Finding a Christian church

[amy]

Ok so when I go to college I'm going to join a Protestant Christian church. (I want to do it now, but I think my parents would be angry.)

For a while I was thinking the UCC (United Church of Christ), but they're pretty hardcore liberals and not in the good way. I asked a few of my friends who goes to the UCC whether they believed Jesus died for humanity and they were all like "Uh...Whatever...Maybe...But we definitely believe in God! Well, most of us." WTF? That is cool but they should just join the UUs if they think that. And whenever a UCC minister is talking in a newspaper or something he or she always sounds so relativistic and phony.

I don't want a church that openly condemns homosexuality though. Belief in hell is OK. And it'd be a huge plus if it was diverse and not just rich white liberals like the UCC has (though racial diversity at least is pretty hard to find in South Dakota.) It'd be an even huger plus if it was politically diverse too, a place where both conservatives and liberals could go and not feel antagonized.

Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks :hardgay:

[TeleportSandwich]

Christian church.

fail.

[J-Stop]

Hooo boy. Good choice of words in the thread title, Amy. You aren't going to get many responses your looking for here. Expect lots of members wanting to 'change your mind'.

Anyway, your going to have a hell of a time trying to find a Christian Church that doesn't condone homosexuality in some way. And make sure to not tell anyone there you enjoy watching two cute young boys going at it. That will ...not end well.

[amy]

Aww I don't think that's fair, Vampy's super Christian friend is a yaoi fan...

Maybe I could ask on yaoi daily or something.

I don't really have another forum where I can ask this. XD; I'm aware it is kind of ridiculous.

[mst3kjunkie]

amy, here's a suggestion: look for an online directory of churches in the area of South Dakota your college is in. It's what I did with Terre Haute the summer before I came. Although I was looking for a specific type of church (Assemblies of God), what you could do is look up all the different sects offered in the area on Wikipedia and choose one that fits your views.

not sure about the yaoi thing, though.

[DreamerGirl]

Amy, why not just ask some friends in college where they go? Then you don't have to deal with the whole awkward I'm going to go to a church where I don't know anyone thing.

And you'll know a little about the church beforehand.

[mst3kjunkie]

also, there might be some sort of on-campus ministry you could go to. Intervarsity Christian Fellowship is a pretty large group (there's one here that I go to) and there's a chance that there'll be something like that on campus. There's usually at least one non-denominational group on a college campus.

[FaultyClockwork]

Ok so when I go to college I'm going to join a Protestant Christian church.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[amy]

I'm really awkward talking to people about religions. One of the reasons I'm doing it when I move is so I don't see a bunch of awkward school people and then leave after 3 months

I am thinking Episcopal or Presbytarian or something like that. I was thinking Methodist but then my mom said it's for rich people. XD I'm not sure exactly what they've got but I'll do some research

[DreamerGirl]

Are you with a specific church now?

It always seems to me most of the protestants are pretty against homosexuality. (At least around here.)

There's this really cool Lutheran one but it's more because of the minister than anything else. He's experienced a lot of different cultures and religions and is just really open-minded. It surprises me he gets away with it. ^^;;

[Samurai Drifter]

Out of curiousity, amy, why the sudden change of mind? I thought you were an atheist.

[amy]

It's not sudden, it mostly has to do with me "recovering from depression". I can see a lot more beauty in the world now and things like that and it makes me believe in God and want to share my belief with other people.

The way I recovered was exercise, vitamin pills, and porn. :hardgay:

[Satan]

Ok so when I go to college I'm going to join a Protestant Christian church. (I want to do it now, but I think my parents would be angry.)

For a while I was thinking the UCC (United Church of Christ), but they're pretty hardcore liberals and not in the good way. I asked a few of my friends who goes to the UCC whether they believed Jesus died for humanity and they were all like "Uh...Whatever...Maybe...But we definitely believe in God! Well, most of us." WTF? That is cool but they should just join the UUs if they think that. And whenever a UCC minister is talking in a newspaper or something he or she always sounds so relativistic and phony.

I don't want a church that openly condemns homosexuality though. Belief in hell is OK. And it'd be a huge plus if it was diverse and not just rich white liberals like the UCC has (though racial diversity at least is pretty hard to find in South Dakota.) It'd be an even huger plus if it was politically diverse too, a place where both conservatives and liberals could go and not feel antagonized.

Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks

I think you need to take a slightly different approach

1) you're more concerned with the parish than the church I think. That is, you care about the people you're going to be around, not the nebulous distinctions between very similar technicalities.

2) if 1) is true, you want to do what others have usggested and kind of "shop around" for a church. For instance, you might like my church, even though its Catholic, because it is not a normal Catholic Church. I think this has a lot to do with it being near a college, and that you'll find some odder, more interesting, and probably better churches if you look for them.

[amy]

Thank you!! That is good advice. I think that's what my uncle did. I come from a long line of atheists so I don't know anything about this process

[Chris]

fail.

laaaahhhhaaaal :laugh:

[DreamerGirl]

just join the THC Ministry, http://www.thc-ministry.org/. You know you want to.

Do they actually succeed in defending people?

[DreamerGirl]

As far as I know yes. I haven't researched into it extensively, although I should. It's protected under the constitution, and it is a recognized religion, so I don't see why not. As long as you aren't selling weed and just using it. I'm sure it would help to actually know about the bible and such, which I don't so I should start studying up. I've heard people say you may have to fight it to the supreme court but you'll win. They give you plaques to put up in your grow room and such, its pretty cool.

Well, I'd think it'd be like Native Americans in the sense it is their religion you are messing with. (The chief of the Seminoles is required to kill a panther to become chief and they tried to prosecute him but eventually he won.) I'm not sure how ..... understanding they'd be other people though.

[amy]

It's ok, hijacked threads are the best threads

the cannabis thing seems like bs to me since they created the religion just to use it, rather than with native americans where it was a legitimate part of their culture and then we came over and said they were doin' it wrong.

[margot]

i don't know, i always thought quaker was the best Christian religion. that might be too outthere for what you want though.

i think i am going to convert to judaism though. i've been thinking about it for a year or so

[Ceraziefish]

I think the only church I could get into would be Russian Orthodox... I dig all the processions, and the icons.

If I live in the twelfth century I'd be Muslim for sure, but that's kind of a moot point.

Really, Amy, I don't know how out of place you'd be in a Unitarian Church. They are pretty liberal, I guess.

EDIT: And some people at UU churches are REALLY out of touch. But others aren't.

[JeremyGEE]

Go heathen... I did. And Im x10 happier...

Hail WOTAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Wind]

amy, believe it or not, there are churches that are filled with normal people that aren't fucking crazy, like the one my family goes to. don't settle for some crazy out of touch church, look around, you'll find somewhere down-to-earth.

No christian is down to earth.

Too busy worrying about if they'll make it into Heaven or not to worry about whats in the now.

[Samurai Drifter]

Few Christians worry about whether or not they'll get into heaven, they mostly worry about other people getting into heaven. And violating God's law. And leading their children astray with those Poke-devil cards.

[Chris]

Dude, the bottom line is most Christians do good because they're intimidated by fucking Hell and desire to get into Heaven. I'm sorry, I respect people's choices and beliefs, but that's just bullsiht. Thumbs up Emperor Constantine, dumbass.

(i'm refering to his role in the council of nicea, not the fact that he stopped slaughtering christians)

[mst3kjunkie]

there are churches that are filled with normal people that aren't fucking crazy, like the one my family goes to. you'll find somewhere down-to-earth.