Thank you all for taking the time to answer my questions, it has been a very interesting and enlightening read.
I knew there would be much variability between churches and denominations, but I am actually surprised about some of the common themes coming out in your answers. This is a good thing, it means some of my perceptions were wrong and so I am learning here. Thanks again
I have read all the responses and the vast majority are interesting and have made me think. Just because I haven't quoted your it doesn't mean I didn't think it was interesting and worthy of responding to.
I listen to teachings and certain pastors and preachers, and take in what they have to say, because I think they are excellent teachers about the real truth about humanity, human behavior, and the true human condition, which must include God or the gods, in my book...
OK, so you are non denominational so that means that you trust yourself to read the bible, and take from it what makes sense or resonates with you, but you also look to teachings or guidance from other religious leaders perhaps online or in books or by attending various church sessions regardless of denomination????
In Protestant settings, the pastor usually sets the tone and direction of the community.
I'm not up with what these denominations or groups are. But I gather there is Protestant and Catholic. Also Orthodox (more aligned with Catholic????)
Is it that Protestants are less restricted by head office and so each church group (each pastor) gets to make more decisions on what to teach or focus on, where with Catholic head office dictate more what is to be taught or focused on that week???
To narrow things down a little, at one point I taught Bible lessons to a group of single adults about my age. The group didn't just meet on Sundays though. Very often the group would have dinners together, see movies, go to concerts.
So its not just about studying the bible together, not just about learning the key doctrines of your particular church, but also a social way to meet people, relax and have fun?
I suppose we would've welcomed anybody who wanted to attend but those social outings were specifically intended for the group which I was teaching.
What happens with families?
What if lets say, the wife is aligned with this particular church, but the husband's beliefs are more aligned with a different church, or maybe a different religion, or even maybe they are atheist?
Do partners attend to support their religious spouses, or do they stay home?
Is it generally that both husband and wife share the same beliefs or choose to move forward by picking just the one church group? If their spouse doesn't share those beliefs are they tolerated as their partner's plus one. Would it be hard for the partner to be there and listen to the teachings? If I were to put myself in that situation, I think it would be hard not to roll my eyes at some things.
As I have converted to Catholicism, I will address the Catholic Church specifically here. The Church has defined specific doctrines (dogmas) with which the faithful are obligated to agree. So I am required to accept the Church's teachings regarding, say, Our Lord's miracles and resurrection (e.g., they were real and literally happened).
I did belong to a Catholic forum for a while. I found it quite a depressing experience. People were very mean and cruel on certain things, mocking female priests, saying bad things about women, bad things about gays. People were very worried about certain things, I just found it quite hard to read through their posts. I guess Catholocism is quite a strict religion??
Disagreement on doctrine is rather common and open in the Protestant world.
It's frowned upon but still somewhat common in the Catholic world.
I presume people belong to various denominations for various reasons, e.g. family affiliation, best fit, maybe they want their kids in the schools???
And if they disagree on certain "tow the line" items that they just keep that to themselves????
But it is interesting to see that Protestants have more leeway and variability that is allowed in their beliefs, even for people belonging to the same church group.
Though I personally believe that where I have probably one guardian angel, the Pope probably has a few hundred guardian angels.
Oh , I didn't realise people believe in guardian angels.
Why so many questions if you're not interested in going?
Just to understand other people better.
I understand that from posts on this site, that many Christians don't understand atheists at all. Completely mischaracterise us.
Well, I have an opportunity here to listen to Christians and learn reality about them and break my own mischaracterisations about them.
I mean, you could go into a church and find out for yourself. Churches are all so different, so these answers might apply to some and not to others.
The benefit here is just that. I get to hear from a great variety of Christians and can see the variability and see where the commonality is.
Is there a criteria that must be met for people to belong to a denomination?
As far as official membership, many will have you take a class where you learn the specific doctrines they hold to. Completing that course and pursuing membership afterwards is taken to mean you agree with the main tenets of their beliefs.
I guess if you think this church or denomination is the best fit for them, then they may lie or hide the truth just a little to get in. Kinda like a job interview, you fudge things just a little because no-one is perfect, but you want to get in. If you are too honest you will never get a job.
But to attend, almost no church will refuse to let you join a service or even participate in many activities. Membership is for those who plan on attending long-term and supporting the church and denomination financially.
So I guess this works out for families where husband and wife aren't aligned in their beliefs, one is a full on member the other just attends in support?
Do they have to believe Jesus was resurrected?
So, that's kind of a key point of the whole salvation thing. If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, then there would be no eternal life because it's through our spiritual unity with Him that we will also be resurrected some day.
Is this the point of being a Christian, and worship so that you can attain eternal life?
Would it not be possible to be a Christian just because you see Jesus as being a good role model and so are inspired to live as he did? Inspired on being a better person so that you can get along with others better?
Do they have to deny Theory of Evolution?
No, not really.
Do they have to give money?
Of course not.
These two things are enlightening to me.
It seems to be a common theme in responses here.
Going onto forums there are so many Christians that are so strongly against evolution, but here it seems many people aren't being pressured by their churches to reject science.
With regards to money, I have heard many horror stories of Churches demanding money from people. 10% of their income, or perhaps shaming the lowest contributors. I do have a very negative perception of religous organisations when it comes to money.
I do wish they would open their books and show people where the donations go. How much gets redisbursed to real charities, how much goes into the running of the church, how much goes into the pockets of the leaders.
It wouldn't be appropriate to join the Episcopal Church if you're not Christian. Being Christian is what we're about.
I guess I was thinking about people who might like the Christian morals and community but don't actually believe in gods and miracles or eternal life.
Of perhaps family members that are just supporting another religious family member.
But beyond those few central beliefs, you'll find much variety of belief, and that variation in belief is perfectly acceptable to us.
This is enlightening to me. I really value individualism and freedom of thought. So it is refreshing to see that many church organisations allow for that and don't force compliance on beliefs and thoughts.
For example, I hate it when a person says "we believe that..." rather than "I believe that..."
We find our unity in our common worship rather than in our common belief; that is an Anglican distinctive that makes us different from many other kinds of Christians.
OK, this is interesting. Catholics are more restrictive, more controlled I think.
We had SDA's door knocking regularly, they once left my wife a document against evolution. I read through it and go so angry at the poor science the deceitfulness and what not. When they came to the door again, I unfortunately couldn't control my anger.
but God loves us and knows we're fallible, and I trust that God will be present with us even if we mess up the words or the rituals.
This is a very different approach to what I have heard some Catholics post. Some of them are very scared that their rituals and sacraments are not done properly and hence don't "work"
They may be removed from the membership roll of a parish if they don't attend regularly. That wouldn't necessarily mean we don't think they're Anglican any more, but it downgrades the level at which they can participate in decision making etc.
Another Anglican here. I think I am respecting this Anglican approach. I do value individualism and freedom. People coming together with a common interest and common appreciation. I think it is valuable to understand the difference between say Anglican and the more strict Catholic approach.
You aren't just all "Christians".
Broadly, (and I'm talking about my own role here), we are meant to lead the worship of the parish (local church), look after the teaching/preaching in the church, exercise leadership (shared with lay people) in ministry and mission, and provide pastoral care to the church members and local community.
Paidiske, I've noticed your posts in other threads, you seem like a nice and reasonable person. Inclusive. Is that avatar of yours a photo of you?
But you are Christian, and with that possibly comes some things I might be strongly against (IDK).
As a leader in your church, a pastor or priest? Do you feel a responsibility to moderate those people that might be more extreme than others?
For example, if you are giving a sermon on where homosexuality is considered a sin, do you moderate that and tell people that homosexuals are people and shouldn't be picked on or bullied or chastised or hassled?
Is it part of your job to create a community of Anglicans that can get on well with others in society?
It might be helpful for me to point out that there are a set of kind of core non-negotiable beliefs, with which people are free to personally disagree, but which the church is going to continue to hold as the bedrock of our faith. When people disagree with that stuff, they do tend to just kind of ignore it, because although they're free to discuss it with me, we're not going to, say, change the Nicene Creed or stop adhering to it as a church.
I presume you personally might have differences in your beliefs on such matters too???
And just like people in management positions in corporate companies, you need to openly tow the line but privately you might hold a different position???? If that is the case, It must be somewhat hard???
Technically, what we do, we understand not as us forgiving them, but as us announcing/pronouncing God's forgiveness of them. But in terms of how people experience it, the line does get blurry.
Hmmm, yeah, this is confusing.
