What Christian "brand" may best suit me???

Soma Seer · Aug 28, 2014

I was sort of raised Roman Catholic; my family didn't attend Mass regularly for much of my childhood. At age 17, I went through RCIA but, then, didn't attend Mass at my Catholic-run university. (Go figure.) Also, I began questioning my religious/spiritual views during my college years.

In 2003, I began taking the Belief-O-Matic quiz yearly, only skipping it in 2012. My top five results typically have been: New Age, UU, Neo-Pagan, New Thought and Liberal Quaker--not in that particular order; Buddhism and Hinduism popped up at times, as well. I've become a bit more Christian-leaning in the last few years, though.

About 2 years ago, I took a quiz to find the right "brand" of Christianity for me. My top six results were:

Liberal Quakerism (100%)
UU (92%)
Unity (92%)
Methodist/Wesleyan (83%)
Seventh-Day Adventist (83%)
Episcopal (80%)

I've no Quaker meeting houses near my home. I think UU is less focused than what I'd prefer. And I've tried a Unity church twice and found it not quite right for me.

As for the final three results... I'm not sure how Seventh-Day Adventist made my list; I'm not very familiar with that faith. I worry that Methodism still may be a bit conservative, as I think of myself as moderate-to-liberal on most issues. And I've never attended an Episcopal service but am bothered by its "Catholic-lite" label and take a "why-not-go-back-to-RCism-if-I-want-beautiful-ritual-again" stance. I just don't know where I might fit in.

Maybe someone else here has more of a clue than I--or so I hope and :prayer:

.

I'll mention one last thing: I've one Church of the Brethren church semi-near me. And the Disciples of Christ is a intriguing, but the closest one is a farther drive from my home than I'd like.

Thank you,

SS

Targaryen · Aug 28, 2014

Soma Seer said:
I was sort of raised Roman Catholic; my family didn't attend Mass regularly for much of my childhood. At age 17, I went through RCIA but, then, didn't attend Mass at my Catholic-run university. (Go figure.) Also, I began questioning my religious/spiritual views during my college years.

In 2003, I began taking the Belief-O-Matic quiz yearly, only skipping it in 2012. My top five results typically have been: New Age, UU, Neo-Pagan, New Thought and Liberal Quaker--not in that particular order; Buddhism and Hinduism popped up at times, as well. I've become a bit more Christian-leaning in the last few years, though.

About 2 years ago, I took a quiz to find the right "brand" of Christianity for me. My top six results were:

Liberal Quakerism (100%)

UU (92%)

Unity (92%)

Methodist/Wesleyan (83%)

Seventh-Day Adventist (83%)

Episcopal (80%)

I've no Quaker meeting houses near my home. I think UU is less focused than what I'd prefer. And I've tried a Unity church twice and found it not quite right for me.

As for the final three results... I'm not sure how Seventh-Day Adventist made my list; I'm not very familiar with that faith. I worry that Methodism still may be a bit conservative, as I think of myself as moderate-to-liberal on most issues. And I've never attended an Episcopal service but am bothered by its "Catholic-lite" label and take a "why-not-go-back-to-RCism-if-I-want-beautiful-ritual-again" stance. I just don't know where I might fit in. Maybe someone else here has more of a clue than I--or so I hope and .

I'll mention one last thing: I've one Church of the Brethren church semi-near me. And the Disciples of Christ is a intriguing, but the closest one is a farther drive from my home than I'd like.

Thank you,

SS

I admit to being biased to the Anglican/Episcopal church but this is not about my own feelings of where you should be.

That said, what are you looking out of a particular service? Liturgical and sacramental? Bare bones and Scripture based? Contemporary or Traditional?

Those type of questions are better questions to ask then trying to link up to a group simply by personal theological stance. Liberals can be found in all groups essentially, apart from the fundamentalist type of non-denominationals.

Soma Seer · Aug 28, 2014

LiberalAnglicanCatholic said:
...What are you looking out of a particular service? Liturgical and sacramental? Bare bones and Scripture based? Contemporary or Traditional?

I lean more toward liturgical/sacramental but don't mean "High-Mass mode." And I do prefer candles, stained glass and even statuary, rather than a plain-glass-windows church.

I'm not a fan of "rock-star" churches--i.e., those that provide flashy, modern musical numbers prior to/during the service. (I mean no offense to anyone who prefers such a church; I believe everyone should have access to the service style that best suits him/her.)

As for a Contemporary or Traditional, I'd go with either Traditional or a blending of the two, if such a thing exists. :scratch:

Another huge part of my quandary is that I feel like a fraud if I attend a church at which my values/beliefs are at odds with those of most other congregants. I don't want to feel that I must stifle everything I believe in order to get along with everyone else, ya' know?

I should mention that I did attend a few services at a UCC church and found it to be too bare-bones, both in terms of atmosphere and worship style. And though a UU Christian Fellowship church might suit me very well, there are none near me.

Joykins · Aug 28, 2014

Soma Seer said:
As for the final three results... I'm not sure how Seventh-Day Adventist made my list; I'm not very familiar with that faith. I worry that Methodism still may be a bit conservative, as I think of myself as moderate-to-liberal on most issues.

Individual Methodist churches and congregations can vary pretty widely in terms of the liberal/conservative continuum and in traditional/liturgical vs. contemporary worship. Given what you've said, it might be worth checking out the congregations near you and see if they suit or not.

You might also want to check out the more liberal Lutheran synod -- ELCA-- in the same way.

Targaryen · Aug 28, 2014

Joykins said:
Individual Methodist churches and congregations can vary pretty widely in terms of the liberal/conservative continuum and in traditional/liturgical vs. contemporary worship. Given what you've said, it might be worth checking out the congregations near you and see if they suit or not.

You might also want to check out the more liberal Lutheran synod -- ELCA-- in the same way.

Even the Episcopal church does have it's more less "Roman" parishes.

However,it should be noted you'll likely find conservatives in every church congregation you go to, you shouldn't allow that to discourage you. You aren't going there just for you after all.

graceandpeace · Aug 28, 2014

Those were the quiz results from 2 years ago? Have you considered re-taking the quiz? Do you affirm the Nicene Creed?

As mentioned, most churches contain different types of people, so I wouldn't use that as a basis for choosing a church. I think an Episcopal, United Methodist, or Evangelical Lutheran church might be worth considering, but it would help to know more about your theology to narrow things down. All three of those suggestions are mainline, so they will be accepting of modern scholarship, but there are differences in faith & practice.

FireDragon76 · Aug 28, 2014

Soma Seer said:
I lean more toward liturgical/sacramental but don't mean "High-Mass mode." And I do prefer candles, stained glass and even statuary, rather than a plain-glass-windows church.

Outside of a few diocese (mostly in the South or Midwest), I believe the values of the Episcopal Church will better reflect what you are looking for than Methodism. Episcopal churches are not all "high mass"- in fact most aren't, nor is the image of "Roman Catholic-lite" accurate. Many services are similar to the Methodist church, except Holy Communion is more common.

I'd also recommend checking out the ELCA.

Soma Seer · Aug 28, 2014

graceandpeace said:
Those were the quiz results from 2 years ago? Have you considered re-taking the quiz? Do you affirm the Nicene Creed?

Considering the other religion options lower down on my list, the passage of time isn't a huge deal.

I can affirm the Nicene Creed but don't feel the need to recite it frequently. I think it more important to bring the Christ (Presence/Power/Consciousness) into the world through our thoughts and actions. (My one issue with the Nicene Creed is that I do not believe Jesus is the "only begotten" Son of God; rather, I believe we're all "Sons" of God, made in his image. The difference between us and Jesus is that we haven't yet fully realized/remembered our own Divinity.)

I think an Episcopal, United Methodist, or Evangelical Lutheran church might be worth considering, but it would help to know more about your theology to narrow things down.

Here are a few details about my theology:

I believe in the idea of a Triune God. Do I truly grasp the idea? No. LOL

I believe Jesus (the soul) was sent--or volunteered to be sent--to earth on a Divine mission: to instruct people how to relate to one another and to God and, thus, how to save themselves.

I do believe in the Resurrection--but that Jesus demonstrated that such a "miraculous" event will apply to all souls, once they fully return to God.

I believe Jesus was both God and man. But I believe we're all both God and man, if we only would overcome the ego and let God shine through unimpeded.

I believe in the Virgin Birth but don't focus much on the idea of it; I put more focus on Jesus' instructions for how to live, which are for all time.

I suspect there are many more things I could say about my theology, but I'm blanking at the moment. :sorry:

SS

Soma Seer · Aug 28, 2014

Joykins said:
Individual Methodist churches and congregations can vary pretty widely in terms of the liberal/conservative continuum and in traditional/liturgical vs. contemporary worship. Given what you've said, it might be worth checking out the congregations near you and see if they suit or not.

Long-term friends of mine are happy with their UM church home. But I've also seen my one friend go from being more liberal to quite a bit more conservative on the issue of homosexuality and can't help but wonder if his particular church's influence is the cause.

Nonetheless, I do understand that various UM churches can vary widely and must admit that the UMC, as a whole, is appealing to me. (I'm a bit bummed, though, that many UM churches now perform more Contemporary services.)

You might also want to check out the more liberal Lutheran synod -- ELCA-- in the same way.

This may sound a bit off, but I'm a bit biased toward the Lutheran church. Not because of any personal experience that I've had with one but because my abusive mother attended one as a child; for some reason, that very idea taints the word Lutheran for me.

Soma Seer · Aug 28, 2014

FireDragon76 said:
Outside of a few diocese (mostly in the South or Midwest), I believe the values of the Episcopal Church will better reflect what you are looking for than Methodism.

I'm curious to know the reason(s) why you think the Episcopal Church may better suit me than the UMC--besides on the issue of chapel ambiance and ritual, of course. Do tell, please.

BTW, I live in the Midwest. Do you know which Midwestern Episcopal dioceses may have values not in line with what I'm seeking?

Targaryen · Aug 28, 2014

Soma Seer said:
Considering the other religion options lower down on my list, the passage of time isn't a huge deal.

I can affirm the Nicene Creed but don't feel the need to recite it frequently. I think it more important to bring the Christ (Presence/Power/Consciousness) into the world through our thoughts and actions. (My one issue with the Nicene Creed is that I do not believe Jesus is the "only begotten" Son of God; rather, I believe we're all "Sons" of God, made in his image. The difference between us and Jesus is that we haven't yet fully realized/remembered our own Divinity.)

Here are a few details about my theology:

I believe in the idea of a Triune God. Do I truly grasp the idea? No. LOL

I believe Jesus (the soul) was sent--or volunteered to be sent--to earth on a Divine mission: to instruct people how to relate to one another and to God and, thus, how to save themselves.

I do believe in the Resurrection--but that Jesus demonstrated that such a "miraculous" event will apply to all souls, once they fully return to God.

I believe Jesus was both God and man. But I believe we're all both God and man, if we only would overcome the ego and let God shine through unimpeded.

I believe in the Virgin Birth but don't focus much on the idea of it; I put more focus on Jesus' instructions for how to live, which are for all time.

I suspect there are many more things I could say about my theology, but I'm blanking at the moment.

SS

Your theology sounds more LDS then it does mainline Christian TBH, at least point 4 does. Christianity doesn't teach that we are all gods,just that God took flesh to redeem us from our sins, or as Nadia Bolz-Weber says "He was tired of being in the sin accounting business."

Soma Seer · Aug 28, 2014

LiberalAnglicanCatholic said:
Your theology sounds more LDS then it does mainline Christian TBH, at least point 4 does. Christianity doesn't teach that we are all gods,just that God took flesh to redeem us from our sins, or as Nadia Bolz-Weber says "He was tired of being in the sin accounting business."

Oh, nooooo... I am not an LDS at heart. LOL

I believe the Bible's statement that we are made in God's (spiritual) image. To me, that means that all souls are Divine at our core. And since we're making our return to Oneness with God, we are, in a larger sense, well, God. We come from God and are returning to God.

graceandpeace · Aug 28, 2014

Soma Seer said:
I can affirm the Nicene Creed but don't feel the need to recite it frequently.

It is recited every Sunday in the Episcopal Church. I'm not sure about the Evangelical Lutheran Church, but it is not common to recite the Creed in a United Methodist Church - at least not from my experience.

(My one issue with the Nicene Creed is that I do not believe Jesus is the "only begotten" Son of God; rather, I believe we're all "Sons" of God, made in his image. The difference between us and Jesus is that we haven't yet fully realized/remembered our own Divinity.)

This view sounds more like LDS (Mormon) doctrine than it does orthodox Christianity.

I believe in the idea of a Triune God. Do I truly grasp the idea? No. LOL

I don't think anyone can fully grasp an understanding of God, but the Triune God is affirmed by orthodox Christians.

I believe Jesus (the soul) was sent--or volunteered to be sent--to earth on a Divine mission: to instruct people how to relate to one another and to God and, thus, how to save themselves.

I don't know of any orthodox Christian church that would agree with that statement.

I do believe in the Resurrection--but that Jesus demonstrated that such a "miraculous" event will apply to all souls, once they fully return to God.

I would agree that the Christian hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus.

I believe Jesus was both God and man. But I believe we're all both God and man, if we only would overcome the ego and let God shine through unimpeded.

This sounds like Mormonism.

I believe in the Virgin Birth but don't focus much on the idea of it; I put more focus on Jesus' instructions for how to live, which are for all time.I suspect there are many more things I could say about my theology, but I'm blanking at the moment.

Ok.

It makes sense that the belief quiz would suggest things like the UU church. Your beliefs stated here only partially match up with what most Christians would consider the orthodox, historical religion.

I find it difficult to make further suggestions. You could try attending one of the churches that have been suggested for awhile, & if you are at peace with it, make an appointment to talk with the priest/pastor about your beliefs & let them help guide you. Or if that seems too intimidating, take some time to further research the Christian faith itself before deciding when & where to visit.

Supernaut · Aug 28, 2014

Soma Seer said:
I lean more toward liturgical/sacramental but don't mean "High-Mass mode." And I do prefer candles, stained glass and even statuary, rather than a plain-glass-windows church.

I'm not a fan of "rock-star" churches--i.e., those that provide flashy, modern musical numbers prior to/during the service. (I mean no offense to anyone who prefers such a church; I believe everyone should have access to the service style that best suits him/her.)

As for a Contemporary or Traditional, I'd go with either Traditional or a blending of the two, if such a thing exists.

Another huge part of my quandary is that I feel like a fraud if I attend a church at which my values/beliefs are at odds with those of most other congregants. I don't want to feel that I must stifle everything I believe in order to get along with everyone else, ya' know?

I should mention that I did attend a few services at a UCC church and found it to be too bare-bones, both in terms of atmosphere and worship style. And though a UU Christian Fellowship church might suit me very well, there are none near me.

Sounds like either ELCA Lutheran or United Church of Christ might a good bet for you.

mark kennedy · Aug 28, 2014

Soma Seer said:
About 2 years ago, I took a quiz to find the right "brand" of Christianity for me. My top six results were:

Liberal Quakerism (100%)

UU (92%)

Unity (92%)

Methodist/Wesleyan (83%)

Seventh-Day Adventist (83%)

Episcopal (80%)

I'll mention one last thing: I've one Church of the Brethren church semi-near me. And the Disciples of Christ is a intriguing, but the closest one is a farther drive from my home than I'd like.

Thought I would just mention a few things, the Wesleyan theology would be your Pentecostals and revivalist churches like the Holiness churches, they are famous for emotional worship. The Seventh Day crowd is mostly into setting dates for Christ's return, of course they are always wrong and start a new calculation. I've never been able to take Seventh Day Adventists seriously.

I personally come from a Campbellite background, basically the Church of Christ, Christian Church and Disciples of Christ were one church, the Disciples of Christ became the more liberal of the branches. They have a lot in common with the Methodists in worship and their services tend to be contemporary.

Grace and peace,
Mark

ViaCrucis · Aug 28, 2014

LiberalAnglicanCatholic said:
Your theology sounds more LDS then it does mainline Christian TBH, at least point 4 does. Christianity doesn't teach that we are all gods,just that God took flesh to redeem us from our sins, or as Nadia Bolz-Weber says "He was tired of being in the sin accounting business."

Not Mormon.

It's far closer to some of the variously esoteric movements. The OP did mention having a phase through New Age and New Thought, which would explain the language and theology.

There are modern Gnostic organizations with liturgical elements. Something perhaps like the Ecclesia Gnostica.

It's certainly not something I'd recommend, but it's probably closer to what the OP is looking for.

-CryptoLutheran

Targaryen · Aug 29, 2014

ViaCrucis said:
Not Mormon.

It's far closer to some of the variously esoteric movements. The OP did mention having a phase through New Age and New Thought, which would explain the language and theology.

There are modern Gnostic organizations with liturgical elements. Something perhaps like the Ecclesia Gnostica.

It's certainly not something I'd recommend, but it's probably closer to what the OP is looking for.

-CryptoLutheran

Hmmmm.... I'll refrain from commenting on that group. This is not a bashing forum.

hedrick · Aug 29, 2014

The OP's problem is that he wants something that is specifically Christian, but has ideas outside the Christian mainstream. Really liberal groups such as the Unitarians seem not Christian enough, but Christian group reject some of the ideas.

I think the best you're going to do is the liberal end of one of the mainline churches. The Methodists and Episcopal are two but there are several others, including Presbyterian, ELCA, and UCC. All of these are mixed denominations. You'd be uncomfortable in some congregations of any of them, and OK in others.

graceandpeace · Aug 29, 2014

Yea, not exactly Mormon, but the OP's views reminded me of LDS because of their cosmology.

elman · Aug 29, 2014

Soma Seer said:
I was sort of raised Roman Catholic; my family didn't attend Mass regularly for much of my childhood. At age 17, I went through RCIA but, then, didn't attend Mass at my Catholic-run university. (Go figure.) Also, I began questioning my religious/spiritual views during my college years.

In 2003, I began taking the Belief-O-Matic quiz yearly, only skipping it in 2012. My top five results typically have been: New Age, UU, Neo-Pagan, New Thought and Liberal Quaker--not in that particular order; Buddhism and Hinduism popped up at times, as well. I've become a bit more Christian-leaning in the last few years, though.

About 2 years ago, I took a quiz to find the right "brand" of Christianity for me. My top six results were:

Liberal Quakerism (100%)

UU (92%)

Unity (92%)

Methodist/Wesleyan (83%)

Seventh-Day Adventist (83%)

Episcopal (80%)

I've no Quaker meeting houses near my home. I think UU is less focused than what I'd prefer. And I've tried a Unity church twice and found it not quite right for me.

As for the final three results... I'm not sure how Seventh-Day Adventist made my list; I'm not very familiar with that faith. I worry that Methodism still may be a bit conservative, as I think of myself as moderate-to-liberal on most issues. And I've never attended an Episcopal service but am bothered by its "Catholic-lite" label and take a "why-not-go-back-to-RCism-if-I-want-beautiful-ritual-again" stance. I just don't know where I might fit in. Maybe someone else here has more of a clue than I--or so I hope and .

I'll mention one last thing: I've one Church of the Brethren church semi-near me. And the Disciples of Christ is a intriguing, but the closest one is a farther drive from my home than I'd like.

Thank you,

SS

I am not sure branding Christians serves a good purpose. A Christian should be a human being who obeys the command of Jesus to love your neighbor. Everything after that is details, including what group you are a part of on Sunday.

What Christian "brand" may best suit me???

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