...Analysis of Philip Larkin's "Church Going" | Philip Larkin http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1074/1417827433_85ef38935a.jpg | The theme of Philip Larkin’s poem “Church Going” is the erosion of religious abutments. Larkin is largely considered to be an atheist; however, he did live in a society that was predominantly Christian, so this poem is perhaps his way of trying to understand the attraction of religion. The narrator, who appears to be an atheist also, goes to a church, wanders around, and leaves unsatisfied. He doesn’t understand the allure of churches or religion, and wonders to himself when they will go out of fashion. He then goes on to imagine what they will be turned into once they do fall out of use. In the end, the narrator comes to the realization that religion and churches will never go out of style, because mankind has an innate need to believe in something greater than themselves. This poem was written in 1954, and published in 1955. The rhythm of the poem is iambic tetrameter, and it has a strict rhyme of ababcadcd. The language of the poem is conversational, and the narrator poses many interrogatives (asks questions). Larkin uses a lot of religious imagery and words, some are used as they are intended, but others are used in a blasphemous way. Blasphemy is the act of expressing lack of reverence for God, but if one doesn’t believe in God can what they say really be considered blasphemy? That is just something to consider while reading the poem. The title...
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...Philip Larking has a poem called Church Going written in an iambic pentameter consisting of seven stanzas, each including nine lines, of which the language is typical of Larkin - ordinary, conversational, and almost slangy. It talks about the relationship among people, religion and church. In this essay, I want to discuss the speaker's attitude toward religion and evaluate the poem, stanza by stanza. The poem explains the way how these relationships have become hackneyed to great extent, say, people do go to church without even pondering upon the reason to do so. In the first stanza, the speaker explains how cliché the entering to the church is and in the second stanza, he moves forward and emphasizes the condition of the roof and he believes that it is not worth stopping, and in the third stanza he questions the habit of church going, that is to say, the whole poem is trying to find the meaning of religion and in this way each stanza plays its proper role. In the first stanza we see a phrase "another church" which exposes that this church is like other `inspiration for him, explaining the atmosphere of the church by mentioning to the books and the unignorable silence that covers the church, say, he again enters to another church and he does not does not possess any feeling toward it. In the second stanza, he moves forward and refers to the roof where there are some biblical verses are printed in large type for reading aloud, he says: "pronounce "Here endeth"...
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...Philip Larking has a poem called Church Going written in an iambic pentameter consisting of seven stanzas, each including nine lines, of which the language is typical of Larkin - ordinary, conversational, and almost slangy. It talks about the relationship among people, religion and church. In this essay, I want to discuss the speaker's attitude toward religion and evaluate the poem, stanza by stanza. The poem explains the way how these relationships have become hackneyed to great extent, say, people do go to church without even pondering upon the reason to do so. In the first stanza, the speaker explains how cliché the entering to the church is and in the second stanza, he moves forward and emphasizes the condition of the roof and he believes that it is not worth stopping, and in the third stanza he questions the habit of church going, that is to say, the whole poem is trying to find the meaning of religion and in this way each stanza plays its proper role. In the first stanza we see a phrase "another church" which exposes that this church is like other churches: the same seats, the same structure, he wants to say that all of the churches have the same inspiration for him, explaining the atmosphere of the church by mentioning to the books and the unignorable silence that covers the church, say, he again enters to another church and he does not does not possess any feeling toward it. In the second stanza, he moves forward and refers to the roof where there are...
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...I had a life changing experience when I started going to church, and taking discipleship class. I developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I learned to build Christlike character, and achieve spiritual victory. In my family going to church was something we did faithfully. I can remember as a little girl every Saturday and, Sunday we would have Morning Prayer at Grandmother’s house. I like going to church, but I didn’t like going every Sunday. When I was a teenager, I would tell myself, when I get older, and move away, I’m never going to church again. When I was eighteen I moved to Atlanta, and I did that exactly, I stopped going to church. At first it was good, I enjoyed my Sundays, working, relaxing, or just doing nothing. Some Saturday nights, I stayed out late, partied knowing that there would be no prayer or church first thing Sunday morning. I did this for many years went by, I didn’t attend church while living in Atlanta. Then one day I started feeling like something was missing from my life, I started missing going to church. First I had to find a church, one that I would enjoy praise, worship and the sermon. I sent out to find that church, and I did that. I went for a little while as a visitor and I joined church at Voices Of Faith. One Sunday, an announcement was made for discipleship class, I didn’t know what the class was about, but I was curious after church I spoke to a representative, and I signed up. Little did I know that the classes were every...
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...idea is demonstrated in the documentary, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. The religion...
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...believe you're present with us. You know we're concerned about our church, and we ask you to help us to know your will and be obedient to it. You know I struggle with a lot of things going on around here. So help us all to understand what this all means. Amen Pastor: Thanks, Connie. I appreciate the word, struggle, that you used. It probably describes where a lot of us seem to be these days. All week long I've had Yvonne's comment rattling around in my head. Yvonne: Did I say something wrong? What? Pastor: Well, you didn't say anything wrong, Yvonne. But what you did say was a heads-up to me about the way we've been taught to think about the church. Yvonne: So what did I say? Pastor: You don't remember? I can't forget it. You said something like, 'All I want to know is who stole my church. I'd like it back'. Ernie: I remember what Yvonne said. I told Gretchen about it, and she said she felt the same way. Pastor: Well, I suppose a lot of us could say the same thing. Maybe we all have the feeling that our church, at least the version of the church we like the most, has been hijacked. EVERYONE SPEAKING AT ONCE------ Varying opinions about whether the word steal was appropriate. Stan: (in a loud enough voice to bring everyone back together) If the people who stole the church-----Yvonne's word, not mine---are younger or newer people, then let 'em steal it. It's going to be theirs in a few years anyway. I vote we give it to them...
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...Taria Watson EN 101 12/11/14 Final Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ The church is just a building; the people are what make the difference. When I think of qualities I want in a church family, I want a church family whose pastor preaches the whole word. They must have a real heart for not only the members and the people who attend there, but for the people of their community as well. They must be excited about building up the Kingdom of God. These are the qualities my Grandpa Watson’s church possessed while he was pastor of Bethel Temple Assembly of God. I have longed and searched for a church to fill my grandpa’s church place in my heart as my church family for a very long time. After my grandpa left the area, my family and I continued going to the church my grandpa pastored for a little while. I am really not sure what happened, but mom and dad stopped going and eventually my sister and I stopped going to church. I would go from church to church trying to feel the love and acceptance I felt in my grandpa’s church, but failed every time. It was not until I started going to Chattaroy Church of God that I found all three qualities. The first quality I want to talk about is the church whose pastor preaches the whole word. There is a difference in preaching styles. There are some preachers who only preach the good and happy parts of the Bible; they never talk about hell, fire, and brimstone. There are some who only preach hell, fire, and brimstone; they never...
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...the Catholic Church because I have always been curious about it. Even though I was born in a Baptist church and being baptized in the church at age seven years old, I still was someone who is curious about other religions. On both October 1st and 8th, I attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Brazoria, Texas, and I did in fact get a cultural awakening. Getting there I sat within a mix of people. However, I felt overwhelmed because I did not know how to react to their responses. I sat in silence even though I tried to say the responses with them. However, these responses got confusing. All the activity...
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...How To Mobilize Your Church To Evangelize Introduction The number of people in the world who do not affiliate themselves with a religion of any sorts is at a all time high, and the number continues to grow. “One-fifth of the U.S. public and a third of adults under the age of 30 - are religiously unaffiliated today, the highest percentages ever.” Not only is church identification low among today’s society, but also church attendance and the level of importance emphasized by those same individuals are also at an all time low. Although the statistics can cause an unsteady flood of emotions, there is light at the end of the tunnel. That same research study concluded that of the adults that do not identify or associate themselves with religious group or sect, “Two- thirds say they believe in God. More than half say they feel a deep connection with nature and the earth and more than a third state they are spiritual but not religious. One in five state that they pray every day.” Knowing this information can prompt two different reactions. One could be that we allow this knowledge to intimidate the church and continue to cripple our efforts to reach these unreached people. The other option is to allow this information to act as a challenge to the church and the believers that congregate under the common thread of Jesus Christ and allow these numbers to propel the church to re-evaluate the evangelistic status quo; go back to the biblical basic of the early church and come up with a new...
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...just them, for instance, in “Salvation” young Langston is most influenced by his aunt and Church family as a whole to be saved. Many people are confused at the actual concept of what it means to be saved. Some think that Jesus will come and physically take over one’s body, while others think that he/she are going to see a bright light and just feel the presence around them. In “Salvation” young Langston was pressured to join the church and was compared to an unsaved “lamb”. In a sense I believe that he made the right choice but in a sense I also believe that he didn’t because he lied to his family and church family. I feel as though he was pressured just a little to hard and as a spur of the moment thing that’s why he was forced to lie because it was getting late and he must have felt deep down in his heart that he was just not going to be saved at that moment. However, becoming an member of the church at a young age will benefit him by providing him with the positive guidance and moral support that he needs and also maybe help him to really find Jesus in his life. As I was growing up, I wasn’t really urged by my father to join the family church because, being an Jamaican male, he didn’t have the same religion as my mom. My mother is a Baptist just as her side of the family has been for as long as we can tell. So it was mostly my mom and grandma who pushed me to get into the church and accept Jesus into my life. However, my father was the role model in my life so if he...
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...as the church, believers need to be more committed to God, be more compassionate when sharing their faith, and be more transparent to visitors. Without these qualities, the church can seem uninviting. As Towns explains, "God designed the church to be a place where interactive relationships help believers experience God" (108). How can visitors experience God's love if believers are not being more like Jesus? This is why it is so important to be aware, as believers, how outsiders view the church as a whole. With these thoughts in mind, the church can only improve. A few ways, for believers to become more committed to God, is for them not to be caught up in the everyday lifestyle. There is so much technology in our world that distracts our attention from God. We need to be in the Word every day to feel His presence. God is our Father. As Towns informs, "family is the foundational social institution of society" (107). Staying committed to a local church is another way for believers to strengthen their relationship with God. Attending only on Sundays; or holidays, does not seem trustworthy or genuine. Towns informs, "The church is a flock that follows the Shepherd" (106). Daily attendance at a local church allows believers to grow in relationship with fellow believers. We were not meant to go through situations alone. The church is one body, with members of unique gifts. The church is suppose to help each other with whatever they need. Outsiders need to see that the church as generous...
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...10 essentials for giving purpose to your church How do you structure a church so it just keeps on growing and doesn't plateau? I believe there are 10 essentials you must focus on as you structure your church. 1. You must develop an unshakable conviction about growth. First and foremost, you need to settle on the idea that God wants His church to grow. And He doesn't want it to stop growing! You don't ever need to apologize for wanting your church to grow. God wants His church to grow; it's His will and His command. The reason churches must grow is because people are going to hell without Jesus Christ. As long as there is one person within driving distance of your church who does not know Jesus Christ, you must keep growing. 2. You must change the primary role of the pastor from minister to leader. You can grow a church to 300 with pastoral skills or ministry skills, but for it to grow beyond 300 will require leadership skills. As a leader, you must learn to communicate your vision in very personal and practical ways. You must also learn to motivate your church through your messages, and understand that it's easier to motivate a group than it is to motivate individuals. A leader also equips others for ministry. Otherwise, you'll burn out and the church won't grow. An expanding ministry also demands you learn how to raise money. Those who write the agenda must underwrite the agenda. And you must learn to manage your time. Effective leaders know where their...
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...to explore their vision, goals, and next steps of an effective strategic plan. Strategic planning is a process that helps focus on aligning the unique gifts and resources that God has given your organization to take advantage of your opportunities. For the Christian, this is not simply projection-based planning but the realization that through prayer and obedience you can be a method to help bring about a future that is in position with God’s will. Through prayer, the framework for a plan can be established. We do the planning, but God does the directing. Simply put, a strategic plan is the formal road map that describes how your organization executes the chosen strategy. A plan predicts where an organization is going over the next year or more and how it is going to get there. A strategic plan is a management tool that serves the purpose of helping an organization do a better job, and it improves organizations because a plan focuses the energy, resources, and time of everyone in the organization in the same direction. Strategic planning does not have to be puzzling or time-consuming. In fact, it should be quick, simple, and easily executed. Additionally, strategic planning is not just something you cross off your list of “to-dos”—you must create a custom of strategic thinking, so your strategic planning does not become an annual retreat but, instead, a part of daily decision making. A good strategic plan achieves the following: • Reflects the values of the organization...
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...I believe in God, I call myself a Christian but in reality I haven’t been to church, read the bible, or prayed to God in about 10 years. I have grown up in a church going family all my life my mom would take me and my brother to church every Sunday. When I was younger my parents actually didn’t get me baptized when I was born they wanted to give me the chance to learn about God in my own way and make that decision myself. When I was thirteen I decided to get baptized, my younger brother took that opportunity to do the same. As I got older I became part of our church’s youth group and I was going to some sort of church function every other night. I believe that it was at this time I began resenting the church world. I felt like my parents were forcing me to go to youth group sometimes it seemed like I was there more than I was at home. Don’t get me wrong I loved all the neat things we did like mission trips and things that helped the community it was just the bible study part that I didn’t like I guess. After I graduated high school I went away to college at a Presbyterian private school in Arkansas, even though I had been so active in my youth group here at home there I didn’t have a church to attend and did not feel comfortable going to the chapel on campus. Even when I would come home during breaks my relationship with God and my church attendance seemed to fizzle out. I should have then seen my soon downward spiral coming, soon after my first year of college I was on academic...
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...Assess the view that secularisation has been a feature only of modern European society. (33 marks) Secularisation is the transformation of a society from one where religious belief played an important part, to one where it has less and less influence. In the UK it is fair to say that there have been some major changes in the religious beliefs that people have. For example there has been a decline in the percentage of the population going to church and there are now fewer baptisms and church weddings. One reason for this could be that there is a might greater variety of new religions and new age movements that seem to appeal more to society today. Wilson argues that Western society has been going through a long process of secularisation and that since the 1960s the percentage of people going to church has fallen by around 30%. Statistics like this show that European society, in particular, is becoming a lot more secular. Rationalisation is one way that secularisation in Europe can be explained. This is when rational ways of thinking come to replace religious ones and many sociologists argue that this is what has happened in Western society. Weber argues that the process of rationalisation began in the Protestant Reformation which undermined the religious worldview and brought to light the rational scientific outlook. For Weber the medieval Catholic view that dominated Europe saw the world as being like an enchanted garden and God (as well as other spiritual beings) were seen...
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