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It is important, though it doesn't have to be quite so formal, I think. The early church wasn't that formal, and I think it's really just important for Christians to gather together. It's importance can be seen in other ways in the Bible, I think, especially considering it tells us to forsake the world and bad company. Gathering together is a great way to help those two things happen. Besides that, I've heard a lot of stories of Christians who fall away because they don't have anyone to guide them. I think Christians supporting and helping one another is supposed to help prevent that, so in some cases it could be vital. The church is an imperfect reflection. And the last one depends on what specific Christian beliefs your parents hold. I couldn't really give advice regarding a Catholic, for example.

I've heard that the earliest mass was actually a simple meal with a group of people who discussed scripture and theology. There was no real priesthood to speak of, simply discussion. And there was certainly less of this rigorous "Stand, sit, stand, sit, kneel, stand, sit, eat your wafer, stand, go home" business- There was breaking of bread and drinking of wine, and that's where the idea came from. But it's become so corrupted, in my mind, that there's no real learning going on. And that's what religion should be about- Affirming your soul and learning about God through introspection and logic, rather than ritual and dogma.

It's not nessesary for Christians to go to church. All God wants is to have you back with him. About reciting the bible, not even my pastor can do that. It's too long. I'm suggest going to the early mass as stated above. Though it sounds like you're cathlic (sorry if I spelt it wrong) and I'm not. At our early service we have a christian praise band play.

For reading may I suggest the gospel of St. Thomas, it is a Gnostic gospel and one of my favorites. But within it says basically that you do not have to go a church to worship God.
To me what it comes down to is if you are not comfortable with it then that faith is not for you. But I do understand the problem with having family members that don't understand you and don't even fully grasp their own religious beliefs. To me the absolutely worst thing is people who go to church because to them it looks good but then they lack moral values. But when it comes right down to it, you are going to be hard pressed to change their minds.

But does it matter, then, which church or which religion? If the important point is the social aspect, why not join a different church, or simply be an active member of the community, or go to a bunch of parties?

That's one of the sad things about the Western Church is that most of the meaning behind the rituals has been forgotten. Part of my favoritism toward the Eastern Church, though I'll never be able to be a member since I'm a heretic, is that they still understand the meanings. But yeah I do agree with you, if there is no meaning behind the rituals, then it's just a robotic action that does nothing.

All I can say is that if it's keeping you from understanding God then drop it. God made Sabbath for man.

Well technically the Holy Spirit is God in most Christian theologies so if you don't think they would understand it, then just tell them that you don't feel God at that Church.

I myself believe that "Going to" church is not Biblical. The original Christians gathered together to help one another. They helped with each other's work and then they would have a meal and they would discuss their Faith. They didn't do this on the Sabbath, because you were not supposed to work or travel on the Sabbath.

There was a leader that would make rounds to see that everyone was well, and each community had a "pastor" that people could take questions to.

"Going to" church didn't start until the persecutions pushed believers underground. Christians set up shrines as markers where people could gather, or went into the catacombs and graveyards because that was the one place Romans would not go. They started to meet on the Sabbath, because the authorities understood that the Christians were beholden to so many of the Judaic traditions, the Sabbath rules notwithstanding.

When the Romans, particularly Constantine recognized Christianity as a religion, the wheels were set in motion to get the whole thing "organized". Constantine incorporated many of the traditions of the sect of Mithras, as he was convinced that, Mithras and the God of the Christians were the same. He set up the first counsels to set a specific cannon. Constantine provided the way for the church to become institutionalized, which came to be known as the Roman Catholic Church.

The Early RCC began to prohibit any writting that they could not agree on, even scriptures that Jesus Himself quoted from. One of the most notable and sad exclusions that was made was the book of Enoch... anyway, that's getting off-topic....

My point is, most pastors don't know their history, many can not even tell you what books were written in Hebrew, or Greek, or Aramaic. People go in to these institutions to learn, and they just get quoted to out of the Bible.

If you really want the Church to mean something, you need to get out there with fellow believers, and DO something, not sit on your a**. That is where fellowship comes in, and that was what the Church is supposed to be about. You don't fellowship if you walk into a building, sit down, listen to a half hour of someone telling you what and what not to do, and then leaving.

A church is supposed to be a family that cares, and works for each other. There are only a very few of those left, and they still have some improvements to make.