An interesting conversation sprung up with my teacher in Bali. He mentioned a big difference between the western world and eastern world. In the Western world, we go to church when we feel bad, when we need healing, when our life is shattered, etc. But, here in Bali, people only go to the temple when they are good in the head, when they are free of illness and pain, and when their positive energy will add to the energy of the temple. They believe that by creating a positive energy in their temples, it can collectively heal the world. The Balinese give to the temple, creating a very positive environment. Conversely, Westerners take from their church, creating a negative environment.
In order to be able to go inside an Eastern Temple, one must wear the appropriate attire: Cabilla (blouse that covers shoulders), serong, and a belt or sash. In most western churches, the dress code has become very lax.
Of course this is a very general statement and doesn’t apply to all churches. I know we have a few good churches out there. But it indeed reflects overall how different our mindsets are.