[quote]doogie wrote:
I may take him to a Unitarian Universalist Church here in the area. [/quote]
Never heard of them myself… So I just looked.
Read the first “principle” and then noted a bit later they are pro-abortion. So that massive hypocrisy sort of stick out like a sore thumb…
The “world community” thing really does too.
This place looks like a commie wonderland lol.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
[quote]doogie wrote:
I may take him to a Unitarian Universalist Church here in the area. [/quote]
Never heard of them myself… So I just looked.
Read the first “principle” and then noted a bit later they are pro-abortion. So that massive hypocrisy sort of stick out like a sore thumb…
The “world community” thing really does too.
This place looks like a commie wonderland lol.
[/quote]
Yeah, I know what you mean. The more I’ve read on it the less likely it is I’m going to take him there after all.
[quote]doogie wrote:
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
[quote]doogie wrote:
I may take him to a Unitarian Universalist Church here in the area. [/quote]
Never heard of them myself… So I just looked.
Read the first “principle” and then noted a bit later they are pro-abortion. So that massive hypocrisy sort of stick out like a sore thumb…
The “world community” thing really does too.
This place looks like a commie wonderland lol.
[/quote]
Yeah, I know what you mean. The more I’ve read on it the less likely it is I’m going to take him there after all.
[/quote]
I mean, I should have zipped my mouth, lol. But this doesn’t sound like a religion, it sounds like progressive democrat recruiting ground.
Honestly though, whether it is here or anywhere, you’re a stand up man for doing this.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
Doogie is one of the coolest atheists on this board, as he isn’t a douchebag about it. [/quote]
Yes.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
Honestly though, whether it is here or anywhere, you’re a stand up man for doing this. [/quote]
Damn straight. Totally agree with that and that’s why I typed all that stuff out. Whether or not your son ends up interested or not doogie, the fact that you took him seriously and were open and supportive says a hell of a lot about you. That’s the best kind of response a dad could have, christian to atheist or atheist to christian.
I’m not a fan of the unitarian universalists for reasons you and beans I am sure can see haha.
It might be worth looking around some mainstream denominations that have more casual styles. Obviously dependent on your son maintaining interest of course. But I go to a church that is a very chill vibe–certain hippy aspects about it without being loopy …for example, lights are low when the music is playing and they have an electric modern music band, so you can either feel concert like or meditative depending on your mood. They also have an area in the back with blankets and pillows to chill out in if you need some time away from people, but you can still see and hear what’s going on.
People aren’t judgy, we have guys in with motorcycle vests and Slayer and Maiden shirts and tattoos, and we got guys wearing polos. They all get along just fine and everybody’s very non-judgmental about looks or attitude, but on the flip side the teaching is very traditional and you don’t get the super hippy-dippy “we’re all okay and you’re ok and it’s all ok” stuff. It’s just more about being authentic and open.
I’m a Slayer shirt wearing guy, if you had any doubts :P. First time I showed up to the place I had a giant middle finger emblazoned on my Iron Maiden shirt (didn’t realize I was wearing it til after). But everybody said hi and hung out anyway, no problem and no weird looks. We do bible study with whiskey and hookah lol.
Which church is it (at least in the movies) where it is (again in the movies) a bunch of Black folks jamming out and signing songs the entire time?
That looks like a blast to be honest. Like flat out Jesus party.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
I mean, I should have zipped my mouth, lol. But this doesn’t sound like a religion, it sounds like progressive democrat recruiting ground.
[/quote]
Yeah that’s a pretty apt description of the universalist “church”. The name should really give them away. “Universalist” - internationalist; brotherhood of man and all that crap. It’s essentially the radical egalitarian political ideology that sprung from the French Revolution in opposition to the church. Of course, being internationalists they reject nationalism in all its forms and usually reserve a particular hatred towards Jewish nationalism.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
Which church is it (at least in the movies) where it is (again in the movies) a bunch of Black folks jamming out and signing songs the entire time?
That looks like a blast to be honest. Like flat out Jesus party. [/quote]
Sounds like black Northern Baptist if I’m not mistaken. This sort of stuff:
Pretty cool music but I can’t vouch for their theology.
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
Pretty cool music but I can’t vouch for their theology.[/quote]
Yeah, I’m more interested in the passion and worship of the people there than what’s actually being said.
I feel like the energy in a church like that would be off the charts awesome.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
Pretty cool music but I can’t vouch for their theology.[/quote]
Yeah, I’m more interested in the passion and worship of the people there than what’s actually being said.
I feel like the energy in a church like that would be off the charts awesome. [/quote]
Personally I see prayer and worship as a more somber and introspective affair but each to their own. I don’t tell other people how to live.
My dad was a total abusive asshole, but he did let me explore as a kid. I attended Baptist, Church of Christ, Lutheran, and Methodist churches when I was younger. I settled on Methodist. It was pretty laid back for West Texas.
I’m not sure about most of the non-denominational churches around here. Sometimes I get a cult-ish feel off of them. The one my son is thinking about attending is non-denominational, but I know his friends that go there and they are pretty level headed kids. They would be a positive influence on him, I think.
Thanks again.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
Pretty cool music but I can’t vouch for their theology.[/quote]
Yeah, I’m more interested in the passion and worship of the people there than what’s actually being said.
I feel like the energy in a church like that would be off the charts awesome. [/quote]
I’ve never felt more energy in a church than during a Protestant service on Parris Island. It’s hard to describe really.
I’d suggest anyone, Christina or otherwise, sit in on a recruit service if you have the opportunity to.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
Pretty cool music but I can’t vouch for their theology.[/quote]
Yeah, I’m more interested in the passion and worship of the people there than what’s actually being said.
I feel like the energy in a church like that would be off the charts awesome. [/quote]
Probably “Black” Baptist. Typically that’s either Northern or in the South it is commonly Missionary Baptist. And it is a lot of fun. Preachers who have the art of cadence down to an art and every time I have been to one they fed us and the food is practically a religious experience in itself.
[quote]doogie wrote:
My dad was a total abusive asshole, but he did let me explore as a kid. I attended Baptist, Church of Christ, Lutheran, and Methodist churches when I was younger. I settled on Methodist. It was pretty laid back for West Texas.
I’m not sure about most of the non-denominational churches around here. Sometimes I get a cult-ish feel off of them. The one my son is thinking about attending is non-denominational, but I know his friends that go there and they are pretty level headed kids. They would be a positive influence on him, I think.
Thanks again.[/quote]
Non-denominational here are pretty similar to what you describe. Typically extremely fundamentalist. Not that there is anything wrong with what they are doing, just not my cup of tea. Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ are actually pretty similar on most things with a few exceptions.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
Which church is it (at least in the movies) where it is (again in the movies) a bunch of Black folks jamming out and signing songs the entire time?
That looks like a blast to be honest. Like flat out Jesus party. [/quote]
Well…there was one in the Blues Brothers hahaha EDIT: damn SM beat me to it.
Actually it’s true, I’ve been to a couple like that when on vacation and it is a flat out Jesus party lol. Obviously I don’t go for a “party” because I feel very strongly that the teaching is important, but man. Really fun.
As a side note Robert Randolph and the Family Band got together because they all played in his southern Baptist church. What a sunday jam that would have been lol
Also I’m stealing that phrase.
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
Pretty cool music but I can’t vouch for their theology.[/quote]
Yeah, I’m more interested in the passion and worship of the people there than what’s actually being said.
I feel like the energy in a church like that would be off the charts awesome. [/quote]
Totally is, no doubt about it. I get down on the worship and energy too, so I feel ya there
Doogie,
I have a lot of respect for you trying to come alongside your son. I personally enjoy the ESV Study Bible, but sometimes final the NIV easier to read. The bible is essentially all about Jesus. Much the OT stories are a foreshadow of Him and God’s plan of redemption. I most often point people to the book of John in the gospels. John was in all likelihood the most intimate friend of Jesus and knew him best. Thus, if you want to get acquainted with Jesus that’s a good place to start.
Mark
[quote]Aragorn wrote:
As a side note Robert Randolph and the Family Band [/quote]
Anyone who hasn’t checked these guys out, should.
[quote]pushharder wrote:
[quote]Aragorn wrote:
Slayer shirts, bible study with whiskey and hookah[/quote]
Hah, and I thought my church was laid back and modern. (It is but still fundamental in doctrine) [/quote]
There’s a reason I picked that place lol. I doubt you will ever be in Kansas, but if you make it down near KC and Topeka you really should join me some time.
You would have enjoyed the crap out of that–Macallan 12, pipes, cigars, hookah, and Bible–and the small group we used to host at the local bars. It was a great thing because people would hang out with us even though they had no idea we were a church ‘home group’. And a lot of them would come back the weeks after they found out we were doing “church” at the bars too. It was instrumental in making people feel at ease and just living life with them, and instrumental in leading a couple people to the faith because of it.
“Don’t clean yourself up, we’re messed up too and we’ll come to you” was kind of our theme.