In a world where more and more people are choosing to forego organized religion, what do you call someone who doesn’t go to church?
Depending on your own religious beliefs (or lack thereof), the label you apply to someone who doesn’t go to church could be very different.
For some, not going to church simply means that they don’t subscribe to any particular religion. They may still believe in a higher power or follow their own spiritual practices, but they don’t feel the need to participate in organized religion.
Others may have been raised in a religious household but have since rejected the beliefs of their childhood. And still, others may have never set foot in a church, mosque, or temple and have no interest in doing so.
In this article, we’ll be exploring the most relevant angles to this and provide a few names you can use to refer to someone who doesn’t go to church.
5 Names To Call Someone Who Doesn’t Go To Church
It’s not uncommon for people to feel out of place when they don’t go to church. There are a lot of terms that people use to describe those who don’t go to church, but I’ll be narrowing them down into two major parts.
Firstly, there are some people who are affiliated with other religions and don’t have any business with the church, so they definitely won’t attend (Muslims, Buddhists, etc.). It’s clear that they can’t attend.
The next set is the people who are Christians but don’t go to church. This is a question of lifestyle and here are some names you can call them:
1. A non-churchgoer
A non-churchgoer is someone who doesn’t go to church. They may have never been to church, or they may have stopped going at some point in their life.
There are many reasons why someone might not go to church. Maybe they don’t believe in God, or they don’t like the religion that their family follows.
Maybe they think that churches are boring, or they don’t like the people who go there. Whatever the reason, a non-churchgoer is someone who chooses not to participate in this particular type of religious activity.
There are many different types of churches, and each one has its own community of believers. Some churches are very large, with hundreds or even thousands of members.
Others are much smaller, with only a handful of people. Some churches are traditional, with formal services and strict rules. Others are more relaxed, and they may even allow non-believers to attend their services.
No matter what type of church you go to, if you don’t believe in God, or if you don’t like the religion that your family follows, you may not feel comfortable there.
You may feel like an outsider, or like you don’t belong. This can be a very isolating feeling, and it can make going to church a very unpleasant experience.
If you know someone with these characteristics and doesn’t go to church, you can call them a non-churchgoer.
2. A non-trinitarian
A nontrinitarian is someone who does not believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, which states that there is one God in three persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Nontrinitarians instead believe that there is only one God.
This belief was historically held by such groups as Judaism and Islam
Nontrinitarians are often critical of trinitarianism, arguing that it is a man-made doctrine that is not supported by scripture. They also argue that the Trinity doctrine makes God a confusing and contradictory being.
This form the basis of why a nontrinitarian is someone who doesn’t go to church. So, if you know someone who doesn’t go to church because of this, you can call them a non-trinitarian.
3. A secular Christian
A secular Christian is someone who doesn’t go to church. They may believe in Jesus Christ as their savior, but they don’t feel the need to go to church or be involved in organized religion.
This doesn’t mean that they don’t have a personal relationship with God, it just means that they don’t feel the need for religion in their lives.
There are many reasons why someone might choose to be a secular Christian. Maybe they grew up in a religious family but never really felt connected to it.
Or maybe they’ve had negative experiences with organized religion in the past and don’t want anything to do with it. Whatever the reason, being a secular Christian means having your own unique relationship with God that doesn’t involve going to church.
Secular Christians believe that there are many ways to live a Christian life without going to church. You can read the Bible, pray, and meditate on God’s word.
You can also serve your community and help those in need. There are endless opportunities to grow in your faith without being part of organized religion.
If you know someone who doesn’t go to church because of this, you can call them a secular Christian.
The last set is the set of people who don’t even believe in God. So, churchgoing is out of it for them. We’ll be looking at names to call this set of people
4. An atheist
An atheist is someone who doesn’t believe in God or any other deities. Atheism is not a religion; it’s simply a lack of belief in gods. It’s not a belief system that one follows, like Christianity or Islam. Rather, atheism is the absence of religious beliefs.
Atheists come from all walks of life and have different reasons for their disbelief. Some atheists were raised in religious families but came to realize that they don’t believe in the same things as their parents.
Others have always been skeptical of religion and never really bought into it. And still, others may have once been religious but lost their faith after experiencing something that called into question their beliefs.
They definitely don’t attend church, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have morals. Many atheists live by their own set of values and principles.
Some people may see atheism as a lack of belief, but for many atheists, it’s a positive choice. It’s a way of life that allows them to focus on the here and now instead of worrying about an afterlife.
5. An agnostic
An agnostic is someone who doesn’t go to church. They may believe in a higher power, but don’t worship any particular god or gods. Agnostics are often seen as skeptical or non-committal when it comes to religion.
There are different types of agnosticism, and people may hold different views on what agnosticism means. For some, it simply means not being sure about the existence of God.
Others may use it to describe a more general skepticism toward all claims about the supernatural or paranormal.
Agnostics tend to avoid dogmatic statements about religious beliefs. They may say that they don’t know if there is a God or not, and that it’s impossible to know for sure.
This lack of certainty is what separates agnostics from atheists. Agnostics may also believe that it’s not possible to know anything about the nature of God or the afterlife.
This doesn’t mean that they don’t believe in these things, just that they don’t think we can know anything for certain about them.
So, the above are various words you can call various people who don’t go to church depending on their beliefs and preferences. Ensure you use these names accordingly.
7 Reasons Why Christians Don’t Go To Church
When it comes to church, there are a lot of different opinions out there. Some people love going to church and feel that it is an important part of their life, while others find it to be a waste of time or even boring.
There are also those who used to go to church but have since stopped for various reasons.
One group of people who often don’t go to church are Christians. While there are many Christians who do attend church regularly, there are also many who don’t.
Here are seven reasons why some Christians choose not to go to church:
1. They Don’t Believe in Organized Religion
For some Christians, the idea of organized religion doesn’t sit well with them. They may believe that Christianity is a personal relationship with God and that attending church isn’t necessary for that.
2. They Don’t Like the Hypocrisy
Unfortunately, there are many people who claim to be Christians but don’t live up to the ideals of the religion. This can be frustrating and off-putting for some, causing them to stay away from church altogether.
3. They Disagree with the Teachings
When it comes to Christianity, there are a wide variety of teachings out there. And while some Christians may choose to go to church because they agree with the teachings, others may not go because they disagree with them.
There are a number of reasons why someone might disagree with the teachings of their church. Maybe they don’t believe in certain doctrines, or maybe they feel like the church isn’t teaching the gospel correctly.
Whatever the reason, there are Christians out there who have chosen not to go to church because they don’t agree with what is being taught.
There are certain aspects of Christianity that some people disagree with. For example, they may not believe in Hell or they may think that women should be allowed to be clergy members. Because of these disagreements, they may feel like the church isn’t the place for them.
4. They Haven’t Found a Church They Like
For many people, finding a church that they feel comfortable with is important. If they haven’t been able to find a church that meets their needs, they may choose not to go to any church at all.
Not all churches are created equal. Just like any other organization, each church has its own unique culture and atmosphere. And just like anything else in life, it’s important to find a church that’s the right fit for you.
With the rise of social media and online streaming services, people have more options than ever when it comes to how they consume religious content. As a result, they’re less likely to tolerate a sub-par experience at their local church.
5. They Don’t Have Time for Church
Between work, family, and other commitments, some people simply don’t have time for church. This doesn’t mean that they don’t believe in Christianity, it just means that attending church isn’t a priority for them right now.
6. They Don’t Need Church to Be a Christian
Some Christians feel that you don’t need to go to church to be a good Christian. As long as you have a personal relationship with God and live your life according to Christian values, that’s all that matters.
7. They’ve Had a Bad Experience
Unfortunately, there are some people who have had negative experiences with church in the past. Maybe they were treated poorly by other church members or maybe they just didn’t like the overall atmosphere.
Whatever the reason, these bad experiences can often be enough to keep someone away from church altogether.
While there are many different reasons why Christians choose not to go to church, ultimately it is up to each individual to decide what is best for them.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to this decision, so ultimately it is a personal one that each Christian must make on their own.
Finally
It’s not uncommon for people to not go to church. There are many reasons why someone may not go to church. Maybe they don’t believe in God or they don’t like the idea of organized religion.
Maybe they had a bad experience with religion in the past or they simply don’t see the need for it in their life. Whatever the reason, there is no shame in not going to church. You can still be a good person without attending religious services.
