It's pretty simple, as Davo said earlier, if you don't believe in the Catholic faith fine, go to your own denomination of choice. However, I get tired of people bitching about the Catholic church. Go be Lutheran, BAptist, Mormon, whatever.
The Bible also doesn't say "Go forth and develop many different sects of my faith (Christianity)." The Catholic Chruch has been around longer than any other of the denomitions and is the largest Christian faith on the planet. So the Catholic faith must be doing something right...
Let me also add too, that I don't disagree with what you are saying in regards to 'pomp and circumstance;' however, when one learns what each tradition represents etc, it becomes much more than that.
Originally posted by svt4stv:
but anything more just seems like a bunch of "pomp and circumstance". after all, you're there to worship and praise God. The Bible does not list any specific routines for doing this. you dont even have to be in a church (building) to do this. there are many churches that even meet in office buildings and parks. a gathering of believers praising and worshipping God in fellowship. what more do you need. i dont think God requires any more than that. Didnt Jesus hold "services" and sermons out in the open to the people?
tradition is fine but i dont think it should be the primary focus. as long as the job gets done. 
besides the specific routines, a typical Catholic church service is basically the same as any typical protestand church service (of the mainstream groups) with plenty of singing, a sermon, prayer and an offering; add lots of kneeling 
on a side note: i was watching an interesting documentary on the History channel on gangsters. Al Capone was not allowed to be buried in a Catholic cemetary! Why?! because he was a notorious, murderous criminal?? NO! because he was divorced 
