Churchgoers like the ones were used to need to get a hell of a lot louder! I know that most of the people who go to my church (Full disclosure, I don't really go to church any more, but that's more my personal choice then any disillusionment in the system) are quite insistent about their views. My moms on a few church committees, and I know that she wouldn't be afraid to make a scene in public if someone had a bad word to say about homosexuals. And it seems like a church that embraces all these modern ideals would at least raise some curiosity. Theres GOT to be more gay people who want a religious organization to be in who are sick of being called sinners for something they just are (Besides, you know, original sin). Besides, all this talk about loseing god in everyday life...if you actually wanted to get God back into peoples lives, you would pay a lot more attention to churches like these.BOOM headshot65 said:That sounds alot like my church actually. We arnt marrying gays, but our pastor still says "they are human beings and should be treated with care." Alot of my science teachers have been religious, but that science is a way of "understanding Gods creation." and that it doesnt contradict the bible. Actually, on that note, one of my favorite things my geology teacher ever said in his little pre-class lectures was "Why does God have to be a Genie God. Why does he have to just fold his arms, bob his head, say 'HOW!' and it is. Thats boring. Why cant he be cool and use science to make the world. Like raise a volcano so it could make the land rather than he just speaks two words and it is there."Xanadu84 said:I think I'm in a unusual position, because the church that I grew up with that shaped my view of Christianity married gay couples and had gay reverends back in the 90's, visited synagogs and mosques in our youth group, opened up their Bible study with, "Okay first things first, the big bang, evolution, all that scientifically provable stuff DID happen and our belief in God does not contradict the hard scientific evidence", and their web site includes essays on why both the writer and God prefer thoughtful, moral Atheists who come to their spiritual beliefs through difficult introspection then Christians who believe in Christianity because it is what they are told. It's not even like out church is some small fringe group, its an international organization. So whenever I hear about Christians being bigots, I really consider there religious persuasion to be no excuse.
Of course, the sane Christians are boring and dont make for good news...that's why you never hear about them.
That is a good way to look at it. Ive thought of that idea of God not having to be a genie god, but never had a phrasing that good. IMO, the reason why so many Christians believe in a Genie God is that if the world just popped into existence fully formed, then God must exist. If the world came into existence by science, they believing in God requires all that yucky faith and introspection. Oh sure, a world with science doesn't CONTRIDICT a divine being, and the views can be fully compatible with each other, but some Christians Faith is so weak that they can't take the pressure.
If you want, look up the UCC, and their, "God is still speaking" campaign. It's a very refreshing take on religion.