Are all Christian denominations praiseworthy?

[MineralMan]

If not, should some be publicly criticized?

By whom?

[Turbineguy]

1. The ones who voted for trump.

They should be praised for their low outlook, intelligence and standards.

[MineralMan]

6. Denominations can't vote.

Only individuals can.

[democratisphere]

2. No. Yes. Me.

[MineralMan]

5. Concise.

[Girard442]

3. Jim Jones People's Temple comes to mind.

Also David Koresh's Branch Davidians.

[MineralMan]

4. Those are good, if extreme, examples.

[demosincebirth]

7. All fundy and evangelical. The majority are hypocritical

[Voltaire2]

8. Episcoplians, UU, Friends, Presbyterians.

and probably some other Protestant sects I left out, all seem to be ok. The rest are pretty vile regarding human rights.

[MineralMan]

9. I'd put most ELCA Lutheran churches in that category, too.

[Act_of_Reparation]

10. Nope.

Not all are. I would contend few are.

[MineralMan]

11. Nice clip!

[Permanut]

12. Seems that way to some..

The Fundagelical Talibornagains consider the word "Christian" to impute some kind of magical quality to all who claim it. For example, thumper Bob Dutko said on his radio show out of Detroit this morning that Jeff Sessions is "a brother in Christ". He also grants that Trump has a colorful past, but "we believe in second chances".

So the label means little to me. What matters is the actions and words of these clowns, and the influence they have on society. I know people from several denominations whose actions are praiseworthy, but not by virtue of having a certain label.

[MineralMan]

13. I guess what I'm really asking is why the label "Christian"

is protection against criticism by others who call themselves Christians.

[Permanut]

14. Excellent point..

and this is no answer, but the corollary would be why some Christians are apparently not "Christian enough". Happens in my family every holiday.

In order to answer in any kind of relevant way, I think we would have to agree on what the word "Christian" means. You and I could probably do that, but getting a larger group to agree would be like herding cats, more difficult depending on the number of cats.

[MineralMan]

15. I never decide who is and is not "Christian."

I simply accept people's declarations of faith at face value. Then, I look at their actions and behavior and decide whether I am justified in trusting that individual's declaration.

As an athiest, it's not my business to discriminate among people who self-identify as Christians.

If a person claims to be a Christian, I will believe that person. What kind of Christian that is remains to be determined after observation.

[Iggo]

19. I'm with you on that. If they tell me they're christian, then they're christian.

Not up to me to figure out whether other christians think they're good christians or bad christians.

[Iggo]

16. Are any? (Might be the shorter list.)

[MineralMan]

17. Yes, of course some are. No question about that.

The real question is whether those in praiseworthy denominations have a responsibility to criticize those who are not. I maintain that such a responsibility exists.

Remember all of the comments, following 9/11, questioning why Muslim leaders did not condemn the terrorism? Well, some did, of course, but the questions were still raised.

Should we not ask the same about Christian leaders when some claiming to be Christian do horrible things? I say we should.

That's the real question this thread poses.

[Iggo]

18. If it's the denominations that criticize the other ones for not doing good....

....then I'm guessing that's going to be a reeeeeaaaaly short list.