Poll: A Question to All Church-Going Christians

[Tattaglia]

Alright, before I ask my question I must say that this is not an attack on Christianity or religion. Any argument involving, I don't know, atheism versus religion or whatever is not cool. This is why this thread is not in the Religion/Politics forum as it isn't a debate. If you do decide to troll, you'll make me mildly annoyed. Now onto the question!

I spent a good five years of my life in a pretty good private Christian high school, although I wasn't a Christian nor were most students. You had to go to the chapel about three times a week for a service. During every service we'd have to sing a hymn or two, but I never enjoyed singing hymns because I thought the lyrics were terribly outdated (nobody uses the word suffer that way anymore) and my singing voice is pants. I don't think any of my friends liked to sing them either, even the Christian ones.

So anyway, do you enjoy singing hymns? If so, why? If you don't, why not?
If you don't like them do you mouth the words, keep your mouth closed, or sing anyway?
Are you annoyed by people who don't sing when they're supposed to?
Are these questions annoying? Do annoying things annoy you?

 

[Rakkana]

No. I enjoy praising god. The method shouldn't matter.

But if pressed I'd say that I find hymns boring so they're not a good method for worship. But those who do enjoy them should go for it.

 

[Marter]

So anyway, do you enjoy singing hymns? If so, why? If you don't, why not?
When I went to church, I didn't enjoy it. I don't like singing when others are around, no matter what the subject matter it.
If you don't like them do you mouth the words, keep your mouth closed, or sing anyway?
I sang them anyway.
Are you annoyed by people who don't sing when they're supposed to?
I didn't notice, as I had to keep my eyes looking at the words on the page.

 

[fullbleed]

I don't just becuase I don't really like my voice, yet I'm fine to sing for my friends when we play Rock Band. What can I say, singing Gimme Shelter is more fun than hymns.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

Yeah I never liked singing when I got older (and was still religious)because I can't sing worth a damn

 

[Shock and Awe]

I used to go to church regularly, I hated singing. The sermons weren't that bad, but so much singing made me hate the whole thing.

 

[Tattaglia]

Are you annoyed by people who don't sing when they're supposed to?
I didn't notice, as I had to keep my eyes looking at the words on the page.

Fair enough. It's just at my school we'd sing the same hymn over and over again until you knew it by heart.

No. I enjoy praising god. The method shouldn't matter.

But if pressed I'd say that I find hymns boring so they're not a good method for worship. But those who do enjoy them should go for it.

I completely agree with that. I'm not religious in any way but I believe any person should follow their religion however they like, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.

 

[Marter]

Fair enough. It's just at my school we'd sing the same hymn over and over again until you knew it by heart.
From what I remember, they were always changing them up at my church. Never had to sing them at school.

 

[Rakkana]

Fair enough. It's just at my school we'd sing the same hymn over and over again until you knew it by heart.
From what I remember, they were always changing them up at my church. Never had to sing them at school.

Lucky. We'd have to sing them because "The younger ones want to sing." Although none of them did. They just sat there. Wasting space.

 

[rokkolpo]

if i lived in america i would so go to a black gospel church.
those guys really seem like having fun.

the white christians all seem so dead when they sing. it seems like work.
i used to go to church every sunday. at age 12 i just stopped because i didn't believe and my parents gave me the choice of path. i chose atheism.

but to answer your question, no. i do not like the songs, i do enjoy singing them a bit, but that's just because i like to sing to relieve stress.

 

[kurupt87]

I'm an Atheist, I went to a State Grammar School which had Church of England connections. We sang hymns in assembly which was two or three times a week. Hymns can be beautiful, the ones I sang weren't because I was singing them and so was the rest of my school. I don't enjoy singing them for much the same reason I don't enjoy singing any other type of song, I can't sing.

My favourite hymn that I sang would be Jerusalem, purely because I know it's written by Blake.

Edit: As for caring about other people singing or not; no, I don't. I either sang anyway or didn't sing, it depended on my mood and which hymn we were singing. As for the Church aspect, I have never "been to Church", I have been in Churches/Cathedrals but never on a Sunday morning or whatever it is Christians are supposed to do; I have never gone to one to praise God in other words.

 

[Betancore]

I'm not a Christian, but I go to church most Sundays just to spend some time with my parents. I'm not a very good singer, but I don't mind singing hymns - some of them are really inspiring and beautiful. Some are awful. At the church we go to, they don't sing many traditional hymns. It's just a lot of modern music. We also have a band. >.> I mouth the words if I know the lyrics. I pretend I'm participating to avoid seeming rude.

I went to a Christian private school for a couple of years - a Presbyterian school, to be precise, and we had to sing hymns most mornings. Wasn't so bad. And it was nice to listen to. As a whole, our school sounded pretty great. We had a whole book of hymns, so there was always some variety.

 

[Terminate421]

I love being catholic and all but I really don't sing

I guess its the songs because I cannot find myself enjoying them that much.

 

[Omnific One]

Eh, I didn't like them when I used to sing them. My new church is a lot more progressive and modernized so they don't do them.

However, there are a few really good ones. Too bad, 3/4 of the people singing them can't sing at all.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

Certain Hymns are good, but I prefer Prayer over Singing.

 

[Contun]

I was never fond of singing hymns. I don't go to church often though.

 

[KdS_22]

I'm (technically) a Baptist, and I don't really like most hymns (shocker!!). There are maybe twenty or so out of our church hymnal that I find really inspiring and uplifting, but aside from those, I just can't get into it. I still sing them sometimes, but when I find myself really getting into the hymns is when I sing them on my own time and by myself. It's just more personal that way. My favorite hymn is "I'll Fly Away." I found myself singing that song relentlessly after my girlfriend passed away.

What I really like are more modernized versions of hymns and "soul" music, like Johnny Cash, Blind Boys of Alabama, etc.

However, we do have a Christian radio station here and I find I cannot enjoy or get into most of the music that is played on there because it sounds too much like pop music and bland contemporary rock. I wish they would play more of the "good stuff" more often :/

 

[FolkLikePanda]

At me Grandads funeral I had to sing The Lord Is My Shepard which made me shiver due to the fact I'm a Wolves fan, also he has an Albion fan but still.

Also I'm not a church goer, I usually go for Weddings, Christenings and Funerals but I would go in order to preserve Englands tradition of being a Christian country... what?

 

[DaMullet]

Boring hymns is one of the reason I no longer go to church. I have a hard time praising God when I'm asleep. Also most of the preaching I hear I file under "Shit I already know"

I'm still looking for a church that is willing to play this as 'Worship Music'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-2eLD01iKw

Cheers!