But how are the preachers going to pay for their private jets? mansions? new suits? Gold toilets? THINK OF THE PREACHERS!

That was I was taught so I don't know why it's such a big deal. :/

This fails to recognize the single most important doctrine in most western religious systems. You cannot talk to God without Me (the priest) or be forgiven by him. Remember that per catholic doctrine if you don't tell a guy is special clothes about what you did wrong, even if you feel bad about it, the loving God in heaven will set you on fire until his son comes home...... so if you truly believe that then it is far more essential to tell the special man than literally anything else. The issue here is that the churches refused to make special dispensation recognizing the impact of the virus because they feared if you spoke to God alone for a while you might never come back to his expensive boring house later.

On a serious note, church isn't a building, but the PEOPLE. It doesn't matter if they meet in a Cathedral or under a tree, except the space problems. The people who SHOULD help you to talk to God among other things. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)"

Church's was essential because they have pretty damned good fried chicken. Churches on the other hand only cried "essential" because if the indoctrinated people didn't sit their asses in the pews there wouldn't be any money in the tithe plate.

It would be nice if they read the WHOLE bible, not just the parts they like!

in my religion, communal prayer is very important. many prayers require 10 people, including the Mourner's Kaddish, which makes going to shul a mitzvah because it allows people to mourn their parents (when a parent dies you say the kaddish every day for 11 months). however, the general belief is that Hashem understands if you don't have an option. for instance, i was quarantined at camp because my sisters had covid and i could have been exposed. I said Mi Shebeirakh and the Amidah (both require 10 people) because it felt right. checked with the rabbi from the window and he agreed that what I did was good. We have those rules because group prayer is a lovely experience and when you are in mourning other people help, but Hashem allows those rules to be broken in extenuating circumstances.

If the Egyptians can figure out how to worship in their own houses, so can you!

exactilly. and even before the pamdemic we did churce at home becasue we were tired of the cliches

God didn't give you anything. Since he/she doesn't exist, I mean.

I think this is pretty much the plot for Stigmata and I agree wholeheartedly :D

Amen to that!

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But dead baby parts are.

Wait, you mean be part of the solution? Imagine..

You’re going to be looking for a good religion for a LONG time.

Another man trying to control a woman's body her choice and her rights

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Not at all religious myself, but I agree with you. If they can pack out sports venues because the £ is there, why can't a socially distanced church service go ahead? Or, when they can pack mosques with people 3" away from each other, why is it that Christians have to suffer?