Just Walked Out of Church... !!!

[BamaLefty]

When our preacher told us how to vote! Forget him!

What I want is for every leader to be elected as a Muslim so that we can be governed by the Quaran. Right? No, that isn't true because in Jim Crow south Alabama people don't care for the Islamic religion. They wouldn't want to be governed by Muslim beliefs, so I don't want them to endorse a candidate based on "Who is the better christian."

The preacher said, Kerry was for gay marriage and pro-choice.

He forgot to say that DICK CHENEY IS FOR GAY MARRIAGE AND HAS A GAY DAUGHTER!!!

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

[Cerridwen]

1. Report it to the IRS - if'n you want to vent a bit - n/t

[Roland99]

34. Call the IRS on Monday!!!

Do it!!

[Tippy]

36. Go here to report what is happening

< http://www.au.org/site/PageServer >

You can e-mail but there is also a phone number you can call...everything is confidential...BUT REPORT it Please...They take the information calling is better, because they will explain more about the process...then they report to the IRS...and your name is not given....

[goodboy]

57. I agree...get their tax-exempt status revoked.

[juliagoolia]

2. Did you leave during the service?

Were you the only one to leave? Did you say this is wrong on the way out?

[BamaLefty]

7. Yes, when he finished his last sentence...

on this issue. I left and slammed the door behind me. My whole family left as well, all four of us.

No, I didn't say it is wrong. But the way I left, everyone knew I was mad.

I go to church hear about salvation and to help me reach Heaven. Not to hear a political speech and how it relates to my faith.

I can promise you this, I will be finding a new church...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

23. My husband tells the story of his father

visiting a church where the preacher said that you had to go to that church to go to heaven. He not only got up and left, he told the preacher he believed all paths lead to God.

[BeachBuckeye]

35. During the 1960 Kennedy Campaign

Our family attend a church in Ohio. We had always gone to this church as had my Father and Grandfather before me. The minister railed against Kennedy 2 or 3 weeks in a row and finally, right in the middle of a sermon, my Father stood up and said to my Brother, Mother and myself, in his very best loud and authoratative voice: "Get up, we're leaving". I was damned proud of my Dad as we walked out with pride. Never went back to that Church. My Father's bravado was the talk of the neighborhood and to this day I still proudly relate that story to one and all.

[Shopaholic]

42. You were raised right!

Bravo for your father for setting such a fine example!

[The Backlash Cometh]

41. In a past election, my dad also got up and left.

[ronnykmarshall]

24. Good for you.

I know that must be such a hard thing to do. But don't let this man question your faith in god. He is not preaching the word of the lord, he's talking out his ASS!

[juliagoolia]

27. I hope others followed your lead

You said more than he wanted you to say by leaving. I am thinking others KNOW why you left and although they may not have the same guts you have they admired you for what you did. Everyone is not easily swayed by leaders that try to manipulate them.

Your statement was heard just as loudly as his.

[idiosyncratic]

37. I did the same thing several months ago . . .

The church is "Evangelical" and supposedly most of the people are "born again." These are the people who should truly have love in their hearts and compassion in their minds.

The pastor had just finished reading the passage about Sodom and Gomorrah and he started condemming homosexuality.

I got up and walked out the center back doors that let a lot of bright sunlight into the darkened room.

It got to him, because the next Sunday (the last time I attended), there was a message in the handout about "not leaving during the final minutes of the message."

I am a Christian, but it will be a long time before I start attending church again. :cry:

[Zen Democrat]

56. To me, "church" is a spiritual body, not a physical one.

I happen to think that organized religious services have a place, but that eventually you move through it -- because there's only so much to be gained from it. At some point, it becomes a limitation, a hindrance to spiritual growth.

The real test is what kind of people we are outside of the church doors. So why go there in the first place? Jesus Christ didn't care much for the organized traditions of religiosity. Following in his steps is to forego organized prayer and worship -- IMO.

[AntiCoup2K4]

43. I guarantee you that he wasn't the only one to leave.

Jesus Christ walked right out the door behind him. Too bad He didn't leave Reverend Rightwing with a plague of locusts or something.

[specter]

3. Turn his ass in to the IRS

What he is doing is in violation of his tax exempt status!!!


Of course it is Alabama, so I understand what ur fighting against

[IndianaGreen]

9. There are a lot of churches on both sides that should lose their status

of tax-exempt. This year it has been particularly abhorrent seeing churches being turned into campaign rallies. I don't think that churches should have ever been given a tax exemption, but to have the taxpayer subsidize their political activities really takes the cake.

Keep GAWD out of politics!

[Raenelle]

4. I walked out a long time ago and never went back.

Then I found out that spirituality and religion are different things. Religion is just one tool of many that individuals may use to establish a closer connection to God. When religion becomes an impediment, well, shake the dust off your feet and don't look back.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

16. I did the same thing...

when I left the church I was attending in the '80s. I found my spiritual path in universal Sufism.

[Jade Fox]

5. Report your pastor to the IRS for this.

In order to maintain Tax-excempt status churches must refrain from
political endorsments.

[mconvente]

6. same bullshit here

Got back from church - couldn't believe they were handing out those Christian Coalition pamphlets - what a bunch of bullshit. The pamphlets "claim" to be non-partisan - my ass. Fuck that. I was so pissed off but I wanted to remain calm during the service. I'm seriously thinking about reporting them.

[wabeewoman]

13. DO IT!!!

If they can go after the NAACP for their tax exempt status for saying bush's policies are bad for African Americans then they should be going after these churches for much more grievous politicking'

[KC21304]

8. Anyone else have the " Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics "

stuck in their windshield when they came out of Mass ? Same old BS.

[soggy]

53. LOL at "serious catholics"!

is being a "serious catholic" similar to being a "real american"?

god, how i hate propaganda...

[UL_Approved]

10. Busted!

Oh, how they hate to deal fairly and unbiased with the world. All the church happens to be is a political tool, both social and governmental. Get them while you can.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. I am an ordained minister in

the Church of All/Universal Worship, which honors all spiritual traditions (and reads from all the different scriptures during the service). I make sure I say NOTHING about politics during the service, or after it for that matter. My husband and I also lead the Dances of Unversal Peace, which is moving meditation/body prayer honoring all the world's spiritual traditions. Again, we don't talk politics during the Dance sessions. It's funny, though-politics have been mentioned AFTER the session by the dancers (not us), and every Dancer we know is voting Kerry.

[Nikepallas]

19. I feel your pain. The sad part is that this is happening a lot.

Keep strong.

[Robbie67]

12. You should have said, "LIAR! You're a LIAR in a church of God..."

HERETIC!

[phish420]

21. Thats what I would do!

[blue sky at night]

14. I'm right behind you, if.........

the shrub gets reselected i am leaving my church, because we are taught to forgive...but i could never forgive those who would damage our democracy (perhaps fatally) by voting as they did. my pastor is strongly against shrub, but can't, and won't come right out and say it. he wrote a letter to the congregation strongly suggesting Kerry via the christian values that we should expect in our president. it is going to be ugly if the dark side wins.

[cornermouse]

15. Most churches tape their sermons nowdays

Get a tape and send it with a letter of complaint to the IRS.

[Joy Anne]

17. switch!

There are plenty of mainline churches with a leftish social outlook and a firm commitment to separation of church and state. Join us.

[rullery]

18. Find a new church home, one that is not political.

Then let your former preacher know why you are leaving his church. The U.S. Constitution proclaims separation of church and state, and your preacher has no business telling his congregation how to vote. Indeed, as has been mentioned, the church could lose its tax exempt status. I once had to remind a preacher of that fact, and after that he no longer gave election advice from the pulpit. I would have left that church, but I had good relationships there except for that one incident; and the preacher did apologize to me.

[phish420]

20. What's the Church's #?

Lets all call them and tell them their tax exempt status will be long gone soon.

[Blue Gardener]

22. Good for you!

I salute you for standing up to them. How they can condone this war and support *, yet still call themselves Christians, is truly puzzling to me.
This is why I stay home on Sunday mornings.

[snowbear]

25. Make sure you write a letter to the editor of you paper

in addition to reporting them!

[bushisanidiot]

26. Just went to my MCC church in St. Louis. Mostly gay congregation

not one word was said about the election or who to vote for.
And we've got more at stake in this election than many others..

I think this shows where the honesty is.

[doni_georgia]

28. Be sure to report it and they will lose their tax-exempt status

Good for you for walking out. I'd resign my membership and let them know why I was doing it.

[cornermouse]

29. But...include proof of your statement

when you make the complaint. It works better that way.

[xultar]

30. I'm almost embarrassed to be a Christian.

[The empressof all]

48. The evil fundegelicals are not Christian

They have co-opted Christianity as a forum for their perversions. True Christians need to stand firm and take back our faith. Find real congregations and convince others who have been co-opted to attend with you.

[DemBones DemBones]

31. If the preacher said "Vote for Bush*" or "Don't vote for Kerry,"

I'm sure the IRS can nail him. I'm not sure if they can nail him for saying you should vote according to what the Bible/Jesus/the church teaches and commenting that Kerry supports gay marriage and "choice."

But I'd call the IRS tomorrow and make the preacher try to worm his way out of trouble. If he stayed within the law, fine; if not, too bad, he'll have to pay the fine.

[tjdee]

32. I was pleasantly surprised by my pastor today.

I readied myself for the "Christian man" and "the killing of babies" spiel, but instead the Rev. talked about America turning into a country that thinks that their way is the only way, but that it's really God's blah blah blah.

He also read the turn the other cheek verse and got in the bit about praying in public like a Pharisee. Thought it was interesting that he put that in, actually.

He basically left it that it's in God's hands and that we should all vote what is in our hearts. And so, I'm off to a Kerry rally later!

Sorry that your pastor couldn't keep it together enough to keep his personal feeling OUT of the pulpit.

[Malva Zebrina]

33. no candidate should be promoted at any church

saw pictures today of Bush and his lump dressed in lime, going to church. I gotta tell you--Bush in ALL the photos looks crazed and looks out of it. Others are smiling, he is peering out with a suspicious look on his face in ALL the photos. No smiles from him. He looks as if there is definately something wrong with him

take a look:







Additionly I saw photos of Kerry in a Baptist church attending the service, clapping to the music and then speaking from the podium/pulpit, with a photo shot of Kerry in front of a huge cross, like many of those we saw taken of Bush when he visited a church and made speeches.

It is inappropriate for a political campaign from either side. This should NOT be if we are to respect our constitution. However, it will not go away and those of us who have to suffer through this misuse have no say at all or any hope of ever changing it to comply more with our consitution or what we perceive to be separation of church and state.

[Sabriel]

54. WHICH "lump dressed in lime"? There are two.... n/t

[Gregorian]

38. Jesus was the antithesis of conservatism.

I wouldn't waste my time at 99.9% of the churches in this country. If you've never been to the Stanford University Memorial church, you owe it to yourself. I doubt you'd ever set foot in another so-called church again. I laugh when I drive by these "circus churches" in my town. I can smell them without ever even going in and listening.

[kayell]

39. Good for you. Now report the idiot to the IRS.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

40. Too bad you didn't ask which beatitudes are addressed by Repubs platform

as you walked out :D

[DuaneBidoux]

44. Fortunately you're in a backwater location so it shouldn't hurt

[snacker]

45. Good for you!

Our newspaper did a front page article about this happening in many churches. If I remember correctly, the man in the article (who walked out) said something like: "I didn't come to church for a political rally."

[Arugula Latte]

46. Good for you.

You're better off staying out of Church, anyway. No offense, but ministers are just civilians who have swallowed dogma.

Think for yourself -- that's supposed to be the American way, right? You can handle your own spiritual needs. Not that you asked me for advice, I know. So I'll just shut up now. :hi:

[Flammable Materials]

47. For the most part, church in America ...

... bears no resemblance to the home of the Man from Galilee.

[sendero]

49. Most churches...

... are indistinguishable from businesses anyway. And way too many pastors see their role as merely a career path. They are more interested in "selling" themselves and growing their congregations than worrying about what Jesus had to say.

[Bread and Circus]

50. It's against the Law for non-profit organizations like Church's to tell

you how to vote.

I'd tape it and talk to the ACLU.

[GreenPartyVoter]

51. We all found flyers for * under our windshield wipers when we left service

but I don't know who put them there.

But at least our pastor does not tell us to vote for * but asks us to pray that the best person for the job according to His plans is voted in.

[NAO]

52. Bush was AGAINST Gay Unions BEFORE he was FOR them!!

It is VERY IMPORTANT to make the members of your church and other Christians aware of Bush's newly found pro-civil union for homosexuals stand.

That's right Bush said on live TV that he was FOR homosexual unions! He said the RNC platform was wrong on that.

Spread the word. Every Christian needs to know this about Bush.

[reality based]

55. Let he who is without sin

cast the first vote.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

58. Religion is big business in America

I have nothing against those who believe and I'm a believer myself. But I think it's time to end ANY tax exempt status for churches.

[greyfox]

59. This Baptist good ol' boy...

attended a CATHOLIC church today - something is granddaddy wold have whipped his arse for... but he is such a fine, well-rounded, highly "spurthal" man... well...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1913054

[karlrschneider]

60. Good for you. I don't want to denigrate your faith, but the fact is that

religion is just a business where the entrepreneur is selling a non-existant product to gullible customers, tax-free.

[fortyfeetunder]

61. What's the name of the so-called preacher?

Does he have an e-mail address? We can all DU him and speak some words of the Gospel to him!!!!

My latest commandment
Thou shalt not mix the affairs of the church and state....