Christian theology thread for Christians - Deus homo factus est naturam erante, mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante

[Derrick]

The United Methodist Church has just repealed their ban on LGBT clergy. If you've been following church politics for a while you would have seen this coming. There was a vote on the matter of removing wording calling homosexuality sinful back in 2019 which failed 53-47%. While that vote failed it did have majority support from American denominations, the more conservative African ones being responsible for keeping the vote from passing. However with this vote many conservative denominations began to see the writing on the wall and abandoned the UMC, creating their own denomination, the Global Methodist Church. The creation of which has been quite a legal mess as lawsuits over ownership of church property persist. With the conservatives having begun to leave there was nobody left to stop the liberals from progressing their agenda thus leading to the recent decision on LGBT clergy.

Christian Denomination Youtuber, Ready to Harvest, has a great video summarizing the matter:

 

[Derrick]

Orthobros explain:


Article: https://greekcitytimes.com/2024/05/09/orthodox-church-ordains-first-deaconess-in-historic-ceremony/

 

[MajinGoku]

What do you think are the main causes that result in Christians wanting to leave their faith

 

[macrodegenerate]

What do you think are the main causes that result in Christians wanting to leave their faith

With all of the suffering in the world broadcast over and over near constantly, it's difficult to believe anyone cares. In addition, moral relativism is easier to live by than the laws and teachings of God.

 

[Derrick]

With all of the suffering in the world broadcast over and over near constantly, it's difficult to believe anyone cares. In addition, moral relativism is easier to live by than the laws and teachings of God.

I actually disagree with this point. In countries where people are "living rough" (high levels of poverty or violence) rates of religiosity are higher. There are almost no atheists in countries like Zambia, Uganda, and Yemen. Wheres as in countries with more economic prosperity and peace like Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands, rates of Atheism are much higher. My assumption is that the worse things are economically, the more you actually have to work to get your basic needs, the more likely you are to call upon a higher power for help. Likewise when things are going well people are less likely to turn towards Religion or pray for guidance/assistance.

 

[Thomas Talus]

The Church must be forever building, for it is forever decaying within and attacked from without;
For this is the law of life; and you must remember that while there is time of prosperity
The people will neglect the Temple, and in time of adversity they will decry it.

 

[Michael Wade]

He quit because he made the mistake of investigating the Vatican Bank. He's lucky he didn't get taken for a long drive off a short pier, actually.

They kill popes that go against the grain. That bank is in deep with the CIA and lord knows what else. They are a technical nation inside a nation and as such, they are not accountable to Anyone.

Not to necro this thread but I want to learn more about christianity, catholicism especially but in general as well. If anybody has any recommendations on good theology books, I would really appreciate it.

One of the best assessments of the old testament I've read would have to be Dennis pragers rational Bible series. That does a bang up job of clearing up confusion over certain phrasing that might not make as much sense in the translation or conventions of today.

What do you think are the main causes that result in Christians wanting to leave their faith

I would imagine its at least three main things.

One a lack of role models in modern times, which fosters a perception of weakness.

Two the prevalence of degeneracy in Society that encourages people to get in on the action,

Three... Horrific tragedy happens and people don't know how to process the reasoning behind God letting happen. It's because free will is more important then living a life empty of meaning but it is a hard pill to swallow for some that are unprepared.


I think the worst thing that's happened to me recently is working the midnight shift. It's such an effort to maintain my body that I neglect my soul. My schedule is just completely upended.

 

[Astro Loafo]

One thing that's been on my mind a lot is how bad Peter was.

While positive outside the Bible. It seems more like he was a complete disappointment during his time with Jesus. He gets snapped at, scolded, nearly drowns. Only one apostle was supposed to betray Jesus. Then Peter opens his mouth and now two will betray him.

But I think the worst part is when Jesus is looking for disciples. They find a rich man who followed all Jewish laws and Jesus was willing to make him his second in command. Even though Jesus knew Peter was selected by the Father.

 

[macrodegenerate]

Only one apostle was supposed to betray Jesus. Then Peter opens his mouth and now two will betray him.

I thought John was the one who denied him three times.

 

[Astro Loafo]

I thought John was the one who denied him three times.

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

 

[macrodegenerate]

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

I somehow confused John with Peter. Apologies.

 

[Mr Bunny]

One thing that's been on my mind a lot is how bad Peter was.

I find it kind of funny, he's the only one who gets called Satan by Jesus himself and people consider the cross of St. Peter a satanic symbol.

(The cross of St. Peter is an upside down crucifix, as he was crucified upside down)

 

[LaCreaturaDeLasAmerica]

What do you guys think of the wave of young tradcaths? Seems like it's zoomer generation's "new atheism". Most of them seem retarded and just LARPing. Actually, virtually all of the ones I've seen online. Is it a positive or a negative for the Kingdom? On the one hand, it's a bunch of LARPers. On the other hand, it's probably good for real conversions for the culture to push Christianity, even if it's LARPy.

What do you think are the main causes that result in Christians wanting to leave their faith

Comfort. This is the objective answer because it's seen today and has been seen throughout history. It's God's way of nerfing civilizations. Comfort leads to complacency which leads to ruin.

 

[std::string]

What do you guys think of the wave of young tradcaths? Seems like it's zoomer generation's "new atheism". Most of them seem retarded and just LARPing. Actually, virtually all of the ones I've seen online. Is it a positive or a negative for the Kingdom? On the one hand, it's a bunch of LARPers. On the other hand, it's probably good for real conversions for the culture to push Christianity, even if it's LARPy.

My parish offers the Tridentine Mass on Sundays so we get the ones that actually stop LARPing and become Catholic. And even then they usually make it a year or so before they get bored and stop attending. I assume they just go back to posting deus vult on the internet.

Basing your spirituality on some kind of vibe or aesthetic isn't going to last long, zoomers.

 

[Derrick]

One thing that's been on my mind a lot is how bad Peter was.

While positive outside the Bible. It seems more like he was a complete disappointment during his time with Jesus. He gets snapped at, scolded, nearly drowns. Only one apostle was supposed to betray Jesus. Then Peter opens his mouth and now two will betray him.

But I think the worst part is when Jesus is looking for disciples. They find a rich man who followed all Jewish laws and Jesus was willing to make him his second in command. Even though Jesus knew Peter was selected by the Father.

Peter did deny Christ three times but remember when Christ called them from the boat into the storm in Matthew 14 who was the only one brave/faith filled enough to step out?

 

[Thomas Talus]

I would imagine its at least three main things.

One a lack of role models in modern times, which fosters a perception of weakness.

Two the prevalence of degeneracy in Society that encourages people to get in on the action,

Three... Horrific tragedy happens and people don't know how to process the reasoning behind God letting happen. It's because free will is more important then living a life empty of meaning but it is a hard pill to swallow for some that are unprepared.

I think a bigger issue, that I've seen IRL and related to me online, is Christians Behaving Badly. Bullying and aggressive status-jockeying in the church community, cover-ups of abuse because of family connections, etc.

 

[Michael Wade]

I think a bigger issue, that I've seen IRL and related to me online, is Christians Behaving Badly. Bullying and aggressive status-jockeying in the church community, cover-ups of abuse because of family connections, etc.

Yes that's a real issue too. Lot of grifters or people who don't really know what they are talking about. You really have to search for good people these days.

Best defense I can give against the pedo priest argument is that the issue is a 1000 times worse in the public school system with women, but I am very disappointed with the church's approach to dealing with it.

 

[Derrick]

Lot of grifters or people who don't really know what they are talking about

At the risk of sounding judgemental that is how I feel about a lot of the so called, "Religious Right". The vast majority seem, to me at least, to be grifters and charlatans with very little regard for advancing Christianity. During the most recent Republican Primary we had eight candidates reach the debate stage and I didn't hear one, not a single one, talk about Gay Marriage, which has been going on for nearly ten years, nor did I hear any of the candidates discuss contraceptives (except when Nikki Haley praised them) or school prayer. I personally don't believe many, if any, of these candidates are actually Christian but yet they run around totting bibles (one of them is even selling his own customs), attending prayer breakfeasts, and talking about how Holy they are simply because they want to set a limit of when you can murder your unborn child at fifteen weeks, or because they want to set very minor restrictions on Gender Transitioning.

I'm not saying the Democrats are better, because they certainly aren't. In 2020 they were openly discussing removing tax exemptions for churches who opposed Gay Marriage. But at a time when the so called Religious Right is just watered down Atheists I feel like at least the Democrats are open about they fact they stand on the opposite side of things to me, whereas the Religious Right pretends to be my friend while not doing anything to advance what I care about.

And don't tell me it can't be done or that Christians don't have the political capital to get it done. Christianity "supposedly" makes up 63% of the country (the actual believing percentage is undoubtedly much lower) and we can't get it done. South Korea is majority Atheist with only 27% of the country professing Christianity and yet their Religious Right had managed to exert enough political clout to stop Gay Marriage, Keep Gays from openly serving (something the GOP abandoned years ago), shut down the largest pride event in the country, and have nearly gotten Evolution Textbooks thrown out of classrooms. Could you imagine the "Religious Right" in America accomplishing anything like this? Of course not, they'd rather go upload videos about how twice divorced, pro LGBT, Donald Trump, who once claimed he'd never prayed for forgiveness, and couldn't name his favorite bible verse, was sent by God or whatever.

 

[Astro Loafo]

Peter did deny Christ three times but remember when Christ called them from the boat into the storm in Matthew 14 who was the only one brave/faith filled enough to step out?

And Jesus tells him. Ye of little faith. Yet another example of Peter being a disappointment.

 

[Derrick]

And Jesus tells him. Ye of little faith. Yet another example of Peter being a disappointment.

Fair enough, but he did get out of the boat when none of the others would dare.