the point they were irreconcilable. I could no longer in good conscience call myself Catholic.

 

[simspt]

Why in your opinion do people “church hop”?

I can only speak for myself… As a former Protestant it was for better sermons…As a Catholic convert 5 years ago its for the same exact reason…better homilies…plain and simple. I have experienced some very watered down minimalist homilies at different parishes…what a disservice…I am reminded of what the CCC says regarding Scriptures

“For this reason, the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body. She never ceases to present to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God’s Word and Christ’s Body.”

Many times I have felt the liturgy of the word was given lip service…

 

[StGerardMajella]

Re: Why do people “church hop”?

I think parishioners want some level of stability and continuity when so much change happens in a short time frame.

I also think that many churches, like our secular society, leave some parishioners feeling “disconnected” from the larger parish community.

 

[PJM]

Some of it is likes and dislikes. Much of “parish/congregation” hopping can likely be attributed to likes and dislikes with the congregation itself, the homily/sermons, the coffee, etc…

And indeed for many non-denoms (or members of congregations that get mistaken for non-denom) I know similarly it can be simple matters of like and dislike that cause them to come or go. My cousin (by marriage) has come and gone from no less than 4 churches/congregations that I know of in the last 7 years. Mostly based on either likes/dislikes or simple geographical convenience. In fact he’s gone full circle and is now back at the megachurch he was attending when I first met him. He’s to my knowledge never had any theological or moral issues with any of his previous churches, he simply found the next church he attended had a better style or was easier to get to. Any differences in theology, which are typically small, don’t really concern him so much as its a community of bible believing Christians (even if they may have beliefs that don’t align perfectly with his).

But, not all the issues I listed in my last were simple matters of like or dislike. Many of the examples I provided were deeper moral, theological, social disagreements that go well beyond like or dislike. I hold myself as an example of that. I could be argued to have church hopped. But I certainly didn’t do it because I simply liked or disliked something about the Catholic Church. I did so because I always had deep theological and moral disagreements with Catholic doctrine and teaching, disagreements that grew over time to the point they were irreconcilable. I could no longer in good conscience call myself Catholic.

Completely agree with your second point

Your 1st point is a puzzlement to Catholics who are Informed and fully practicing, because we go to Mass, Literally to Meet Jesus in person, so everything else is very much secondary.

I CAN see changing if one is seeking GODS truths which logically and morally, can be nothing other than singular per defined issue:thumbsup:

GBY, and Thanks

PJM

 

[PJM]

I think parishioners want some level of stability and continuity when so much change happens in a short time frame.

I also think that many churches, like our secular society, leave some parishioners feeling “disconnected” from the larger parish community.

Please expand on your second point {i’m and missed it}

GBY

 

[Peter_J]

Some of it is likes and dislikes. Much of “parish/congregation” hopping can likely be attributed to likes and dislikes with the congregation itself, the homily/sermons, the coffee, etc…

And indeed for many non-denoms (or members of congregations that get mistaken for non-denom) I know similarly it can be simple matters of like and dislike that cause them to come or go.

I think C.S. Lewis set forth the matter well – albeit indirectly since it was in his “Screwtape Letters”. This passage for example:

… the parochial organisation should always be attacked, because, being a unity of place and not of likings, it brings people of different classes and psychology together in the kind of unity the Enemy desires. The congregational principle, on the other hand, makes each church into a kind of club, and finally, if all goes well, into a coterie or faction. In the second place, the search for a “suitable” church makes the man a critic where the Enemy wants him to be a pupil. What He wants of the layman in church is an attitude which may, indeed, be critical in the sense of rejecting what is false or unhelpful, but which is wholly uncritical in the sense that it does not appraise - does not waste time in thinking about what it rejects, but lays itself open in uncommenting, humble receptivity to any nourishment that is going.

 

[PJM]

Thank you:thumbsup:

Continued Blessings

Patrick

 

[Padres1969]

Completely agree with your second point

Your 1st point is a puzzlement to Catholics who are Informed and fully practicing, because we go to Mass, Literally to Meet Jesus in person, so everything else is very much secondary.

I CAN see changing if one is seeking GODS truths which logically and morally, can be nothing other than singular per defined issue:thumbsup:

GBY, and Thanks

PJM

Don’t see how it’s a puzzlement. I mean Catholics, and Protestants, go to mass to meet Jesus more fully. Catholics of course more directly than most Protestants but the principle is still the same. Christ is generally the focus. I think that’s why the “little things” end up being the motivator for Protestants to change congregations and Catholics to change Parishes. Within a denomination you’re going to meet Christ more or less the same way as any other congregation/parish in that denomination, but if you’re going to dedicate a portion of your life to that congregation/parish (not just for worship, but for other things outside the main Sunday service/mass), it would seem important that you are able to enjoy that to the utmost. Christ will be there regardless of the little things, but the little things can be the difference between a parishioner/congregant just showing up to do the bear minimum or being a full member of the parish/church community.

 

[PJM]

Don’t see how it’s a puzzlement. I mean Catholics, and Protestants, go to mass to meet Jesus more fully. Catholics of course more directly than most Protestants but the principle is still the same. Christ is generally the focus. I think that’s why the “little things” end up being the motivator for Protestants to change congregations and Catholics to change Parishes. Within a denomination you’re going to meet Christ more or less the same way as any other congregation/parish in that denomination, but if you’re going to dedicate a portion of your life to that congregation/parish (not just for worship, but for other things outside the main Sunday service/mass), it would seem important that you are able to enjoy that to the utmost. Christ will be there regardless of the little things, but the little things can be the difference between a parishioner/congregant just showing up to do the bear minimum or being a full member of the parish/church community.

Thank you!

God Bless

Patrick