Born 1956, I was raised in churches arising from the Stone/Campbell (American) Restoration Movement (Christian Churches/Churches of Christ).
Although an atheist for more than the last 45 years, for the 4-5 years prior to COVID-19 I attended weekly (Sunday) services at my local CC/CoC (my B-I-L, who lives across the road, teaches Sunday School; my sister is also a "true believer"), mainly to sing and hear sung the hymns I loved as a kid.
I absolutely despise the special pleadings from evangelical Christians that they should be exempt from any and all laws that they disfavor.
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Stoehr: "The best way to defeat bad religion, even if you’re not religious, is by taking sides with a good one."
Atheist Me says that the only "good religion" is the one that minds its own goddamn business (channeling HST here).
I could not agree more. When I left a rural small town as a Southern Baptist that was all I knew. At Emory Univ., Atlanta, I found that denomination even more distressing than the small town version. It was either become a none or find another kind of church. Like you I found a church that was progressive back then and has now taken it's place among the most inclusive and forward thinking denominations in America (The Episcopal Church). In my view we are close to the UU Church with the possible exception of idea of the Trinity. Still I do believe that nearly all the other Episcopal Priests I know are universalists. Thomas Jefferson was apparently a Diest and he was also a member of the vestry of the Episcopal Church in Charlottesville. He promoted the First Amendment. So thanks again for this important piece you've written today .
I don't usually disagree with you, John, but I think judging religious sects as "good" or "bad" is a proverbial slippery slope. If the Left was successful in pushing back against the "religious freedom" argument, the GOP would immediately find another argument to justify its actions.
Liberals should hammer home the message that the First Amendment champions religious freedom, but guarding that freedom means that no church or religion should govern or dominate the country. Most religious Americans would agree they don't want someone else's religion to be telling them what to do.
Pointing out the incompatibility between Christian teachings and a host of "bad" actions GOP leaders have taken is fair game, but the Left should be crystal clear in saying it is not attacking the religion but the hypocrisy. In my mind, that's the best way to speak up for "morality."
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Stoehr: "I come from a family . . . etc"
Your upbringing sounds much like mine.
Born 1956, I was raised in churches arising from the Stone/Campbell (American) Restoration Movement (Christian Churches/Churches of Christ).
Although an atheist for more than the last 45 years, for the 4-5 years prior to COVID-19 I attended weekly (Sunday) services at my local CC/CoC (my B-I-L, who lives across the road, teaches Sunday School; my sister is also a "true believer"), mainly to sing and hear sung the hymns I loved as a kid.
I absolutely despise the special pleadings from evangelical Christians that they should be exempt from any and all laws that they disfavor.
* * * * *
Stoehr: "The best way to defeat bad religion, even if you’re not religious, is by taking sides with a good one."
Atheist Me says that the only "good religion" is the one that minds its own goddamn business (channeling HST here).
.
I could not agree more. When I left a rural small town as a Southern Baptist that was all I knew. At Emory Univ., Atlanta, I found that denomination even more distressing than the small town version. It was either become a none or find another kind of church. Like you I found a church that was progressive back then and has now taken it's place among the most inclusive and forward thinking denominations in America (The Episcopal Church). In my view we are close to the UU Church with the possible exception of idea of the Trinity. Still I do believe that nearly all the other Episcopal Priests I know are universalists. Thomas Jefferson was apparently a Diest and he was also a member of the vestry of the Episcopal Church in Charlottesville. He promoted the First Amendment. So thanks again for this important piece you've written today .
I don't usually disagree with you, John, but I think judging religious sects as "good" or "bad" is a proverbial slippery slope. If the Left was successful in pushing back against the "religious freedom" argument, the GOP would immediately find another argument to justify its actions.
Liberals should hammer home the message that the First Amendment champions religious freedom, but guarding that freedom means that no church or religion should govern or dominate the country. Most religious Americans would agree they don't want someone else's religion to be telling them what to do.
Pointing out the incompatibility between Christian teachings and a host of "bad" actions GOP leaders have taken is fair game, but the Left should be crystal clear in saying it is not attacking the religion but the hypocrisy. In my mind, that's the best way to speak up for "morality."