Least invasive/discriminatory Christian denomination?

[stinkoman]

Whichever one requires the least participation and hatred for anyone other than white, straight males, please. As many of you know I'm a fairly bullheaded atheist but my mother insists that I keep an open mind and do some soul-searching or something. Whichever one requires the least participation and hatred for anyone other than white, straight males, please. Sorry if you find this offensive, but I'm slightly sick of religion.

 

[Slyakin]

Uh...

How about something completely different from Christianity, like Buddhism? That's a really peaceful, open religion.

Don't get into religion if you hate it.

 

[stinkoman]

Uh...

How about something completely different from Christianity, like Buddhism? That's a really peaceful, open religion.

Don't get into religion if you hate it.

I'm trying to think of something other than atheism. My mom starts crying whenever I mention that I'm agnostic, she'd probably kill herself if she knew I was atheist.

 

[Terminator02]

none of the christian denominations require hatred for anybody (except some stupid extremist church which surely exist), they are supposed to try to love everybody and correct them (including others within the church) in any errors they make. Homosexuality is not seen as something that a person can be born as, but as something that people go to when they can't find satisfaction from other worldly things and are confused, similar to emos.

and the racial and sexual discrimination thing is definitely not something the church does, the only thing you could possibly interpret as discrimination is that The Bible says that women are not to be in church offices

but of course there are plenty of liberal churches out there that accept anyone, and let women into the church offices and other things trying to appeal to the common person of today and toss around fake faith and etc.


and do keep in mind there isn't some strict governing body controlling each church, each church can be drastically different, even churches in the same denomination


Edit: Also, there are many "normal" people in churches, it isn't some crazy convention filled with insane people (actually there probably are a few churches like that)

 

[Jamstruth]

Uh...

How about something completely different from Christianity, like Buddhism? That's a really peaceful, open religion.

Don't get into religion if you hate it.

I'm trying to think of something other than atheism. My mom starts crying whenever I mention that I'm agnostic, she'd probably kill herself if she knew I was atheist.

Seriously? I guess she takes her faith really seriously then and just can't bear the thought of you burning in hell once you die (I really hate that about religion. Believe in our God or BURN IN HELL!!!)
My Grandma was never really too happy that my Dad stopped going to church every Sunday because she was quite a devout Christian but I don't think she ever got angry or that sad about it.

Tell your mother that you've already done all the soul searching stuff looking into religion already but still aren't entirely sold on the idea.

 

[MEGAMANTROTSKY]

While I'm an atheist myself, I respect that you do not seem to treat religion as a bogeyman. Anyway. I found this on Wikipedia. Maybe you can find something useful in it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Christianity

 

[BlueStar]

none of the christian denominations require hatred for anybody (except some stupid extremist church which surely exist),

The leader of a church near me wrote this to the local paper

QUOTEStop Creating These Sins

THE Church Synod will be urged to declare racism the eighth sin. It would join the seven sins of lust, anger, envy, sloth, pride, greed and gluttony.

May I remind the Church this is their idea, not God's. Because the bible tells you God is against multi-racialism and multi-culturalism. There are many indications in the bible to show God intended the races remained as seperate entities.

If the Church Synod create another sin, racialism against other people, which in my opinion is not a sin, this will be against God's teaching.

It is not up to the Church Synod to keep on creating sins, leave that to the good lord.

AL WILSON,
Whitley Bay

This isn't a guy who lives on a ranch somewhere with cult like followers of a crazy off-shoot, he heads a standard and pretty unremarkable anglican church. I presume he's referring to thinks like Israel being forbidden from intermarrying in the Old Testament and stuff like ""Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14" and more general chiding of the mixing of different things like "You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; nor shall there come upon you a garment of cloth made of two kinds of fabric."

As far as he's concerned, it's there in black and white in the Bible. It's not open to debate, that's the right interpretation. And conversely, if you want some hippy lovey dovey United Colors of Bennton stuff, you can find a church like that who will equally point to the Bible and say it's there in black and white, supporting their views.

That's the great thing about religion, you can always find a denomination or interpretation that agrees with your personal views and just go with it And then you have the comfort of knowing your views are literally devine and backed by an infallible higher power.

Think about it, you never get anyone saying "God says this, but I disagree", no matter how many different interpretations and denominations you get.

So yeah, don't consider it a chore. It's pretty easy to follow a religion, people just mould their religion around their views, rather than the other way round, as they'd like to think.

 

[Terminator02]

that is interesting but it's not like he's saying that the other races should be killed, he's just saying that they shouldn't be mixed

and sadly, your point is correct

 

[Foxi4]

...why choose religion just for your mother's sake? Religion is a study of mind and soul, if you have no intention of actually believing in something and taking part in religious activities, why bother?

Just hop in to the church one sunday each month and create a make-shift impression of being religious just so that your mom doesn't cry as much.

It's not like it matters what you choose if you're not going to believe in any of it.

 

[Jamstruth]

I also agree with that guy that nobody should be adding sins. They can speak out against it but not add sins that don't exist to the Bible.

Of course, in my opinion, the Bible is just a patchwork quilt of teachings. Many things don't match up and contradict each other. Most teachings of the Old Testament are overwritten by the New Testament.

Course I'm not a Christian and don't believe their "gospel truth" which is made of a LOT of different viewpoints.

 

[Zerousen]

I don't think all Christians were meant to hate on others like that, but if you're afraid of your mom doing that, why not just tell her you're Christian, but don't feel like participating as much? I think that if she thinks you believe in God, she'll be satisfied.

(I really hate that about religion. Believe in our God or BURN IN HELL!!!)

This. I mean, it seems like everyone's trying to pick a fight with me for being Buddhist. I used to not like being who I was when I was younger, because people hated me so much, since I told them "I don't believe in God". I've learned to lessen the anger by saying "Just because I'm Buddhist doesn't mean I don't believe in God.", followed by a "I respect your religion." That usually cools people down.

 

[nryn99]

ahh, that's a problem.
i am also an atheist, but i do use some bible teachings in my life. I don't believe in what is not there, but the bible is here for people to read, it's good to study what you don't understand, you may learn some stuff that will enlighten you. i did.
i don't believe everything from the bible, but those who wrote it, have experienced something that made them write the books. it's good to take a bit of their advice and be prepared just in case.

my grand parents are very active in the church, and very religious, but they accepted me not believing in god, since they didn't think it'll be a problem since i'm a good person. but my parents before insisted on me believing in god.

 

[stinkoman]

By the "white, straight males" comment I meant that I'm not interested in being identified as racist, homophobic or sexist, not that all Christians are like that. I have seen a lot of people who believe it's a sin to wear anything other than a large skirt and that being gay is something that you need help with. The purpose of this is mainly so that I don't alienate nonreligious dudes when they see anything showing a religion, IE facebook, parents introducing me, etc.

 

[Mangofett]

Don't go with a denomination. Just take a bible and read it, and see what you get from it. Trust me, it's worth it.

 

[notmeanymore]

Go to a church associated with the Assemblies of God. http://ag.org/top/church_directory/

Or you could watch church services online. Our little church has like 40 people in it on a Sunday, but we get another 50 viewing our service online through ustream. If interested, here's one relevant but counter to the whole May 21st Judgement Day thing: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13454297

 

[DSGamer64]

You should read into Shintoism, a very old Japanese religion, the samurai were practitioners of the Shinto religion I do believe. Their text is rather interesting and seems more like a very creative and well written story about the birth of the land and various deities as opposed to one almighty being. The Kojiki as it is called, describes the creation of the world, or at least the 8 islands that are the area around Japan. I haven't read a lot of it but there is some interesting stuff to read.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/shi/kj/kj012.htm

 

[Forstride]

Go to a church associated with the Assemblies of God.

This. I'm in the AoG denomination as well. I wasn't taught to hate non-believers, or gays, etc. No one in my church is a crazy, extremist nut who talks about all kinds of stupid stuff, like "BELIEVE IN OUR GOD OR BURN!" and stuff like that.

People need to stop thinking all Christians, or any religious people in that case are the same. Not everyone is a psycho about it, and not everyone is glued to their Bibles signing hymns all day.

 

[Valwin]

i have one from you here have you try the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Pastafarianism

 

[cwstjdenobs]

People need to stop thinking all Christians, or any religious people in that case are the same. Not everyone is a psycho about it, and not everyone is glued to their Bibles signing hymns all day.

True, but more of you need to speak out against the loonies.

The same goes for members of all faiths and Atheists. Stop letting the extremists claim to speak for all of you just because they are the loudest. Stop leaving it to the other side to fight back. Stand tall and proud and shout it loud, "You do not speak for me! What you are preaching is not the [insert faith or stance here] I know."

EDIT: If you don't the "we're not all like this" whinge is empty as you have no real wish to claim the popular view of your faith, or lack of it, back from the nutjobs and con-men, and your silence and inaction might as well be an endorsement.

 

[Magmorph]

i have one from you here have you try the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Pastafarianism
The Flying Spaghetti Monster is by far the most bad ass sentient pile of noodles. Believing in him is not even a requirement to join the Pastafarian religion.

QUOTE(TDWP FTW @ May 22 2011, 05:29 AM) People need to stop thinking all Christians, or any religious people in that case are the same. Not everyone is a psycho about it, and not everyone is glued to their Bibles signing hymns all day.

True, but more of you need to speak out against the loonies.

The same goes for members of all faiths and Atheists. Stop letting the extremists claim to speak for all of you just because they are the loudest. Stop leaving it to the other side to fight back. Stand tall and proud and shout it loud, "You do not speak for me! What you are preaching is not the [insert faith or stance here] I know."

EDIT: If you don't the "we're not all like this" whinge is empty as you have no real wish to claim the popular view of your faith, or lack of it, back from the nutjobs and con-men, and your silence and inaction might as well be an endorsement.

I don't think it to be my responsibility to speak out against every crazy person who happens to share the same lack of belief in something I do.