Do Catholics have most boring churches/ liturgy?

[InquiringMind]

Apparently, none of you have ever been to a Mormon service. I've been to a couple Catholic masses, and compared to Mormon services, I actually thought that the Catholic services were appealing and almost beautiful. Mormon services are really boring. Like really, really, really boring. Mormon sermons are given by amateurs who are frequently poorly prepared. Music is often performed by people with mediocre musical talent, and from a pretty restricted repertoire of songs, because "unapproved" music is looked on with suspicion. And when the speaker announces the topic of their sermon, you can almost predict what the content will be because it's usually a rehash of everything you've heard a thousand times on that topic.

[Jesster]

Oh, good call on that one. Mormons are particularly bad about that. No fun allowed. At least Catholics appreciate pretty things.

[InquiringMind]

Oh, good call on that one. Mormons are particularly bad about that. No fun allowed. At least Catholics appreciate pretty things.

Yeah, that's another thing.  Mormon chapels are quite visually sterile.  It was an emotional experience for me to walk into a cathedral and take in the beauty.  And when I've gone to Catholic masses, I usually would stay after the mass and walk around the cathedral and gawk at the beauty.  Many Mormon church buildings have cinderblock hallways painted white, and the chapels have carpet-looking stuff on the walls.  Some of the new chapels are a little nicer, as are some of the chapels more than 50 years old.  But most chapels built in the last half of the 20th Century look bland and sterile, and most all of the art and religious symbolism was removed from their design.

And the music...I like Catholic masses sung in Latin.  They're gorgeous.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir does sound pretty good, but their religious music also has a sterile feel to it, even if their performances of secular music are world-class. And your average local Mormon congregational choir isn't nearly that good.

[Catholic_Lady]

Let me add, that while I do think Mass is generally boring, there are many songs I like a lot, and when it's a church that has a good choir, I do really enjoy that part of it. 

I couldn't find much on google, but I do like this song:

[The Grand Nudger]

Witness services, super boring.  They are very literally nothing other than a bunch of people sitting on folding chairs agreeing that they all agree.

[Whateverist]

Oh, good call on that one. Mormons are particularly bad about that. No fun allowed. At least Catholics appreciate pretty things.

Well put.  I see that too, albeit with only one mass attended.  Going to one did not bore me.  And, you know, stained glass and quaint old stone masonry is cool if you live in a modern architecturally nothing building like I do.

[Rev. Rye]

Oh, good call on that one. Mormons are particularly bad about that. No fun allowed. At least Catholics appreciate pretty things.

Yeah, that's another thing.  Mormon chapels are quite visually sterile.  It was an emotional experience for me to walk into a cathedral and take in the beauty.  And when I've gone to Catholic masses, I usually would stay after the mass and walk around the cathedral and gawk at the beauty.  Many Mormon church buildings have cinderblock hallways painted white, and the chapels have carpet-looking stuff on the walls.  Some of the new chapels are a little nicer, as are some of the chapels more than 50 years old.  But most chapels built in the last half of the 20th Century look bland and sterile, and most all of the art and religious symbolism was removed from their design.

And the music...I like Catholic masses sung in Latin.  They're gorgeous.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir does sound pretty good, but their religious music also has a sterile feel to it, even if their performances of secular music are world-class. And your average local Mormon congregational choir isn't nearly that good.

Honestly, I've never actually attended a Mormon service, but, as someone raised in the Lutheran Church, I'm honestly inclined to say that mainline Protestant sects tend to be far more boring than the Catholic churches. At least when I went to a Catholic school, some of the priests could at least muster an interesting sermon on occasion. It was still largely pap, but there was still a modicum more of substance than the Protestants.

[Fake Messiah]

The talking in unison gives me the heebie-jeebies now... sounds like a creepy cult (well it is)

Yes. Whenever I hear that prayer "Our Father" on TV or radio it immediately reminds me of "We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile." It sounds exactly the same.

[KevinM1]

The churches around here tend to fall into two categories:

Old, small New England. Dark and drab and dreary passed off as 'character' or 'charm'.
New construction. Bland and uninspired. Cookie-cutter, with no personality at all.

Best church I've been in was the one my brother got married in. It tried to mimic the kind of Catholic churches that are a big deal down in Boston. The rest have been forgettable to unpleasant.

[Faith No More]

I don't know. Trying to pick which service is the most boring is like trying to pick which politician is the biggest asshole. I mean, why do you think they make those pews so goddamn uncomfortable? They don't want you falling asleep.