Casual Sundays?

When I was younger, I used to go to church. Every Sunday morning my family would get cleaned up, my mother would force me to wear something nice and then we would all pile in the car and head over. Every week I would drag my feet and fight with my parents about how much I hated going to church. The only thing I liked was that sometimes I would get to hang with the other kids before communion, and that there was food that everyone got to enjoy at the end. I absolutely hated getting all fancied up to go and sit and listen to boring sermons. I was a tomboy when I was younger and dreaded having to wear a skirt or, god forbid, a dress. It would be so much of a hassle every Sunday that eventually, we started to go less and less until we didn’t have to go anymore (and I’m not complaining).

Now, after reading through Google’s “Ten Things We Know to Be True” comments I’ve thought about what “point” some religious could take from Google to make their religion, in my opinion, “better,” or more appealing to a greater number of people. From my own personal experience, I think if religions decided to take Google’s ninth point, “You can be serious without a suit," into account, more people could share a positive religious experience.

"Our founders built Google around the idea that work should be challenging, and the challenge should be fun. We believe the great, creative things are more likely to happen with the right company culture-and that doesn't just mean lava lamps and rubber balls. There is an emphasis on team achievements and pride in individual accomplishments that contribute to our overall success. We put great stock in our employees-energetic, passionate people from diverse backgrounds with creative approaches to work, play and life. Our atmosphere may be casual, but as new ideas emerge in a cafe line, at a team meeting or at the gym, they are traded, tested and put into practice with dizzying speed-and they may be the launch pad for a new project destined for worldwide use."

It would definitely be more attractive to the younger generation. I was scared away from church at a young age due to all of my memories of stuffy old people surrounding me while I wiggled uncomfortably in my itchy “Sunday best”. 

If religions took the “You can be serious without a suit” route, they would be far more appealing to the younger generation. Many children dislike dressing up and wearing uncomfortable clothing. When I went to church I could not concentrate on the message that was being delivered by the preacher because all I could think about was the fact that my skirt or dress was itchy. It bothered me so much that I still equate church with being uncomfortable, boring and a waste of time. Our generation (along with younger generations) has been raised completely differently from our parents and  grandparents. We are used to dressing casually and comfortably. If churches and other places of worship began to cater towards what we are used to and what we like as a generation, they probably would get more support and more people would have a positive religious experience. I know if I wasn’t forced to wear my “Sunday best” as a child I probably wouldn’t dislike church as much as I do now. I could have actually focused on the messages that were taught and learned to enjoy church rather than see it as a horrible waste of time.