Will you be going to mass at Christmas?

eviltwin · 19-12-2016 05:35PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:38PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:39PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:41PM

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

Kathnora · 19-12-2016 05:41PM

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

realdanbreen · 19-12-2016 05:42PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:43PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:43PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:44PM

realdanbreen wrote: »

Oh shucks, poor you. What age are you?

35. Poor me indeed.

5starpool · 19-12-2016 05:44PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:45PM

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

Lau2976 · 19-12-2016 05:45PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:48PM

Girls, maybe ye can take yer handbags outside

Elmo · 19-12-2016 05:49PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:51PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:56PM

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 · 19-12-2016 05:57PM

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 · 19-12-2016 06:21PM

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 · 19-12-2016 06:36PM

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 · 19-12-2016 06:44PM

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.

Elmo · 19-12-2016 06:44PM

Also their tends to be a question over the use of the word mass, surely the question should read "church" for non-Catholic christian denominations.

19-12-2016 06:46PM

No. I refuse to let religion get in the way my Yuletide celebration

Jayop · 19-12-2016 06:50PM

Elmo wrote: »

Also their tends to be a question over the use of the word mass, surely the question should read "church" for non-Catholic christian denominations.

easy there tiger, this is Ireland you know.

jester77 · 19-12-2016 06:50PM

I'll be at home with my kids worshipping Santa for not forgetting batteries.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 19-12-2016 06:53PM

Agricola wrote: »

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.

Also thoughts of dying enter the mind more frequently as one gets older. It might mean something to a lapsed Christian, to return to their faith in their twilight years.

andekwarhola · 19-12-2016 06:54PM

I'm a non believer but I usually attend the Christmas carol service (which has a few prayers, albeit not a full blown mass) in my local church. It's a lovely old building and I nostalgically enjoy the atmosphere and carols with my kids.

Wasn't aware I needed Special Internet Neckbeard Dispensation to attend.

mdwexford · 19-12-2016 07:02PM

Yes, I will be bringing the kids to the children's mass Christmas morning.

I have been to church twice this year, for a funeral and a yearly club mass.

Jimmy Bottlehead · 19-12-2016 07:03PM

Agricola wrote: »

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.

Ach, I've no issue with the social aspect. But when people attend, it lets the church stick their oar in on issues that affect us all like abortion, gay marriage, equal access to schools and so on. That's where my issue is.

That said, I'm mostly past trying to chat to my folks about it. If they're happy, they're happy. Just a shame they're not willing to give more thought to something that they give time and money to and which influences how they see the world.

donkeykong5 · 19-12-2016 07:04PM

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

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.

I go to mass because I enjoy it. I had the privilege of been baptised a roman catholic. I agree about some of the priests years ago been scum. But I find mass a great way of connecting with god and praying for myself and family and friends.

osarusan · 19-12-2016 07:06PM

No.

The saying of Grace in my parents' house at some period over Christmas is about as close as I'll get to anything religious.

Will you be going to mass at Christmas?

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