Why do I hate church?

September 20, 2004

Every one of my weekends is ruined by church. From Saturday lunchtime I'm ratty, and by Saturday evening I'm very nervous, and often don't want to go to bed because of what's coming the next morning. On Sunday lunchtime I'm filled with a deep sense of relief, and I can get on with my life.

Why?

I honestly don't know. I've always been like this. I remember having tantrums about having to go every Sunday when I was quite young. I've never enjoyed church, or felt neutral towards it (except for a few weeks when I was at uni when I used to meet a certain young lady on the way).

In the style of "The curious incident of the dog in the night-time," here is a list of some things I don't like about church:

  • Talking to people
  • Singing

The first is probably a major part of it, and the second is completely minor. But really this doesn't explain it.

It's always been a totally irrational thing for me. I don't feel like I've got any great hurt from previous churches, and I certainly don't have any problem with my current church. In fact we've started going to a new service we've set up recently, and almost everyone who goes I either consider a friend, or would genuinely like to know better. I really like the people, and would like to have them round for dinner (after church, of course, so I'm in a good mood).

I wonder whether it's a "spiritual" thing, or a "psychological" thing in some way. I think my parents' attitude to church was always quite ambivalent.

Does anyone feel like me?

What can I do about it?