Matthew 5 and 25 are not read by Christians.

It's not always beautiful. I know people in one church saving their families from another church that wants to deport them.

The founder of Christianity made it pretty clear that he wanted Christians to be as "one body". In reality, churches are about the most segregated institution we have outside of equestrian sports.

I am not a big fan of any of the American churches. The function of many of them is to make White middle class people feel better about themselves.

I have studied the Bible. It doesn't match what is happening in Christianity today.

Really - so no Blacks go to Christian Churches in America? I am hoping you are still joking.

I’m flattered, but I’m really not talented enough to create a New Yorker just to have someone else call you an idiot.

I’m sorry to tell you this, but whenever people call you an idiot, which I’m sure must happen on a regular basis, it has nothing to do with me.

Those hordes have come to that conclusion all on their own.

Live with it.

Wait! You're saying I'm not a figment of my imagination?

Not of mine at least.

That's a relief.

...although it must mean I'm responsible for paying my bills.

Blacks go to Black Churches. Socialists go to Socialist Churches. Hispanics go to Hispanic Churches.

The Christian Churches are for middle-class White people (although usually they will let a few Asians in and a couple of other minorities as long as they act White).

I am not so sure you would win a popularity contest Izzy. You have your little fan club, but you piss off as many people as I do.

If we had a vote on who is the biggest idiot... you might even win.

I consider you and I to be kindred spirits; we are defenders of women and champions of what is right and true, doing what we must do to make the world a better place. You and I aren't here to be popular. We are here to be self-righteous.

I’m not here to win some popularity contest. I just want to make the World a groovier place.

Really? Funny there are many blacks at the Christian Church I go to.

So if Blacks go to Black Churches then Black is a religion. Interesting.... and Hispanic is a religion,,,,

hmmm.

There are very few churches that reflect the diversity of the society at large. If you happen to be in one of them, good for you.

The majority of churches in American are either all White or All Black (with some Hispanic churches thrown in). Occasionally White churches in more affluent neighborhoods will have a few Black people to make things look better.

Many people in White churches want people in Hispanic churches to be deported.

When you talk about Christians you sound like Coldjoint talking about Muslims.

Whatever point you were trying to make was lost long ago.

Sure, anything has pluses and minuses. That goes for ambiguity and polysemia.

That's funny Izzy. You will notice that I often specify that I am talking about American Christians. Unlike Coldjoint, I have inside knowledge. I know where the bodies are buried.

My guess Max had a bad experience at the church he attended when he was young. He makes mention of one of the cult like evangelist extreme types.

I live in New England - land of the liberal churches. There are Christian Churches that range from one extreme to the other. Either end of the extremes tend not to read the Bible or else they just pick one passage where it fits. Some churches only allow men ministers, others both women and men (we had a woman minister marry us) and still others have gay and lesbian ministers.

I know when I was young I attended a Catholic Church and I was terrified every time I went in there. It was scary to me. Then as a young adult I went to a congregational church. Near the beginning the minister called all the kids up to the front where he had a discussion with them. The kids ran up all excited to be there! I was shocked - but in a pleasant way. You mean these kids are happy to be here and not afraid. They excitedly talked about whatever subject matter it was.

And then I realized church is not supposed to be a scary place. I had read kids' Bibles before and other church readings - I liked that, but I did not like church before.

Finding the right place - could change your perspective - maybe, maybe not. I think I am lucky where I live - there is so much diversity compared to some other areas of the country.

You’re not specific enough, not so much a broad brush as a bloody steamroller.

You are talking about your own experiences and extrapolating that to cover the whole country.

The most miserable times of my life were spent in churches. Specifically the rural Methodist chapel in Yorkshire I had to attend whenever we stayed with my paternal grandmother which was far too often.

It was like a monument to misery where any form of jollity was frowned upon whilst gormless idiocy was seen as something to aspire to.

I don’t know what qualifications you needed to be a lay preacher, but judging from the nonsense I heard it can’t have been much.

One idiot claimed Satan was jealous of the Bible which is why he created all other books. And if you read anything other than the Bible you’re doing Satan’s work.

All books, including books of common prayer and those written by church leaders.

I know not all Christians or churches are like that, and I’ve got a lot of time for genuine Christians, but it’s not for me.

New England churches are very segregated. The term "black churches" is used wih no offense and no second thought given... as if separating churches based on the color of one's skin is part of the religion.

I was invited to a Spanish speaking Pentecostal church (Pentecostal churches are always fun and the Hispanic culture adds to the experience). Here the division is language, but the isolation from middle class White churches was pretty clear.

My last attempt at being a part of a church was with the Quakers. I didn't mind the silent service. But the second time I went the congregation became inbroiled in controversy .... Over a painting! Tbere is a painting of Native Americans welcoming the Quakers who peacefully fellowshiped with them, some of the Quakers felt that the picture was historically inaccurate and not politically correct. There was an hour of heated discussion about whether the picture should be taken down. I didn't go back.

I wrote this thread because it upsets me with conservatives use religion to push political ideas that are decidedly not christ-like. I don't really mind church as social club.

But, Christianity in America is a mess. When Jesus comes back, He might just agree with me.

I let my kids pick which church they prefer ... within reason ... they choose a more contemporary church ... what good is going to a church if you detest going there?

Your experience... there are some that are segregated in part because we have many immigrants that want to go to churches that speak their predominant language... my daughter has gone with her friends to “their” Brazilian church before ... they have translation into English.


But there are many that are also diversified. We used to go to one that was very diversified. The more contemporary one closer to where we live now is less diversified still many people of various backgrounds but more “white” overall.

The one thing I notice is there are more mixed race couples.