seebs

You have this mostly correct, but not quite right. It is a grave sin, but to say it is mortal, we would have to have full knowledge of the person's intent and understanding, which we may lack. Ignorance is a defense against mortal sins; if you do not actually understand and intend the sin, it is not mortal.

At least, so I understand. I am not Catholic but I study this kind of stuff.

Plognark

that's not complete either, you didn't mention confession, absolution, and penance. :huh:

that may be a bit off topic though.

Mageth

Going to church demonstrates your faithfulness to the church, not to God.

If you want to demonstrate your faithfulness to God, don't get into fights over such questions.

(BTW, I'm an atheist).

For most versions of the Christian God, you can never do enough good to be with God.

Avatar

Kind of an add place for this sort of question but I'll give it a shot.

No. If you assume that God is an omtipotent, all-knowing entity, then why would God care about you going to a building and listening to someone else tell you about it? People go to churches for emotional validation, for community, and for security. The preachers/priests/clergy want you to attend to keep them in business. Your friends might want you in church to not be alone, as a validation of their beliefs, or simply to prove to their other friends that they've hooked in another one. Honestly, does it make sense for an all-powerful being to care what any particular person does to worship it?
There's no way to know. That's the problem with supernatural beings--it;s nearly impossible to find out for certain just exactly what they want. For the sake of your peace of mind, I suggest you get rid of the idea of "what can I do to get in on God's good side" and instead ask yourself "what can I do that will make me proud of what I look at when I look in a mirror?" Or perhaps, "what can I do that will fulfill my obligations as a human being--both to others and myself?"
Sure. I tried.

Rational BAC

Nice balance between atheist and theist answers here.

No ---you do not have to go to church at all to be a good Christian. Christianity resides within you. It is your personal relationship with Jesus that matters above all else.

How much do you have to do? Just be a good person. And I assume you understand what being a good person means. It does not mean that you can't screw up a few times or even many times. We all do that. And Jesus is very forgiving about things like that. Just say to the Lord---"hey I screwed up--will do better next time." And mean it.

(Kind of an odd answer for jaded old me, but this was an odd-for-this-atheist-forum, but I assume, a very sincere question)

Answered in kind.

Splarnst

I was simplifying somewhat. You're talking to someone who used to think about the three aspects of a mortal sin 1,000 times a day when I was scrupulous. Two points here:
(1) I just told her it's grave matter. No excuse for ignorance.
(2) Choosing to skip Mass always has full intent. You can't accidentally choose not to go. Forgetting is another matter of course.

Splarnst

It was implied in the "unconfessed" part. Anyway, I wasn't providing a complete lesson in Catholic theology. Just emphasizing the fact that missing Mass can send you to hell according to it, which Chili omitted despite it being totally on topic.

BadBadBad

"No." That seems to be such a firm answer RBAC. Considering how unreliable you believe the Bible is, how can you be so sure? And the question wasn't being a good Christian. The question was being faithful to God and doing enough good to be with God. You have to have faith in the story of Christianity. How do you know when you have enough faith in that story? Having a "personal relationship with Jesus" is deemed as being good. How do you know when you've done enough good to achieve eternal salvation? You said your "personal relationship with Jesus matters above all else." Just how good does your "personal relationship with Jesus" have to be? I didn't see any answers to the questions.

"Just be a good person." How good of a person do you have to be? Yes, what is "good" with respect to achieving the favor of God? Don't tell me what it isn't. Tell me what it means to be good with respect to God. Answer the question. How good do you have to be? Also, what does it mean to screw up with respect to God? How do I say I've screwed up and mean it when I don't know what it means to screw up with respect to God? You haven't answered anything here, and given how certain you seem to be about it, I'd appreciate some answers once and for all.

Rational BAC

Answers from me once and for all BBB?

No way in hell.

I was just answering a simple question in the simplist way I could.

Don't we all just love simplicity?

pharoah

I'm a nonbeliever, but there's a scriptural passage that you may want to consider:

I wouldn't take that to neccesarily mean a church. You can assemble with like-minded friends at a house, in the park, or anywhere else.