I knew it wouldn't last long

[yngliberal]

Well, I started going back to church a few months ago and everything seemed all cool. The church is neutral in politics and the pastor never talks about it. It's been fine BUT I knew it wouldn't last long. Tonight, a church member got up to announce that people should write the lawmakers to vote yes on the bill coming up that would make banning gay marriage a constitutional amendment. That is when smoke started coming out of my ears. I was wanting to stand up and tell this guy what I thought but it was in church and I didn't want to disturb but next week, I will definitely stand up and tell people I didn't come to church to hear politics but to hear God's word.

Do people not realize they are isolating others when they preach politics?

End of rant but I am mad.

[msongs]

1. evil requires that good men say nothing - a paraphrase of a famous

quote that I cannot recall exactly.

Do speak up and expect to take crap for doing so.

after all it says right in the bible on page 23 that gay marriage should be banned in the US constitution ( right next to the
prohibition on polyester/cotton clothes and a ham dinner with shrimp cocktail as an appetizer).

Msongs
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[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. Edmund Burke

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Edmund Burke (British Statesman and Philosopher, 1729-1797)

[pooja]

2. This is one church member

say something to the pastor... let the him/her know that it seems that people are becoming politicized and that it is uncomfortable to worship when hate is being smeared.... if they cannot lead effectively, sorry but its time to look for a new church. I know it is hard to do.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I think it is a perfect issue for churches to be involved in

Discrimination is wrong. Jesus taught us to love one another and not to judge those who are different. Ask this bigot why any Christian would dare to judge homosexuals as evil or wrong. Ask where in Jesus's words he says anything about homosexuals not marrying.

[Dunvegan]

4. The (disputed) quote seems to be:

‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’...attributed to Edmund Burke.

But here's a great page on the shifting provenence of this quote: http://www.tartarus.org/martin/essays/burkequote.html

[saltpoint]

5. I wouldn't have blamed you one bit if you'd rushed the guy and

strangled him on the spot.

Next time ask him if he could address the topic that Jesus did not appear to represent a "traditional marriage" model, in that he toured Galilee with 12 guys and a prostitute.

Ask those bigots if they can point to the "traditional" model there.

More power to ya, yngliberal.

[saltpoint]

6. yngliberal, are you anywhere near a Unitarian church? They tend to be

MUCH more accepting of all people without labels or captions.

Straight, bi, gay, or whatever. From what I've seen, the Unitarian Universalists are a pretty good bunch of folks.

[Lib Grrrrl]

8. Absoultely!

As a transsexual and a 10-year member of the Unitarian church, I totally agree!

Go - RUN...do not walk...go to http://www.uua.org and find a local congregation near you. You'll be glad you did.

Just to give you a taste of what Unitarianism is all about...we have no central creed, you are not required to believe anything specific...and are allowed to believe whatever you wish. However, we do have Six Living Traditions, and Seven Principles, which serve as a guide to our spiritual journeys.

And here they are...if this sounds like what you believe in...we Unitarian Universalists welcome you!!

The Seven Princliples

* The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

* Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

* Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

* A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

* The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;

* The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

* Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The Six Living Traditions which we share draws from many sources:

* Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;

* Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;

* Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;

* Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

* Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.

* Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

[saltpoint]

9. Yep. Some damned good people runnin' the show at UU churches.

[LittleClarkie]

10. How did your fellow church members react

could you tell?

Maybe you could ask a couple of them what they thought about this person's suggestion. You might be surprised. I know I was when I wore my Kerry button to church and found out I was surrounded by Democrats in the middle of Freeperville.

[yngliberal]

12. They clapped

They are all very conserative but my friend and I both said that they should leave politics outside when they walk into church.

[seabeyond]

11. i found in the baptist community they just assume you agree with

them. they dont even consider they will be turning anyone off. they think everyone agrees. the fun is IN the standing up and letting them know that not all agree with their interpretation of the christian way. i wish you had stood up