bethany102399
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,540
Oct 11, 2014 3:17:29 GMT
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Post by bethany102399 on Aug 1, 2023 18:10:30 GMT
attended and held many positions of responsibility for 42 years in my church. I stopped attending in February 2023. We are a congregation led church--meaning the members vote on the leadership and big decisions. We got a new minister and she is running the church as her personal dictatorship. The current congregation leader was head of the committee who selected her so he doesn't want to voice disapproval. Many are unhappy but no one wants to lead the rebellion. She selected church officers without the committee doing so. She hired a second minister, no congregation meeting for approval. She told the adult SS class what they would be studying (for 40+ years the class decided what to study)...... I am voting with my feet and my money. I've seen this happen with my parents church. Bring in someone who is not the right fit, or doesn't want to run things the way they are structured to run and you can kill a congregation. I'm sorry, it creates a terrible situation. I did not like the church that we attended. It's huge, non-denominational, concert feel and it's not how I want to worship. YES. DH's parents attend a mega church that does this. We attend when we visit, but to me it's not how I want to worship.
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Post by monklady123 on Aug 1, 2023 18:15:06 GMT
I will start by saying that I did not read the article, I am just going to answer the question. I never really went to church on a regular basis. Growing up we didn't go to church often but on holidays. When I got married, we moved away and never went to church or sought one out. Once we came back, it was again, only on holidays. But I did start to go to Bible study and honestly got a lot out of that. Then recently, I talked my SO into going to a Christian church. He was raised Catholic and I was Lutheran. I went to his church and I can honestly say I was bored and didn't care for it. I was not getting anything out of it other than being annoyed that I was there. We finally did a Christmas service last year at the Christian church by us. And he loved it. We have been going pretty much every Sunday since then. I am a big believer that you have to find the right church. We feel comfortable there and enjoy the singing (live band). It has really been a growing process for the both of us. This is what keeps me going back. I'm curious about what a "Christian" church is, apart from the Roman Catholic church and the Lutheran church, both of which *are* Christian. Do you mean non-denominational?
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Post by littlemama on Aug 1, 2023 18:15:41 GMT
I mean, losing faith in the existence of god is a pretty good reason to stop going. I'm confused why those who have experienced this are excluded from posting here. I don't need to disparage anyone else's belief, and perhaps that's really what you don't want to see here. But if you want a true look at why people stop attending, I think perhaps the loss of belief needs to be considered. As it happens, though, that's not exactly why I stopped attending. I went through a searching phase in my early 20s and did a lot of reading on scripture and apologetics, and came away from it with a strong feeling that all the stuff I'd been raised to believe was not true. But most of any approval I received from my mom was based on church attendance/faithfulness, so we kept going for years. I was a cantor at Mass. Had my kids baptized in the church (though the younger one was baptized in the "wrong" church, and my parents did not attend). I quit going when my parents died. If I didn't believe in what was being said, and didn't need to fear withdrawal of my parents' love and approval, then it didn't seem necessary to go. That's why I stopped attending. I think that not believing in God is a known reason for people leaving the church permamently, but the article seems to be more about those who left, but still consider themselves Christian and could potentially be tempted back to church. I have seen plenty of threads about religion turn into religion bashing, particularly by those who do mot believe in God, so I understand the request made in the OP. That being said, your story is interesting and maybe that is a different question to be asked- why do/did you continue to attend church. I bet for many of people, pressure/approval from their families is a big part of it.
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Post by workingclassdog on Aug 1, 2023 18:19:44 GMT
We recently attended a Catholic funeral mass. I grew up in a Congregational church and attended one as an adult, so the mass was really unfamiliar. Congregational churches are welcoming, somewhat relaxed, informal and relatively simple, probably the polar opposite of the Catholic Church. Congregational churches are likely on the far end of the spectrum of Protestantism, far away from the Catholic Church. I understand the rituals can be comforting. But, I was really put off by the priest and the mass. This might be true for all Catholic masses, but the priest only encouraged Catholics in good standing with regular attendance to receive communion. I understand only Catholics receiving communion, but this just seemed a little extreme. There were no directions given on when to kneel, sit or stand. The eulogy was cut short and everything had to be related to the church. Politics aside, after that experience, I’m not at all surprised numbers are declining in the Catholic Churches. Growing up I was active in our church. I attended Sunday school, sang in the choir, was confirmed in the church and actively participated in the youth group. We did a lot of fundraising and took several week long service trips to rural West Virginia and Tennessee with a project similar to Habitat for Humanity. In college, I kind of drifted away from church, but found my way back when we got married and had kids. My boys were baptized in a church and attended vacation bible school and Sunday School. Then we moved and didn’t really put in the effort to find a new church. My husband worked every other weekend, the boys were little and it seemed like a big effort to get them ready and take them to a new church where we didn’t know anyone. We occasionally go to Christmas Eve services at the local church, but I never really connected with the pastor there. I grew up Catholic (not now).. when my older kids were little we went to a Congregational church for years. Did all the VBS, donated my time, even got a part time job cleaning the church. Two things happened. One, my daughter brought her friend to church, and she is Catholic. I kinda told her it was totally different from a Catholic service. THAT one service the pastor must have been on drugs.. I don't know. The next thing I heard from him, he was saying "Catholics were going to hell" I don't even remember anything before or after that. I was mortified. I was frozen. I should have walked out. I should have called him out on it during the service. I sat there stunned. All three of us were like deer in the headlights type thing. Second thing we had a two faced 'elder' although he wasn't elderly... but he had a pull with the church. I got tired of his shenignanas and that was the end of that church.
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Post by kimpossible on Aug 1, 2023 18:23:51 GMT
I guess overall, my reason is I just can't accept the hypocrisy and the cliques I see in organized religion. This...hard to find a religion where this does not go on...
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 1, 2023 18:25:54 GMT
I mean, losing faith in the existence of god is a pretty good reason to stop going. I'm confused why those who have experienced this are excluded from posting here. I don't need to disparage anyone else's belief, and perhaps that's really what you don't want to see here. But if you want a true look at why people stop attending, I think perhaps the loss of belief needs to be considered. I really did want to discuss why people who consider themselves to be believers do or do not attend services. I can't control anything, but I was trying to make it clear in my OP that the topic I was trying to get at was why believers don't go to church. What is holding *them* back. It goes along with the article I posted. Most non-believers don't attend and that is what is holding them back. So I get that position and that aspect of it. It just wasn't germain to the conversation I was wanting to have. However, there also are those who cross the line from "I don't believe" to disparaging people with faith. And hey, if my request kept that out of here, I don't feel bad about it.
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Post by papersilly on Aug 1, 2023 18:32:56 GMT
in elementary and junior high school we went to a catholic church. i didn't particularly enjoy it. hard to have respect for the institution when the priests make the local headlines for impregnating a 16 year old parishioner. none of them would confess to who did it but it became abundantly clear when the baby was born and she was the spitting image of her dad. that priest got moved to another parish. it was a scandal for years.
then my mom sent us to a baptist church while she and my dad continued to go to the catholic church. so random and yet it was the best church experience i've had to this day. for whatever reason, we kids stopped going to church altogether when we started going to college. maybe earlier.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 1, 2023 18:34:23 GMT
Recently I met a retired pastor and his wife, who do a bible group in their home on Sundays. Very small group. I have been going to that. This is a great way to get your spiritual needs met. I am a great admirer of Jesus and church people for the most part don't even come close to following his teachings. As an overall non-believer I try very hard to follow the teachings of Jesus because, for me, it is the right way to live my life. I am not a person who believes Jesus is the son of God, but I agree that his teachings are beautiful. And worth considering even if only as a fable or a piece of philosophy. I don't attend anymore for exactly that reason - it reminds me so much of happy times with my family but the ex just shattered it all and it brings me to tears thinking about how much he destroyed every time I try to stay for a service. I am back and better and my kids are all doing well so really, it probably is time to try again, as I was thinking last night. Please don't let your ex-husband take this joy from you. If it brings you happiness to go, go for yourself. You deserve to not be held down by his jerkiness anymore. I want to be part of a church community again, but between laziness and making sure that it is LGTBQ accepting, it just hasn't happened. There is a good chance I might go back to our original church. I would hope after 10 years whatever had happened in the past was dealt with and moved beyond. But the biggest kicker for me, the one thing that WILL make me walk away is that our pastor asked us to think about becoming a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) church which means we would publicly state that we welcome ALL, including LGBTQIA+. People are balking at that for reasons I can NOT understand. If our church decides to not becoming RIC then I'm out. Jesus tells us to love EVERYBODY and welcome EVERYBODY to him. If we don't, I'm out. I get this reason too.
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Post by sideways on Aug 1, 2023 18:35:42 GMT
I mean, losing faith in the existence of god is a pretty good reason to stop going. I'm confused why those who have experienced this are excluded from posting here. I don't need to disparage anyone else's belief, and perhaps that's really what you don't want to see here. But if you want a true look at why people stop attending, I think perhaps the loss of belief needs to be considered. I really did want to discuss why people who consider themselves to be believers do or do not attend services. I can't control anything, but I was trying to make it clear in my OP that the topic I was trying to get at was why believers don't go to church. What is holding *them* back. You could’ve just said that.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 1, 2023 18:45:31 GMT
I really did want to discuss why people who consider themselves to be believers do or do not attend services. I can't control anything, but I was trying to make it clear in my OP that the topic I was trying to get at was why believers don't go to church. What is holding *them* back. You could’ve just said that. I did. I said that in my OP that I wanted believers to respond and non believers not to. I attached an article about how 21st century living has kept believers away and wondered out loud if this was really the crux of the issue. My participation in this thread has been consistent. What is it you think was unclear?
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Aug 1, 2023 18:54:19 GMT
DH were very active, too active, in our previous church. I looked at the bulletin one Sunday and realized I was planning or a primary participant in each event. I was working to step back and someone told me that Jesus told them I should do something more in the church. I simply said if Jesus wants me to do something, Jesus will talk to me directly. For me we stopped going to that church when they announced the planned musician could not make it and we all need to pray for him. Instantly people asked what was wrong, but the leader said he was not at liberty to say. You should have said nothing, no one knew who led music until they walked in that day. He couldn't make it because you all decided his marital problems no longer made him worthy of singing. I arranged the musicians and ran the sound board. At that moment I decided I would not return. For DH it was when someone approached the elders to use the church on Sunday evenings, when we were not using it, for a service in their native language. DH was so excited to support a part of our community, but the other elders, well the one that gave the most $$, said they did not think it was a good fit.
We tried churches where we lived, but none felt right. I think we were not ready to be part of one yet. We were both just done. Also, in some churches when they spot someone new they are all over you. It was a little much. One fine gentleman welcomed us and then made comments that we did not have the "right" bible and that his wife grew up Catholic, but luckily she moved away from that teaching. I was raised Catholic, and from what I learned as an adult, by a very progressive and welcoming priest. I don't ever remember him saying anything negative about another religion or person.
So basically, we got burnt out and have not taken the time to find another church. We talk about it, but not sure yet.
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Post by agengr2004 on Aug 1, 2023 19:24:20 GMT
I attended church all of my young life and when I stopped attending services/activities I still considered myself a believer. What it ultimatley boiled down to is that I no longer believed this sentiment rght here:
Those things were always there, the church made it dirty to talk about them.
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Post by mollycoddle on Aug 1, 2023 19:42:36 GMT
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,630
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 1, 2023 20:23:02 GMT
Ooh, I will try to keep this relatively short.
Baptized, confirmed Roman Catholic - 12 years of Catholic school, married in the Catholic church to a Catholic guy. President of our church's mother's club; taught Sunday school.
Never really got much out of Mass or organized religion - sitting through Mass was sort of torturous to me - so boring.
We Baptized our first 3 girls but were always "cafeteria Catholics" - had sex before we were married, practiced birth control, were LGBTQ supporters (dh has two gay siblings); pro-choice etc... I rarely went to church, but my dh would take the girls pretty regularly. He liked church more than I did - he found it peaceful and meditative and got that from it.
Then the wheels started to fall off the cart - the child abuse scandal exploded (and the priests in our parish were having the Sunday school moms go through all the security training and finally one of the moms said in a meeting "Um, we're not really the problem here...") - my dh's childhood church was one of the first to be publicized as a place where chronic abuse went on and that shook him up (he wasn't abused but he knew the priests involved and a lot of the survivors.)
And it seemed like every time I gave in and went to mass with dh, the homily would be about how bad gay people were or Jews (yep - that day was a doozy - I got up and left) or the time I went back after Columbine because I felt I needed *something* and they didn't mention it.
And then my oldest was volunteering as an altar server one hot summer day and wore shorts under her robe. Now, "shorts" is being generous: they were LLBean khakis that came right above the knee. She did her altar serving job with her robe covering her clothes (as one does) and after mass, she took her robe off and put it away and an old man came up to her, pointed to her legs and said "you should be ashamed."
Same kid got to the point when it was time to be confirmed and had to write a letter to the Bishop about why she wanted to be confirmed. She came to us crying and said "I can't do it. I don't believe in anything the Catholic church believes in: woman should be priests! Priests should be allowed to get married! I believe in abortion rights and LGBTQ rights and contraception in third world countries. And you both do too! How can you go to a church and then tell us not to listen to what they are saying?!?"
And we said "you are 100 percent correct. Let's find another church."
So we church hunted and landed on the Episcopal church. My oldest 3 were confirmed in the Episcopal church but we don't really ever go to mass. I love the church, I love the people, I love the message - but one big difference between the Catholic church and the Episcopal church is with the Catholic church you can just go to mass and no one knows you and you're totally anonymous and you don't have to volunteer to do anything if you don't want. With our Episcopal church, if you go you have to volunteer to run coffee hour or teach Sunday school or a hundred other things - and sometimes I just don't want to feel like I have to do that stuff. It's selfish, I suppose, but I give of my time in a million other ways - I don't want to have to work on Sundays too.
So, there you have it - I guess it can be distilled down to 1. The Catholic Church just had too many tenets that we disagreed with; and 2. The Episcopal Church just wanted too much of my time and effort; and 3. I never really did get much out of it so it hasn't felt like a huge loss.
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Post by roundtwo on Aug 1, 2023 20:35:36 GMT
Please don't let your ex-husband take this joy from you. If it brings you happiness to go, go for yourself. You deserve to not be held down by his jerkiness anymore. I know you are right and I have reclaimed a lot of what I felt I lost when shit hit the fan. This seems to be the last hurdle and I think maybe it might have a lot to do with the whole empty nest thing too - it all happened at once and it was just a crazy wild time. I appreciate your response and that is enough derailing by me!!!
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Post by refugeepea on Aug 1, 2023 20:38:42 GMT
I want to share an article with you from The Atlantic on this topic. NOTE: I do not want to hear that you stopped believing in God. I don't want to hear about sky-daddy or anything disparaging about people who believe in God. I am wondering about those who do believe who have fallen away from the church and/or those who are still church-going, what drives them to go. No comment
ETA: I didn't leave because I stopped believing in God. I stopped believing after I left.
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,736
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Aug 1, 2023 20:44:52 GMT
Catholic here. When our youth minister was arrested at the church picnic for abusing dozens of children. He’s serving a life sentence now. Within days, our priest had been moved to some home for delinquent priests, as it turned out he had full knowledge of what was going on. I didn’t leave when the Monsignor who married us turned out to be involved in the Boston abuse scandals, or when our parish priest at old old home was arrested for paying underage boys for sex. But third time in three parishes was the charm. Abuse was so entrenched through the entire church and I couldn’t stay. I’m done with organized religion.
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Post by refugeepea on Aug 1, 2023 21:06:42 GMT
Not accepting of my kids. Wanting to pray away their "suffering" and "diseases" and Autism and make them whole and perfect. I was told they were such valiant spirits in heaven, that they would go straight to the highest degree of heaven when they died. So yea! I guess. I think about all I could be doing instead of just sitting in church. ***This also would happen to me during staff meetings. I'd make lists of what I should be doing instead of sitting in a staff meeting that could of been completed in 10 minutes instead of an hour. That was my initial reason for leaving. I tried for nine years. Two kids, three hour services, weekly meetings, monthly visiting to two assigned members, pressure to give ten percent of my income or I would not be with my family for eternity, and the list goes on and on. I thought God knows I've done all I can. In the end, he's the only one I answer to. I was DONE explaining myself. I was mentally exhausted. I couldn't be a good mother and a good member.
I know I should put God first and everything else second.. but I don't. I came to a different conclusion and it worked better for me. Who knows though?
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Gennifer
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,009
Jun 26, 2014 8:22:26 GMT
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Post by Gennifer on Aug 1, 2023 21:11:02 GMT
I stopped going because my church (Mormon) was getting political and trying to force their views on others through legislation.
I never went back because I realized that once I wasn’t going weekly (and having certain messages drilled into my head), I didn’t actually believe any of it, and I was happier, healthier, kinder, and more at peace on my own.
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Post by mom on Aug 1, 2023 21:59:59 GMT
I was raised Southern Baptist. My parents were missionaries with the home and foreign mission board at various times, and we were at church if the doors were open. I went faithfully until I was married to a non-practicing catholic who liked to pretend he was religious. The fight just wasn't worth it when I was married to xDH. He didn't want to go to his Church or my church, but he also didn't want me to go either. So I didn't go for the 3 years we were married.
Now, DH and I are members of a non-denominational church and used to attend regularly and hosted a Life Group in our home for several years. Since Covid, we haven't gone back but we have watched online. Now that we've moved across town, there is a Lutheran church close by and we are thinking of going and see how we like it. DH was baptized in our current church but he doesn't like what a 'show' its become and I agree.
I feel like since the crap hit the fan with DS1 a couple of years ago, I have felt a shift in how I feel about various outreaches and ministries they have. They very much have a mentality of 'going' and reaching out to help others (going, as in foreign ministries) when my eyes have been opened to areas that could use help in our own community. I guess I just don't want to be part of the 'show' and am more interested in 'doing' for my community, even if it means I don't do it with my church. And to be clear, my church didn't change --- it was me.
In the past year since my DS1 had his suicide attempt & multiple hospital stays and rehab, DS1 now has found a church home with a small country church that is local. His sponsor for AA took him a few months ago and DS1 says he feels at home there and has found a solid core of men who he can count on. While *I* would not want to be at this church, it really does seem to be meeting DS1 where he is and giving him support and peace as he works on his sobriety.
DS2 is a non-practicing Catholic. I have no doubt he will go back to the Church when he has a more steady home life and family (he's military).
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Post by bossymom on Aug 1, 2023 22:08:44 GMT
Diocesan pedophilia scandal in Buffalo NY. I stopped contributing years ago - the catholic church is very,very rich. Yet it constantly asks for money. Sell some of the gold in the Vatican or some paintings. But no, the diocese declared bankruptcy because it cannot pay out all the sex abuse claims. Disgusting.
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DEX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,355
Aug 9, 2014 23:13:22 GMT
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Post by DEX on Aug 1, 2023 22:41:16 GMT
I was a devote church goer. I was confirmed in the Methodist church but later joined the Lutheran church. My parents were not religious and I did this all on my own without family support from 6-12th grade.
My ex and I faithfully attended a local Lutheran church. He was president of the church counsel. I think the event that started my turn away was when members of the church wanted to exclude a female pastor. Of course this was back in the day (1970's)
I made sure my son was baptized, went to church, and confirmed. He had the basics. After that I felt he could decide on his own what spiritual path he would take.
Now, I am an atheist. I have seen too much pain inflicted on others in the name of "religion". I try to respect others in their beliefs but for me, after all I have seen, I can no longer support organized religion.
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Post by longtimenopea on Aug 1, 2023 22:49:48 GMT
The way I say it - me and Jesus, we are good. Me and the church, we are not good.
I watched how Christians behaved during the pandemic. I watched how Christians behaved toward LGBT folks. I watched how my own congregation responded when some people said they were spiritually abused by a pastor. I watched how Christians behaved as if they were persecuted when people didn’t want Christian beliefs used as the foundation of the law in the US.
I have an LBGT kid and I can’t with any good conscience walk into a church where I have to wonder if they are loved and accepted. Pretty shameful for the church they grew up in, that we would have to question that.
Me and Jesus, we’re friends. We know each other. We’re fine. He’ll be there when I’m ready to find a group of His people who will love us like He does. I am not there yet.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,408
Jun 25, 2014 19:28:04 GMT
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Post by RosieKat on Aug 1, 2023 23:28:11 GMT
My husband stopped believing in God so I felt like I was pushing the issue all the time. I'm also not a morning person, so getting up, dressed, kids ready, "forcing" my husband to go or just not going as a family - it all got to be disheartening.
Further, I've been raised a Catholic and had the same doubts and issues as many people. I began losing faith in "religion" and many of the people running it, although not usually in God.
The final straw came for me when I discovered that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops had actively campaigned against the funding of the new 988 suicide hotline number because it included specific resources to help LGBTQ+ callers. That just made me literally ill. I thought I surely had to be misunderstanding something, but no, it was true and it was for that reason.
I know many, many wonderful people who work in and for the Church. Heck, until a few weeks ago, I was working part-time for a Church-sponsored ministry. (My quitting was not related to the Church issue, I still support this work but am not in a situation to be able to do it right now.) I do not think all components are bad.
But I no longer have faith in religion, and the rules that men (and yeah, usually specifically men!) have created and say that you are doomed if you don't show up every Sunday, or eat meat on the wrong Friday (that rule was established due to the fisherman "lobby" in medieval times, FYI), or all these things where humans have intervened unduly in determining the precise little rules for everything.
Is it good to set aside time to reflect, to pray if you're a praying person, or whatever? Yes, definitely. And if a church or church services help you do that, then great. They no longer do that for me, so I find my own time.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,714
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Aug 1, 2023 23:38:32 GMT
I'm curious about what a "Christian" church is, apart from the Roman Catholic church and the Lutheran church, both of which *are* Christian. Do you mean non-denominational? There are other denominations that are considered "Christian" churches ~~ Methodist, Presbyterian, Mennonite Brethren, General Conference Mennonite, Evangelical Association, Anglican, Christian Reform and many more. Most differences that I have noted are due to how the baptism is "done". Some churches do an infant baptism and other churches have baptism on confession of faith. Some sprinkle the water and other do immersion. Small human nuances that cause a lot of anger and trouble is what makes up a lot of the different denominations. Edited to add: There has to be some form of accountability of the church to "the world" and the church itself. I do not think that a non-denominational church has a lot of accountability. The church needs to be responsible in the "creed" and also finances. Having an overseeing board, such as a conference of the same denomination does make a church more accountable. There need to be checks and balances in the church as there is in any business. There needs to be structure of some kind as well. Forgive my rambling on....
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Post by monklady123 on Aug 1, 2023 23:42:29 GMT
I'm curious about what a "Christian" church is, apart from the Roman Catholic church and the Lutheran church, both of which *are* Christian. Do you mean non-denominational? There are other denominations that are considered "Christian" churches ~~ Methodist, Presbyterian, Mennonite Brethren, General Conference Mennonite, Evangelical Association, Anglican, Christian Reform and many more. Most differences that I have noted are due to how the baptism is "done". Some churches do an infant baptism and other churches have baptism on confession of faith. Some sprinkle the water and other do immersion. Small human nuances that cause a lot of anger and trouble is what makes up a lot of the different denominations. Yes. I am very aware of all the different Christian denominations. I am in one of those. I was asking specifically what the "Christian" church the person who I quoted was referring to, vs. the Catholic and Lutheran churches that she also referred to. Just curiosity on my part.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,714
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Aug 1, 2023 23:44:54 GMT
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MorningPerson
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,506
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Jul 4, 2014 21:35:44 GMT
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Post by MorningPerson on Aug 1, 2023 23:45:47 GMT
I haven’t had time to read the previous responses yet, but man is this a hot button topic for me.
I don’t want to have anything to do with the type of people that showed their true colors when Trump came on the scene, and even more when Covid arrived. Their lack of concern for others, their “every man for himself” attitudes, their “the government’s not telling me what to do” mindsets……
And these are all evangelical, “bible believing” personal friends and family members. Well, *former* friends.
I’m still sorting out my thoughts and feelings and I don’t know where I am with all this anymore. I just haven’t found a church filled with the type of people I want to do life with. And I’m not looking for perfect people. Just people who give a shit about others. I don’t care if they have the Bible memorized from front to back and go to church 3 times a week. Just care about others.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,714
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Aug 1, 2023 23:48:39 GMT
The final straw came for me when I discovered that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops had actively campaigned against the funding of the new 988 suicide hotline number because it included specific resources to help LGBTQ+ callers. That just made me literally ill. I thought I surely had to be misunderstanding something, but no, it was true and it was for that reason The only reply to this ^^^ is that the Catholic Church states in there doctrine (?) or Statement of Faith that homosexuality is a "sin" and will not support anything the pertains to this "sin". This is the reason that was given by the York Catholic School Board (Ontario) for not flying the Pride flag on any of the school properties. This went against their belief and simply would not support Pride, the same as they would not support abortion. Don't attack me, please. Just giving the clarification that was given to the general public about the above issue.
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Post by longtimenopea on Aug 2, 2023 0:19:11 GMT
The final straw came for me when I discovered that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops had actively campaigned against the funding of the new 988 suicide hotline number because it included specific resources to help LGBTQ+ callers. That just made me literally ill. I thought I surely had to be misunderstanding something, but no, it was true and it was for that reason The only reply to this ^^^ is that the Catholic Church states in there doctrine (?) or Statement of Faith that homosexuality is a "sin" and will not support anything the pertains to this "sin". This is the reason that was given by the York Catholic School Board (Ontario) for not flying the Pride flag on any of the school properties. This went against their belief and simply would not support Pride, the same as they would not support abortion. Don't attack me, please. Just giving the clarification that was given to the general public about the above issue. I’m good with folks and organizations not flying a pride flag if they don’t want to. Blocking suicide prevention funding because they don’t support the “sin” is, well, unbiblical at best and maybe a little bit ghoulish at worst. What did Jesus do when He encountered the woman caught in adultery? Let them stone her because He didn’t want to be seen as supporting adultery? Sometimes clarification clarifies too much.
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