United Methodists lose one-fifth of US churches in schism driven by growing defiance of LGBTQ bans
United Methodists lose one-fifth of US churches in schism driven by growing defiance of LGBTQ bans
More than 6,000 United Methodist congregations have now received permission to leave the denomination amid a schism over theology and the role of LGBTQ people.
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I grew up and was quite active in the UMC. Seeing stories like this give me some hope that the church is finding it's way again after the evangelicals took over. The evangelicals seem to be the ones that are leaving, btw. I left long ago and consider myself non-religious due to the evangelical movement that's grown so powerful these days.
I decided to look up the church's position and found it here: [https://www.umc.org/en/content/ask-the-umc-what-is-the-churchs-position-on-homosexuality] Still leaves a lot to be desired, but it's a step in the right direction. Albeit very small step.
This comment section really gives me pause though. You don't have to agree with someone's spiritual or religious views, but you should respect them. Now, if those religious views are hateful and encourage violence, then yes by all means call them on their BS. I'll hold the bull-horn for you and have your back if things go sideways. But the hate and anger in this comment section was aimed at the people that are trying to change the church for the better, not those that left because they hate the LGBTQ+ folks. Seems folks forgot the humans.
You don’t have to agree with someone’s spiritual or religious views, but you should respect them.
You should really learn to distinguish between spiritual/religious views and the organization of religion into hierarchical organizations of churches though, TBH. And the indoctrination of people into those hierarchies both through coercive family relations (e.g. parent/child) and by systems like colonization and the genocidal missionary work that goes along with it. People are generally right that these hierarchies are destructive to society, whether or not we respect people's personal beliefs.
No Gods, No Masters!
I did not write a full dissertation on my personal feelings on religions role in societal growth and collapse because I didn't think it was relevant. Therefore, you really do not have any basis for judging what it is I need to research or learn to distinguish. I may agree with your world view, but I have not given you any data with which to make that conclusion.
Context is fun. What you did do is reply in a thread in which people are criticizing churches and their influence; a reply disparaging those statements and implying they aren't being respectful of people's spiritual/religious views. Dissertation unnecessary.
If I may ask, why do you think evangelicals maintain their position on homosexuality? Any idea where it came from? ~Strawberry
A literal interpretation of the old testament bible. And the idea that a nearly 3000 year old collection of verbal teachings by a mostly tribal society is still applicable today. There are a lot of rules there that if they followed would lead to some hilarity. Some that would lead to a lot of heartache too. [https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/List_of_actions_prohibited_by_the_Bible] The evangelicals ignore the parts of the new testament they don't like and the new covenant that Jesus represents. Read that as they ignore the parts about love and compassion for your fellow human; living with grace and kindness.
A literal interpretation of a mistranslation.
Multiple intentional mistranslations. Added to that cherry picking which gospels you want to add because some of them contradict the religion you're trying to build.
Ah yes, the "apocrypha". One would think an ideology supernaturally delivered to anointed individuals by an omnipotent and omniscient deity wouldn't have so many contradictions and texts left on the cutting room floor.