Will you be going to mass at Christmas?

Cabaal

I'm not a Catholic by any stretch of the imagination but this question was asked in the Catholic Forum. - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057683323

And how many of those that go to mass at Christmas attend the rest of the year??

So I thought a better way of getting this answer is to put it to the general public in the good old After Hours forum.

Just how important is the mass stuff to you and will you go?

tigger123

No.

Love Christmas, I'm not a Christian though.

Bubbaclaus

I normally went with the family on Christmas Eve to keep the mother happy, but she said last week she can no longer be arsed going herself. Happy days.

padd b1975

I expect so.

frag420

Will be too busy celebrating Santas birthday to go to mass on Xmas day...

Sleepy

LOL. no, weddings and funerals only.

Turtyturd

Not unless there's a funeral.

5starpool

I'll have to go to mass twice over christmas for personal family reasons, but I have zero belief in any god. I'd prefer to not have to go, but it is by far the better choice to go in my specific circumstances (which I won't go into) for the sake of my mother in this case. I wouldn't normally go for anything except weddings/funerals.

readyletsgo

Nope.

I'll spend it with my atheist family and partner.

Dr Crayfish

I can't believe people even post things about Mass in 2016. I can understand old people going, but anyone who can use the internet at this stage should have more sense ffs.
Then again I see the OP is Mod of Waterford City, maybe it's still a bit backwards outside of Dublin when it comes to religion etc.

Maximus Alexander

It's about as secular a holiday as they get to be fair. Mass has no business being involved.

Kichote

There's always something to be said for another mass.

Cabaal

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

I normally went with the family on Christmas Eve to keep the mother happy, but she said last week she can no longer be arsed going herself. Happy days.

That used to be me but at the age of 16 I stopped doing it to keep my family happy and did my own thing, made Christmas day so much better

Ironic thing is my parents only do mass at Christmas and births, deaths and marriages and have always done this. :pac:

Dr Crayfish

Kichote wrote: »

There's always something to be said for another mass.

HAHAHAHAHAHaqhsahdsHAdfpSU90AT=,';FZ

DEFTLEFTHAND

Yes, looking forward to it.

Will probably do Christmas Eve at 9pm with family and then drop into the local afterwards.

Allinall

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

I can't believe people even post things about Mass in 2016. I can understand old people going, but anyone who can use the internet at this stage should have more sense ffs.
Then again I see the OP is Mod of Waterford City, maybe it's still a bit backwards outside of Dublin when it comes to religion etc.

Old people can't use the internet?

How patronizing .

Parchment

No way. The catholic church needs to sling its hook as far as I am concerned.

Dr Crayfish

Allinall wrote: »

Old people can't use the internet?

How patronizing .

Sure they can. But people I know in their 70s who use the internet tend to be more open minded, therefore don't believe in hocus pocus like Catholicism.

Winterlong

I will be going this year whether I need to or not.
Would not voluntarily go any other day though.

Cabaal

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

I can't believe people even post things about Mass in 2016. I can understand old people going, but anyone who can use the internet at this stage should have more sense ffs.
Then again I see the OP is Mod of Waterford City, maybe it's still a bit backwards outside of Dublin when it comes to religion etc.

Might be
Nah, seriously I'm not from Waterford, though I did live there for a period of time.

While I'd love to agree with you about the people not pushed about mass and that is technically reflected in mass numbers as only around 30% of Catholics go to mass on a weekly basis many, many people still do the Christmas mass stuff even though they don't believe in any of the core catholic beliefs and values.

It boggles the mind sometimes why people do this,

The aim of the poll is to get a better picture of modern day Ireland then the same question being asked in the Catholic forum.

On a side note,
While many old people tend to be very religious, just as many old people have no interest in the church and what it stands for anymore, they believe in a god but not the catholic church. So its sort of unfair to tar all old people the same.

TheIrishGrover

I go the night before. No a believer but some in my family are so I think of it as just part of the tradition. No problem with people going or not going just as long as they don't enforce their beliefs on others: "Oh you MUST go because it's the core meaning of Christmas/What kind of sheep are you to go to listen to those peados"

I think it's just a nice tradition and part of the whole package.

Allinall

I'm going to go now out of spite.

Dr Crayfish

The way I look at it is if you go to those Churches at any time, you're basically forgiving these f**kers for sexually abusing and murdering generations of our kids. They tried to cover it up, right up to the top of the organisation, and yet you'll go into their dens and pay respect to all of their bullsh*t. Ridiculous.

Maximus Alexander

There are no mince pies or mulled wine, there's nowhere to do a bit of shopping, nobody exchanges gifts. Churches don't have any chimneys for Santa to get down and on that note, they don't even have any Santa pictures or decorations. They don't even stick Die Hard on a projector. What has mass got to do with Christmas really?

realdanbreen

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

I can't believe people even post things about Mass in 2016. I can understand old people going, but anyone who can use the internet at this stage should have more sense ffs.
Then again I see the OP is Mod of Waterford City, maybe it's still a bit backwards outside of Dublin when it comes to religion etc.

Yeah I mean Dubs are so progressive and smart. A bit strange though that dubs pay more for houses, drink, insurance, spend hours per week in traffic jams, have high crime rates, than the 'backward' folk in the country do.

realdanbreen

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

The way I look at it is if you go to those Churches at any time, you're basically forgiving these f**kers for sexually abusing and murdering generations of our kids. They tried to cover it up, right up to the top of the organisation, and yet you'll go into their dens and pay respect to all of their bullsh*t. Ridiculous.

You sound desperately bitter.

TheIrishGrover

Was a nice thread while it lasted Cabaal. Surprised it lasted as long as it did

realdanbreen

Sleepy wrote: »

LOL. no, weddings and funerals only.

Is that not a bit hypocritical? If you are a non believer you should'nt go near a church at all.

Renegade Mechanic

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

The way I look at it is if you go to those Churches at any time, you're basically forgiving these f**kers for sexually abusing and murdering generations of our kids. They tried to cover it up, right up to the top of the organisation, and yet you'll go into their dens and pay respect to all of their bullsh*t. Ridiculous.

Jesus, don't buy any fuel so, half the money there tends to go to countries that have raped and killed more kiddies than the Catholic Church could dream of raping and killing, lol. And I sure hope you're not wearing anything from Primark!

Lux23

Nope, I have very few memories of attending mass at Christmas. Even when I went as a child I don't think I went to mass at Christmas.

Turtyturd

realdanbreen wrote: »

Yeah I mean Dubs are so progressive and smart. A bit strange though that dubs pay more for houses, drink, insurance, spend hours per week in traffic jams, have high crime rates, than the 'backward' folk in the country do.

The original comment was fairly stupid but well done you topped it.

eviltwin

No I haven't done it in years. I used to be an only at Christmas mass goer and then I wondered what the point was when I never went the rest of the year. So I stopped.

realdanbreen

Turtyturd wrote: »

The original comment was fairly stupid but well done you topped it.

Wow. a regular old Shakespear with the posts. You should have a lie down after putting so much thought into that post!

Renegade Mechanic

Turtyturd wrote: »

The original comment was fairly stupid but well done you topped it.

>implying he's said anything false.

I've been to Dublin about ten times and I hate it a little more each time. I'd actually rather go to Christmas mass

brevity

Its Christmas at the in-laws this year and they are religious so I'll probably be dragged along.

Kathnora

It always puzzles me as to why people who don't believe in Christ celebrate Christmas!!!

realdanbreen

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

>implying he's said anything false.

I've been to Dublin about ten times and I hate it a little more each time. I'd actually rather go to Christmas mass

Bar the airport and the 3 arena there really is very little need to set foot in the place.

realdanbreen

brevity wrote: »

Its Christmas at the in-laws this year and they are religious so I'll probably be dragged along.

Oh shucks, poor you. What age are you?

brevity

Kathnora wrote: »

It always puzzles me as to why people who don't believe in Christ celebrate Christmas!!!

Aparently there was always a sort of celebration this time of year. It's not specific to Christians.

brevity

realdanbreen wrote: »

Oh shucks, poor you. What age are you?

35. Poor me indeed.

5starpool

Kathnora wrote: »

It always puzzles me as to why people who don't believe in Christ celebrate Christmas!!!

I bet the vast majority of stuff people do for Christmas who do believe in god is non religious. Santa Claus, decorations, trees, etc, none of those are religious things at all.

Elmo

you can celebrate the winter solstice tomorrow and still go to mass.

Lau2976

I'm not religious but my dad is catholic so I may go with him. I don't go unless it's a event usually.

I always find it hard to get my head around people who go to keep there parents happy. Like why does you pretending to be religious make them happy? I like my dads company and the walk/drive is nice which is why I might go. I just don't get it.

TheIrishGrover

Girls, maybe ye can take yer handbags outside

Elmo

Lau2976 wrote: »

I'm not religious but my dad is catholic so I may go with him. I don't go unless it's a event usually.

I always find it hard to get my head around people who go to keep there parents happy. Like why does you pretending to be religious make them happy? I like my dads company and the walk/drive is nice which is why I might go. I just don't get it.

yeah i will go just to meet neighbours and get in the spirit of Christmas, nice to hear Silent Night and other songs.

Jimmy Bottlehead

Kathnora wrote: »

It always puzzles me as to why people who don't believe in Christ celebrate Christmas!!!

Well Christmas originally had nothing to do with Christ, it's a pagan day of worship, so it's actually mind-boggling why people who believe in Christ celebrate Christmas.

As for me, I'm atheist and will stay home with the dogs and cat while my folks and sister go to mass. The strangest thing is, I'm more aware of catholic beliefs and information that all three of them, but it doesn't take knowledge to be a typical Irish Catholic. Just obedience and sticking with tradition.

Sleepy

realdanbreen wrote: »

Is that not a bit hypocritical? If you are a non believer you should'nt go near a church at all.

Not really, my own wedding was a civil service, our kids aren't baptised and if my wishes are followed, my funeral won't be held anywhere near a church.

I respect a friend or family members choice of marriage or funeral ceremony though in the same way as I'd expect them to respect mine. I think it's utterly ridiculous that so many of them put on a charade of piety in order to get to use a pretty building for such an occasion but neither event is really the time to be pointing that out...

donkeykong5

Yeah this year I have decided to go to both midnight mass and also Christmas day mass. Love the happiness in the packed churches and also the Christmas tree. But highlight is the crib. Old tradition from my mother in my childhood is to always take a bit of straw from the crib. And keep it in my home.

seamus

realdanbreen wrote: »

Is that not a bit hypocritical? If you are a non believer you should'nt go near a church at all.

Does that mean if you're a Christian and your Jewish mates gets married or dies, you should stay away?

People go to funerals and weddings for the sake of their family and friends. The religious part comes second and only applies to those who believe.

Galwayguy35

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

The way I look at it is if you go to those Churches at any time, you're basically forgiving these f**kers for sexually abusing and murdering generations of our kids. They tried to cover it up, right up to the top of the organisation, and yet you'll go into their dens and pay respect to all of their bullsh*t. Ridiculous.

Well nobody gives a flying fook about "the way you look at it", I've read a few dumb posts over the years but yours takes the biscuit.

Agricola

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

Well Christmas originally had nothing to do with Christ, it's a pagan day of worship, so it's actually mind-boggling why people who believe in Christ celebrate Christmas.

As for me, I'm atheist and will stay home with the dogs and cat while my folks and sister go to mass. The strangest thing is, I'm more aware of catholic beliefs and information that all three of them, but it doesn't take knowledge to be a typical Irish Catholic. Just obedience and sticking with tradition.

Probably true of many households across the country at Christmas. It's funny how the unbelievers are normally the ones far more familiar with the dogma than the people who attend mass regularly.

My old man has taken to going to mass with some zeal in the last couple of years. He dresses it up as being all part of being a good catholic but he couldn't tell you what in the priest's sermon on any given Sunday. Not that the priest himself probably knows either, given he's 60 years at this gig and is on auto-pilot I'd imagine!
Truth is mass is a good social outlet for a lot of elderly people, catch up on the local news, talk about recent or upcoming deaths, the usual! No harm in that I suppose.