Communal Dimension of Faith
Mark Galli, managing editor of the Evangelical magazine Christianity Today, said:
"It's a cliche now to call institutional religion 'oppressive, patriarchal, out of date and out of touch.' So what else is new? I feel sorry for those people who don't think there's anything greater than themselves. It must feel like a lonely and frightening world for them. Lone-ranger spirituality is not conducive to taking us to the depths God designed us to go. It leaves out the communal dimension of faith. If you leave out the irritations, frustrations and joy that community entails, you miss something about God." [emphasis added by me]
Source: http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_prac2.htm
I must agree with this sentiment. I can no longer imagine my religious practice without my community. How can you experience true joy without persons to share it with? How can you grow and evolve if you are not challenged by your peers? How can you continually live by your convictions without anyone to call you on your bullshit when you stray through ego or intolerance?