This is complicated. 1) Most churches are social clubs. How many "Christians" REALLY believe that Jesus died roughly 2000 years ago to save their souls? How many REALLY believe that Mary was a virgin, or any of the other nonsense that is part of religious beliefs?
2) Age of members - this is a problem we are having. Right now, we have a c…
This is complicated. 1) Most churches are social clubs. How many "Christians" REALLY believe that Jesus died roughly 2000 years ago to save their souls? How many REALLY believe that Mary was a virgin, or any of the other nonsense that is part of religious beliefs?
2) Age of members - this is a problem we are having. Right now, we have a cadre of younger families, but this is new (for the last 4 months). Will it last? I have no idea. We try to offer programs that appeal to all, but let's face it - the UU appeal is narrow and selective.
Yep. Saying this as an ex-evangelical: That's exactly why the evangelical churches are mostly growing while their mainline counterparts are shrinking. Lyman Stone and Ryan Burge are really good on the demographic research.
Then, how, why, is it a "church"? Or have a "minister"? Who, I assume, graduated from a "seminary"? I'm so confused.
I hail from the Jewish Reformed/Reconstructionist/Renewal world, so I am not unfamiliar with congregants who are atheist or agnostic, but there's a few thousand years of cultural tradition which motivates their involvement. But I can't imagine a whole congregation of this mindset being sustainable.
It's a church because of its history, which others have covered somewhat down thread. The unitarian part is from Christians who rejected belief in the Trinity. The universalist part is from Christians who believe that, in the end, all will be saved.
And among the people who do fit ... without a society in which church-going is normative --almost mandatory in the workplace, in business -- it made a convenient camo. No awkward moments answering the “Where do you worship?” icebreaker at the new job’s cafeteria, plus the real benefits of having a 3rd-space cohort, without having to lie about your metaphysic to fit in. NOW, there’s no reason not to say, I can go experience the majesty of the Universe in the middle of a redwood forest, or floating down a river or counting birds. Heck it’s just cutting out the middleman.
I know a lot of people who are even iffy Christians/“spiritual” who believe in Jesus dying/suffering to help people out in a sort of nebulous way, let alone more religious folks. I do think there’s a lot of pressure in certain circles to not admit it/people of belief to leave those circles, so it seems a lot rarer from a certain perspective (I have strong polytheistic religious beliefs and the amount of people who know that and still make fun of believers in front of me/ say “oh but I don’t mean you” is pretty gross).
This is complicated. 1) Most churches are social clubs. How many "Christians" REALLY believe that Jesus died roughly 2000 years ago to save their souls? How many REALLY believe that Mary was a virgin, or any of the other nonsense that is part of religious beliefs?
2) Age of members - this is a problem we are having. Right now, we have a cadre of younger families, but this is new (for the last 4 months). Will it last? I have no idea. We try to offer programs that appeal to all, but let's face it - the UU appeal is narrow and selective.
I think that is why evangelical Christianity is thriving - members really believe. Denominations in which belief is not strong - that is shrinking
Evangelical Christianity is not growing, it's just shrinking more slowly than "Mainline denominations" and Catholicism.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/christianity-declines-but-not-spirituality/
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/christianity-collapsing-in-america/
Yep. Saying this as an ex-evangelical: That's exactly why the evangelical churches are mostly growing while their mainline counterparts are shrinking. Lyman Stone and Ryan Burge are really good on the demographic research.
The still-practicing Catholics in my family *absolutely* believe that stuff. All of it.
Then, how, why, is it a "church"? Or have a "minister"? Who, I assume, graduated from a "seminary"? I'm so confused.
I hail from the Jewish Reformed/Reconstructionist/Renewal world, so I am not unfamiliar with congregants who are atheist or agnostic, but there's a few thousand years of cultural tradition which motivates their involvement. But I can't imagine a whole congregation of this mindset being sustainable.
It's a church because of its history, which others have covered somewhat down thread. The unitarian part is from Christians who rejected belief in the Trinity. The universalist part is from Christians who believe that, in the end, all will be saved.
Yeah, I got to one of those comments, so it evolved into what it is. That makes more sense.
Gosh, you are going to be completely confused when you learn about Buddhism.
I've got enough to grapple with for today, I think. ;)
And among the people who do fit ... without a society in which church-going is normative --almost mandatory in the workplace, in business -- it made a convenient camo. No awkward moments answering the “Where do you worship?” icebreaker at the new job’s cafeteria, plus the real benefits of having a 3rd-space cohort, without having to lie about your metaphysic to fit in. NOW, there’s no reason not to say, I can go experience the majesty of the Universe in the middle of a redwood forest, or floating down a river or counting birds. Heck it’s just cutting out the middleman.
I know a lot of people who are even iffy Christians/“spiritual” who believe in Jesus dying/suffering to help people out in a sort of nebulous way, let alone more religious folks. I do think there’s a lot of pressure in certain circles to not admit it/people of belief to leave those circles, so it seems a lot rarer from a certain perspective (I have strong polytheistic religious beliefs and the amount of people who know that and still make fun of believers in front of me/ say “oh but I don’t mean you” is pretty gross).