When if you can't go to church on Christmas Eve at midnight is that bad being a christian or Catholic?

Answer 1

Your intentions, good will, and spirituality are what make you a "good" member of your religion, no matter what that religion is. Attending a mass, or visiting temple, or singing a certain traditional song at a certain traditional time are all just symbols. They may be symbols of your devotion, they may be simply habits, but they cannot define who you are. Attendance at a function is a secular and political way of defining good and bad. It isn't how you are rated by God. God watches your contributions over the long haul, not one night. Those who rate you this way are clearly judging you and that's taboo in most religions. Those are the people, not the spirit. Any church, religion, or family member who would judge you as a "bad" member due to your attendance isn't living up to their own high standards. Make sure when they start with the guilt that you remind them to read their good book again. Read that holy text again for yourself, too. This time without your pastor/imam/priest looking over your shoulder. Find out what it means to you. Better yet take a comparitive religions course at your local community college. All religions have certain similar standards. They all expect you to go forth and do good and to do well. They all insist you should treat others with respect. They all strive to show several different ways in which you can be a good person. I don't recall any that say you'll be punished for missing a single church service.