Pros and Cons of Going to Church

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am a firm believer in going to church no matter your beliefs. I have loved focusing on Jesus Christ with my family throughout my life. Some of my close friends have asked me why they should continue to attend church weekly. I have thought about this question a lot throughout the past couple of months and decided that I should write a Pros and Cons Blog about attending church.

Pros of Going to Church

1. You can meet with people of similar beliefs. There is nothing better than getting together with people that place value on similar things. 
2. You can build a strong bond with people of different ethnicities and backgrounds. As a community, you join together to find something you have in common.
3. Churches are involved in humanitarian efforts. Are you going to church and paying tithing? If so, you are not just helping people around the world, but you are also helping people in your community.
4. At church, you learn values and principles. Dallin H Oaks, a member of the quorum of the 12 apostles gave a discourse on, The Need for a Church. In this speech, he mentions a family who feel that they can teach good values at home, and don't need a church. While it is true that the values can and should be taught in the home, "Attendance and activity in a church help us become better people and better influences on the lives of others. In church we are taught how to apply religious principles. We learn from one another. A persuasive example is more powerful than a sermon. We are strengthened by associating with others of like minds."
5. Churches emphasize humility. Most religions believe in a Supreme Being who is over them. We quickly remember that we are individuals working with other individuals to make the world better. We are not over anyone besides ourselves.
6. Being a part of a church helps individuals get out of themselves and serve. One of the best medicines for depression is to serve others. This is not a cure-all but it will help .
7. Going to church brings hope. If you just focused on how hard life is right now, you will find yourself depressed and overwhelmed. When you join a church, you learn principles that bring hope to your life.
8. Attending a church teaches children what they should value most. Do you place worth on high morals? Do you find this important to rely on a supreme being? Then attend church! Your kids will follow by example and find that they are happier.
9. Churches can feel your emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. As mentioned before, you can meet with others with similar beliefs that help your emotional health. You learn high moral standards, which brings you closer to God and increases your spiritual health. By serving, your mental health improves. Churches offer times to meet together to walk, play basketball, or do other physical strengthening activities.
10. By joining a church, you commit to becoming a better person. Wouldn't it be nice to have a lot of good people in the world?

Cons of Going to Church

1. Attending church takes up a lot of time. Most people only get two days out of seven off of work. Why would anyone spend part of this coveted time in church when they could have it for themselves?
2. A lot of sports take place on Sunday. Not all churches worship on Sunday, but most of them do. This is also a big day for major sports teams. By attending church, you are missing all the best games.
3. Why attend church with people who can not keep their religion? Churches are full of imperfect people. It can often feel hypocritical to hear about perfection, surrounded by sinners. (However, it is important to remember, you also aren't perfect._
4. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives because of religion; most of these people died in horrific ways. Many people have killed in the name of God, look at the crusades, bloody Mary, Islamic Terrorists. . 
5. There are times of chastisement for something you have done. If you believe something is right, and you do it. Then someone from your church calls you out for it. Why would you put yourself through that?
6. Most religions ask for tithing. What if you do not even have money for food and other necessities? Why would you go to church? To give out your money?
7. Believing in something requires change. It is hard to change! Why would you put yourself in a situation that makes you uncomfortable?
8. Members of churches can be brutal. I have heard of many cases where youth were bullied at their church. They did not fit in, so no one liked them. A place where you learn good morals should also be a place you feel safe.

"Our goal is to help the world make decisions with a list of Pros and Cons. We invite all to add to our lists to help others make the most educated decision possible. We are all in this world together to help each other and learn from what others have learned from their lives journey."

- Pros and Cons Team

Written By: Sarah