I went to the Catholic Church and... (page 2)

BabaYaga

Awakened said, "I thought that the musical presentation created a sense of spirituality that is totally absent in the rituals of Kingdom Hallism."

Exactly... but that's just it, Awakened... there IS NO RITUAL in a Kingdom Hall... if there was ritual, it would be more liable to induce a feeling of connectedness. I believe all of us need ritual to grow and progress in this life, and at the Kingdom Halls... they are TERRIFIED of all ritual. Even the Memorial, the ONLY thing they "commemorate" is a blatant NON-ritual. The so called "worship" we were used to is more like a reading of a stock report for a corporation in the 1950's. That beckons no one to feel connected to anything.

I'm glad you enjoyed your musical outing (and social study.)

Love,
Baba.

FlyingHighNow

Nonetheless, I thought that the musical presentation created a sense of spirituality that is totally absent in the rituals of Kingdom Hallism.

This is exactly the thing I longed for when I was a KH goer. I was raised in the Episcopal or Anglican Catholic tradition. I have returned to the Episcopal Church and I find the same sense of spirituality. If you enjoyed a Catholic service, find a High Episcopal Service. They are more catholic than catholic since Vatican II came and watered everything down.

Midnight Mass in the Episcopal Church is very beautiful. A few years ago, they gave each of us a candle. And when it was time to sing Silent Night, they had us kneel and the acolytes came and lit each of our candles. They turned off all but the sanctuary candle (small light behind the altar symbolizing Jesus' presence) and we sang with the choir and huge pipe organ. It brings tears to my eyes remembering it. And it was a connection to my childhood where we used to do the same thing. And the Episcopal Church recognizes you are on your own unique spiritual journey and that you believe in your own way. They respect your intelligence to make your own good decisions.

passwordprotected

The only time there's a smattering of ritual at a kingdom hall is on memorial night. And even then the ritual comes to nothing as everyone (apart from 9k around the globe) dings the emblems anyway.

JWdaughter

My son has performed in the Tacoma Symphony Chorus's Messiah for several years now. It is a beautiful work. My mom went once in a (decommissioned because it was going to be removed to enlarge hospital) church and listened. She felt very uncomfortable because it was a worldly religious performance.

It was funny, because that is when I realized that there was NOTHING remotely unbiblical about it! It was the most purely biblical musical performance I have ever been to. The music is astoundingly lovely and the words are strictly biblical-not interpretations of biblical.

The musical conductor DID urge everyone to consider 'the season' and what it means in terms of community and family and the essential UNITY of faith and hope in this world. Again, it was not denominational, not dogmatic and not theological. It was just a loving nudge to remember the real reasons why the season is known as a joyful one. He was into the joy. Anyway, they are doing it again this year. Hope you all can make it. My son is the tall slim dark cute one :)

White Dove

I never could feel any connectedness to anything at the meetings. They gave us no opportunity to meditate on our own thoughts, because we did not own our own thoughts. They did and made sure that all time taken for personal reflection was filled with WT talking on stage. I used to go home and not remember anything about the talks. I forgot what the WT study was about, too. Why is that? No ritual or meditation for deep thought while we are there or something?

Casper

Glad you enjoyed it, Awakened...

I agree with the above posts, I never felt "Spiritually Refreshed" or any spiritual connection at the Hall either. I too, would leave not remembering
half of the talks or sometimes, even who the speaker was.

I have been to a couple Churches since my fade, either for a wedding or a service of some sort, and just "Walking In" had a different feel to it.

It was as if there was a, Spiritual Air about the place, of coarse... I would argue in my mind that maybe it was a demon causing the feeling... (Thanks WTS).

Seriously tho... there is a difference, even the music would reach places in my mind and heart that the KH never got close to.

Cas

Open mind

All you 'postates have clearly lost all appreciation for your "Rich, Theocratic, Spiritual Heritage" (tm).

BTW, anyone been inside this Cathedral in San Francisco?

http://www.stmarycathedralsf.org/

It's called Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. It is ultra-modern looking and well worth the risk of demon influence to have a look inside if you're ever on Geary in SF. Kinda felt like stepping inside a Museum of Modern Art. Breathtaking and gorgeous, IMO.

Not that I've ever been there of course.

om

Guest with Questions

This past Monday we (my JW mom included) saw The Priests sing at St Paul's Bascilla in Toronto. It's a beautiful church. Wonderful experience. The only problem with my mom was afterwards when I was taking her home. Maybe she was doing some sort of penance because she entered a "Catholic Church". She mentioned the sex abuse cases. I did not want to get into it with her as I had told her months ago about the settlement in California this past spring. I just wanted to enjoy the moment which she has difficulty doing.

St Paul's Bascilla: http://www.bigticketsearch.com/results.aspx?q=St%20Paul's%20Bascillica%20in%20Toronto&type=web&mkt=en-ca&adlt=strict&FORM=MRCFBL&scope=web

The Priests, "Pie Jesu": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6g5X2hGab0&NR=1

sacolton

Wow, I'm surprised you didn't spontaniously combust into a roaring infernio when you walked into the church.

Depsite your feelings on God, He hasn't given up on you.

Awakened at Gilead

there IS NO RITUAL in a Kingdom Hall... if there was ritual, it would be more liable to induce a feeling of connectedness.

Well, the WTS always looks at ritual in a bad light:

*** g80 11/8 p. 6 Prayer—Empty Ritual or Meaningful Communication? ***
There are so many ways that people offer up prayers! Without doubt they are participated in by devout and sincere persons. But regarding all such prayers we do well to ask: Is meaningful communication taking place—or is it just empty ritual?

*** w95 9/15 p. 31 A Meaningless Ritual? ***
The overseers can give appropriate encouragement as they monitor the progress of the one who is ailing spiritually. What a contrast to the formalistic ritual of confession practiced by churches today!

So you can see that my JW mindset has taught me that rituals are empty, menaingless, and formalistic. One thing that helped me to wake up was attending the 2008 memorial, and seeing the passing of the bread and wine WITHOUT PARTAKING as a mindless empty ritual also.

This definition does harmonize with the definition given by Encarta: http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761585555/Ritual.html

Ritual , ceremonial or symbolic act given importance by repetition. Rituals often accompany rites of passage and religious observances

I went to the Catholic Church and...

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