What religion are you?

Question

I'm hoping someone can help me out a bit here...

I'm kind of fresh to Christianity and I'm looking for a good denomination. I like Protestantism a lot and I find most of its teachings pretty much in accord with my beliefs (except when it comes to faith and reason). I'm not a big Catholic fan. I am looking around because I am so turned off by the Methodist and Episcopalian (the two churches I swing between) embrace of outright anti-Biblical values. I need a good conservative church that embraces traditional Biblical values about salvation and human sexuality (I can't believe some are actually endorsing premarital sex!). But I still want to retain the tradition and liturgy of Anglicanism. I've heard two suggestions: Greek Orthodox and Lutheran--Missouri Synod. I don't know much about these. Can anyone help? What denomination are you?

Does anyone know about Greek Orthodoxy? Is it something I should pursue or should I stick with the good ol' reformation?

Answer 1

None. Atheist here.

Answer 2

I belong to a Free Lutheran Home Mission Church and I highly suggest you look into the Lutheran faith. We simply believe that the Bible was written by God through man and should be followed without anything being added or removed. The Old Testament is a history book. Everything changed when Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the cross for our sins. The two commandments in the New Testament are how we should live our lives today.

Good Luck and God Bless!

Answer 3

I am agnostic, because organized religion is dangerous to society, especially a democratic society.
61 percent of the people in this country say religion solves some or all -- most or all of our problems. OK, religion solves nothing - it's like a hot bath does not solve a cold apartment. It may solve for awhile, but it doesn't solve it. It actually makes more problems because faith is a way to make a virtue of things that make absolutely no sense into a political social issue.

For example, gay marriage - to a rational person, anyone with eyes can see God, and I believe in God, or a higher being, I just don't believe in the people who pretend they're talking for him. They can see that God or nature created, nature, even in the animal world, a gay minority. It's just a fact. For some reason, God wanted a gay minority among us. Maybe it's because we're too aggressive and gays are less aggressive. That's what the rational mind says. The rational mind takes it as the given. There are gay people in the world.

The irrational mind says that there are gays because it's a choice. They believe it is a choice. They believe, as the Bible says, it is an abomination. And it's not a choice. It's obviously not a choice. So they're working From this ridiculous premise. They think that if gay people get married, it will lead to more homosexuality.

George W. Bush's foreign policy is based on his faith, and this is why religion is so dangerous in our society. Because George Bush is not just a Christian. He's a born-again, they believe Jesus is coming back any day now. And they want everything to be perfect for him. They call it, The Rapture. Thomas Jefferson said the book of revelations was the ravings of a lunatic. George Bush organizes his foreign policy around it. His decisions about Israel are affected by his religious beliefs.

President Bush and the Christian right believe that Jesus is coming back, and he's not coming back to Toledo, he's coming back to his home, which is Jerusalem, which has to be in Jewish hands because the Jews have a very important role to play when Jesus comes back, which is, of course, to be dead. Because there can't be any Jews around.

This is truly frightening, because it's completely irrational. It's like half this country wants to guide our ship of state by a compass. A compass, something that works by science and rationality, and imperial wisdom. And half this country wants to kill a chicken and read the entrails like they used to do in the old Roman Empire. And I'm with the compass people.

I have always been taught you have to respect people's beliefs. I know that's what we always hear, we have to respect. I'm sorry, I don't. I don't respect religion. I don't respect superstitious thinking, which is what religion is. I don't respect childish thinking, which is what religion is.

Religious people use The Holy Bible as basis of historical fact and as a weapon of hate. The Bible, that book that has people who lived to be 900 years old and says the world is 6,000 years old, and that there are people who lived in a whale. That infallible work of genius is full of retarded gibberish like slavery is OK. And you should stone a guy to death if he works on Sunday. That's the book that says, sorry no queers. So everything that doesn't fit into some stupid idea of what they think God wants; they try to hide, fix or get rid of. That is to much for ANYONE to live up to. Why would God make us all so different, if God wanted us to be the same.

So I'm sorry, I don't respect people who believe in religion. I was religious when I was a kid. We all had stupid ideas drilled into our head. It doesn't mean when you get to be an adult you can't drill it out. Most children grow up learning the story of Santa Clause - a fat guy in a red suit who cruised around on a magical flying sleigh pulled by flying reindeer with no wings. Do any rational-thinking people believe in Santa Clause?

Answer 4

Although I am not Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, I may suggest the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod or the Evangelical Lutheran Synod
http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2601&collectionID=783

You can also check out the Lutheran Church Missouri Synods website at http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=112

Let me know if I can help.

Answer 5

Sounds like the good old repressive, judgemental Missouri Synod Lutheran church might be what you're looking for.

Answer 6

You might want to check out the American Anglican Convocation. Here's their statement of faith: http://www.americananglicanconvocation.org/contact50614.html . I was an Episcopalian for six years and I can appreciate your wanting to keep the tradition and the liturgy. As much as I hate to suggest this, with the schism brewing in the Episcopal church, you might want to see if there are any breakaway parishes in your area.

Answer 7

I used to be catholic, went to a catholic school, even assisted the priests as an altar boy in my elementary and high school. Just like you, I found something missing in my religion, so I tried others as well, Church of Christ, LDS, etc. I found out that although they teach the tenets of Christianity as based on scriptures, they are not strict in observing it and at times had to compromise in order to please their flock. Also, money seems to be a major factor in maintaining a good standing in the church.

I am currently with Jehovah's Witnesses. I have found them to be in strict observance of all the things that are scripture based.They are not opinionated, meaning that questions are answered according to what the bible says. They are strict in enforcing moral uprightness in all members, to the point of removing any member involved in immoral acts from the flock.The downside is that they do not subscribe to the tradition and liturgical methods of other churches, seeing that it was the custom and traditions enforced by the Pharisees and sadducees (church authorities of Jesus' time) that made them deny the teachings of Jesus Christ. Everyone, once baptized, share in spreading the good news of God's kingdom, and their leaders or Elders are not paid, so you see why money is never part of the equation. Every one gives of their own accord, because they believe that God is a happy giver, so you give according to what your heart desires.

And they have a genuine affection for the members of their flock. I have at times accompanied their Elders in pastoral work where old and infirm members are visited in order to make sure they are well taken cared of by volunteer members of the congregation., in accord to Jesus admonition to the disciples "By this you shall be known as my disciples if you have love amongst yourself."

Answer 8

I am of The True Christian Faith.... but I am a member of a small concervative Baptist congrigation... There is only One True Church and that is The Church of which Jesus The Christ is The Head....... I invite you to lookover my website...very amature but it is my statement of faith and my pov on some of the "Christian Stuff"... you might find it ineresting... or not... I have a page on the different "flavors" of Christians, and about the Bible and The Trinity and God and all that.... I do recoment smaller congrigations and those not strictly of the "protestant" bent... like concervative Baptist or Bible Baptist... or non-denominational but one needs to bew care full there as some so-called nondenominational are little more than cults... any way here is the link to my site if you care to visit.... click on through to the welcome at least and make you own decesion to go on or not.

http://www.mikesfaith.com

Answer 9

I was raised Baptist, but I am now non-denominational. I just look for a church in which I am comfortable and that teaches the beliefs that I consider to be in line with the teaching of the bible.

Answer 10

As a new christian, you are born again. Try attending a Southern baptist church for we are fundamental and literal in our beliefs and interpretation of Gods Word. You will find that there is not a lot of rituals that typically are involved with "religion" and we strive to follow the Great Commission.
Lord Bless you.

Answer 11

Just find a church that teaches right from the bible, and does not compromise the word of God. I attend a non denominational church...all we do is teach the bible day in and day out. There are many good bible teaching churches, the thing to do is find one that truly adheres to His word, and is not compromising it based on the "culture of the day". May God bless you and lead you to the church where you can grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.