I only recently learned that there is a huge difference between the United Church of Christ UCC and Church of Christ.
Apparently UCC is very open minded and progressive and Church of Christ is super strict, don't even allow instruments, all singing is acapela, women are not supposed to speak when men are present. I didn't realize that.
Anyway, we found an Epsicopal church we love. Overall I like the denomination.
MarynJoe, some religions do feel they are the only way but I wouldn't want to sit in church and listen to a sermon about how wrong other people are and some churches do that. It's just unnecessary and uncool. But not all people think their relgion is the only way. I don't for a second think Episcopal or even Christianity itself is the best and only religion.
MarynJoe, some religions do feel they are the only way but I wouldn't want to sit in church and listen to a sermon about how wrong other people are and some churches do that. It's just unnecessary and uncool. But not all people think their relgion is the only way. I don't for a second think Episcopal or even Christianity itself is the best and only religion.
I'm saying that the church thinks their way is the best, obviously, or they'd change it. I'm not big on the "we rock, they suck" attitude that some churches have, but to each their own.
It wasn't a denominational "we're awesome" sermon (which would have been equally WTF). It was a Christianity is the only way sermon, and he point blank called out the rest of the world's population as lacking in the true grace of God, which can *only* be obtained through Christ (according to this guy). At first I thought I just spaced out and misunderstood, but then I looked up, and there was a power point slide on the big screen, plain as day, spelling it out.
It just felt so exclusionary and cold, when other places I've been have *embraced* other faiths, and encouraged the congregation to explore how God's love has inspired all sorts of worship, faith, and spirituality. Sure, Christians think they're doing it right, but that doesn't necessarily have to mean that everyone else is doing it wrong, kwim?
It wasn't a denominational "we're awesome" sermon (which would have been equally WTF). It was a Christianity is the only way sermon, and he point blank called out the rest of the world's population as lacking in the true grace of God, which can *only* be obtained through Christ (according to this guy). At first I thought I just spaced out and misunderstood, but then I looked up, and there was a power point slide on the big screen, plain as day, spelling it out.
It just felt so exclusionary and cold, when other places I've been have *embraced* other faiths, and encouraged the congregation to explore how God's love has inspired all sorts of worship, faith, and spirituality. Sure, Christians think they're doing it right, but that doesn't necessarily have to mean that everyone else is doing it wrong, kwim?
I think this means you need to look beyond the traditional Protestant church. I'm not sure you're going to find a mainstream, large denomination that's going to embrace this.
I grew up Catholic, my H grew up Pentecostal. We go to an Episcopalian church now, and we're both so happy there. We both left the church we grew up in, for similar reasons but individually, and are really happy w/ the Episcopal church.
This is similar to us: I became Episcopalian in college, DH started attending w/me after we were married. We moved recently and wound up finding the most welcoming, low-key parish in our new city: I feel really fortunate.
I think this means you need to look beyond the traditional Protestant church. I'm not sure you're going to find a mainstream, large denomination that's going to embrace this.
I grew up Seventh-day Adventist. I'm not sure if that fucks with your head more than usual or if it's average or what. But I don't know if I could ever go back to church. I can't even think about their end-times mindset without having anxiety. And I'd feel too guilty to visit Sunday churches.
It wasn't a denominational "we're awesome" sermon (which would have been equally WTF). It was a Christianity is the only way sermon, and he point blank called out the rest of the world's population as lacking in the true grace of God, which can *only* be obtained through Christ (according to this guy). At first I thought I just spaced out and misunderstood, but then I looked up, and there was a power point slide on the big screen, plain as day, spelling it out.
It just felt so exclusionary and cold, when other places I've been have *embraced* other faiths, and encouraged the congregation to explore how God's love has inspired all sorts of worship, faith, and spirituality. Sure, Christians think they're doing it right, but that doesn't necessarily have to mean that everyone else is doing it wrong, kwim?
I know exactly what you mean. There is no way I'd sit and listen to religion bashing. There's just no need for it. It's like I want turkey on Thanksgiving but I don't need to have an entire conversation about how right my turkey is and how stupid and wrong people who don't like turkey are. Probably a bad analogy but ;D
The Episcopal church I go to doesn't do that at all. There is a lot of prayer and meditation, and focusing on oneself and what we can do better. Not how the world is going to hell in a handbasket.
Post by verycontrary247 on Aug 20, 2012 0:29:12 GMT -5
I grew up LDS (Mormon) and now I just don't go at all. I don't agree with everything that the Mormon church preaches, but I don't disagree enough to go to a different church without feeling weird and out of place.