(December 17, 2014 at 11:36 am)Spooky Wrote: I was raised Lutheran. Obviously wouldn't identify that way now...

I was basically raised vague mainstream protestant, but I got over it around the time I turned 12.

I was brought up Catholic and as I haven't been excommunicated I guess I still am. So I'm a catholic atheist.

(December 17, 2014 at 11:46 am)Natachan Wrote: I was brought up Catholic and as I haven't been excommunicated I guess I still am. So I'm a catholic atheist.

I think there is maybe a valid non-facetious reason to say that, as there might be an actual difference between a catholic atheist and protestant atheists, and an evangelical atheist. These experiences probably leave their marks.

Because I am from the Southeastern US, it seems odd and wonderful that people in England don't usually ask one another what church they attend. Once I was walking with my husband and an elderly stranger stopped us and asked what church we attended. I haven't seen that man since. The more that I read about England, the more that I want to visit.

One problem that I have run into in discussing Christianity online is that each group seems to have slightly different beliefs and even definitions for words.

Hell might means something else to Chadwooters then it does to Godschild. If I wanted to have a serious discussion with either of them, I would have to determine what each one believes. Some Christians can be very dismissive if you mistakenly assume that they hold similar beliefs to some other group. For example, if you get the definition of salvation wrong, even slightly, from what they believe, they get upset and respond that you don't understand 'real' Christianity. It is easier just to ask what church they attend so that you can get a handle on what they believe before you even start a discussion

'Biblical' Christians are the worst because they often assume that their interpretation of the bible is not only the correct one but also the most obvious.

(December 17, 2014 at 11:28 am)robvalue Wrote: I think the Church of England was made so Henry 8th could divorce his wife, or something. Cool!

King Henry the Eighth,
to six wives he was wedded.
One died, one survived,
two divorced, two beheaded.

Might not hurt to refine the topic just a bit, what religion an individual (schism, denomination, sect, movement, etc.) SAYS they are might not be even close to what religion they actually practice.

In the case of all the scriptural cherry pickers, I doubt there would be sufficient evidence to convict any of them in a court of law should their particular claimed and/or practiced faith be made illegal.

(December 17, 2014 at 11:49 am)Alex K Wrote:

(December 17, 2014 at 11:46 am)Natachan Wrote: I was brought up Catholic and as I haven't been excommunicated I guess I still am. So I'm a catholic atheist.

I think there is maybe a valid non-facetious reason to say that, as there might be an actual difference between a catholic atheist and protestant atheists, and an evangelical atheist. These experiences probably leave their marks.

I think too that where you practiced your faith also leaves a mark.

People in the southeastern US tend to be more passionate and in your face with their beliefs. The result is that no matter where I go, Christianity, as practiced here, will be a part of who I am. It has left me with very complex feelings toward religion. On one hand, I see people who seem to need religion and gain comfort from it. One the other hand, I also see a lot of darkness connected with religion.

This will sound strange to Catholic atheists but I attend Catholic churches as an adult because they seemed less hard nosed then the fiery/hell and damnation churches that were part of my youth.

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(December 17, 2014 at 12:02 pm)vorlon13 Wrote: Might not hurt to refine the topic just a bit, what religion an individual (schism, denomination, sect, movement, etc.) SAYS they are might not be even close to what religion they actually practice.

In the case of all the scriptural cherry pickers, I doubt there would be sufficient evidence to convict any of them in a court of law should their particular claimed and/or practiced faith be made illegal.

That is a good point.

Back in the 70s in the mountain west it seemed every kid in my home town knew what denomination of Christian they were and it mattered in the sense that if their parents switched churches they didn't switch denominations. But church was not a big topic at school and it isn't as if the question of church came up much outside of church.

I was baptized Presbyterian our family was active in a Presbyterian church until my early teen and then we switched to Lutheran. My folks had a mixed marriage you see?

My kids are now in school in the northwest. God and church come up regularly among their friends and in the class room (yes it's raised by kids not teachers). Church youth groups are very active here and Mormon kids groups are really active. But with the exception of the great Mormon/non-Mormon divide and the Catholic/Protestant divide the great bulk of these kids either attend a non-denominational church or they behave as if their church was non-denominational evangelical.

Does denomination still matter in the Bible Belt? Or is it just evangelical or not evangelical?

Just an aside to note the Mormons have schismed over 100 times in less than 200 years. And some of the 'spinoffs' are VERY adamant about the correctness of their particular franchise, and the falsity of all the others.

(December 17, 2014 at 12:14 pm)Jenny A Wrote: Back in the 70s in the mountain west it seemed every kid in my home town knew what denomination of Christian they were and it mattered in the sense that if their parents switched churches they didn't switch denominations. But church was not a big topic at school and it isn't as if the question of church came up much outside of church.

I was baptized Presbyterian our family was active in a Presbyterian church until my early teen and then we switched to Lutheran. My folks had a mixed marriage you see?

My kids are now in school in the northwest. God and church come up regularly among their friends and in the class room (yes it's raised by kids not teachers). Church youth groups are very active here and Mormon kids groups are really active. But with the exception of the great Mormon/non-Mormon divide and the Catholic/Protestant divide the great bulk of these kids either attend a non-denominational church or they behave as if their church was non-denominational evangelical.

Does denomination still matter in the Bible Belt? Or is it just evangelical or not evangelical?

There are a lot of non-denominational churches but most of them seem to hold the same beliefs as Baptists do. Lots of people call themselves "biblical Christians' which has become my new pet peeve. All Christians believe that they are following the bible but come up with different interpretations of it. It seems arrogant to assume that only those that agree with your interpretation are biblical.