Community Chat

[gidgetgh]

Full disclosure.  I’ve been to church twice in like 350 years. Before I was married, I went pretty regularly.  Ok, well kind of maybe regularly. Ok....I went occasionally.

In the Methodist church back when I went (even years and years ago when I went faithfully)  we never did this at all.  Then one day I went, to the same church, and we’re sitting there and then....and then....there it was!  I was thinking “what the heck is this?!!!  I literally had no idea.  It shocked me as I had no idea what it was or that it was coming. I was very uncomfortable.  Almost get me out of here uncomfortable.  

I am not a fan at all. Not in the germaphobe sense, but in the it comes out of nowhere and it’s loud and chaotic and then boom, it’s over sense. And then there’s always the, depending on where you’re sitting, people on either side might turn to the left or to the right and you’re standing there by yourself.  AWKWARD.  And I hate awkward. 

[occasionalrain]

If no one likes it, why are we still doing it? Someone should bring it up at the next annual meeting and ask for a vote. It would have to be a secret vote, no one would want to be seen voting against peace.

[bikerbabe]

I DO like it. I sometimes feel like if we took it more seriously maybe we would actually treat each other better after we walked out the door of the church and back into our every day lives.

[Cakers3]

MONK

[Bri369]

At our church, immediate family members have been kissing and/or hugging.  That, I'm fine with.

I usually shake hands with the people behind me or in front of me.  It's always awkward because I feel like I'm unintentionally avoiding people. 

[Krimpette]

We've been doing that at my church for years.  I have no problem with it.  In fact, I'd miss it if it was stopped.

[ValuSkr]

This is an interesting question - I haven't seen it discussed before.  I don't care for it, but haven't viewed it as controversial.  You're right that, in some churches, peace-passing has turned into an intermission of sorts.  Thinking about it, it's just one of many things that are discouraging about church.

[Cakers3]

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@bikerbabe wrote:
I DO like it. I sometimes feel like if we took it more seriously maybe we would actually treat each other better after we walked out the door of the church and back into our every day lives.

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@bikerbabe  You make a wonderful point but unfortunately many people are not comfortable with it-for a myriad of reasons.  Hands hurting from arthritis, flu season, just not comfortable touching strangers, etc.

People are going to treat other people regardless of participation.  I agree that many just dash out-look at the parking lot where people will not even let somebody in line to exit.   So much for treating others better.

If it makes just one person pause, we could hope for a pay it forward scenario but I don't hold my breath.  If every person attending services had the right reasons to be there, it would make more sense.  Yet we all know that isn't true.

The best we can do is to try to be better people regardless of some peace exchange in church.  If we are examples in real life, that will have more weight with others than the peace exchange.

jmoymmv

[alarmclock]

I am 57 and Catholic.  We have always had a handshake.  Nothing new for me.

[esmerelda]

I don’t like it and never have. In any form. It’s staged/orchestrated and IMO that makes it phony.  It’s socializing. Wait until the service is over.  Or get there early enough before the service starts.