I am so glad I attend an African Methodist Church. Most black churches full understand the spiritual need and that the African-American and Hispanic communities have been hit exceptionally hard during the pandemic.

I'm going to say it and not bite my tongue. White churches don't give a damn about black churches and how the pandemic has hit the community. Sunday morning at 11am remains a testament to that fact and giving Trump his props. I guarantee he will have to send in the National Guard to force black churches to open and won't do so until WE feel it's safe to the community to do so. Period.

Did I hear though that only 10 people would be allowed in? How does that even make sense to open the church, use electricity, heat/AC for 10 people?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same reason I want my yoga studio to reopen. That’s my church. People need their places of peace and sanctuary. Especially during these times. I think it’s reasonable if they can operate at minimum capacity and adhere to other guidelines to keep people as safe as possible.

This. People want their sense of community back in whatever form that might be. They also want to give the smug liberals who are bankrupting families and businesses the middle finger. Just like how democrats couldn’t see Hillary losing, I think they are blind to how this will all play out.

I agree with this. It's a symptom of having such a left left wing... that the right feels the need to go more right to counteract it. And when you start feeling hate for a group of people that you feel are threatening you in some way (e.g. what the vast majority of democrats feel towards conservatives) then you get blind to things. As the PP said, HRC supporters couldn't even comprehend the idea of Trump winning last election, even though moderates like myself could see it happening. In this case, the church-goers are so frustrated by the impact of the extended shutdowns that they just want everything back to normal, ESPECIALLY if that's what the democrats don't want, even if sitting in a room full of people is the last thing they should be doing right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same reason I want my yoga studio to reopen. That’s my church. People need their places of peace and sanctuary. Especially during these times. I think it’s reasonable if they can operate at minimum capacity and adhere to other guidelines to keep people as safe as possible.

This. People want their sense of community back in whatever form that might be. They also want to give the smug liberals who are bankrupting families and businesses the middle finger. Just like how democrats couldn’t see Hillary losing, I think they are blind to how this will all play out.

Boy, do I feel stupid. I always though churches were about expressing a belief in the teachings of Christ and finding fellowship among fellow believers.

Isn't it funny when they say the quiet parts out loud? Going to church should not be a way of giving someone the middle finger. It's like rolling coal. If that's your idea of religion, count me out. My church is closed for the foreseeable future, with various services and ministries online.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Money. People aren’t mailing in enough checks.

Our giving has ironically been the highest ever. We aren’t concerned about money at all.

Also, OP remember that “evangelicals” on TV are a whole different type of evangelical than the people in your community. 99% of us are not crazy!

Depends. Do you vote for Republicans? If so, you are crazy — or just deceived. Judges that will decide to ban abortion (following the fake bible translation changes in the 1970s) aren’t worth screwing children and the poor by cutting social safety nets and funneling all money to the top 0.01%. Jesus would be a Democrat today — Jesus was an SJW. Just read the sections of the Bible on Jesus condemning the rich and the pursuit of money, and warning his followers against the Pharisees and money changers. And Jesus advocating for giving money to the poor and to children.

If you vote for Democrats, then I agree. You’re not crazy and we support your church and community. And tell us the name of your church so we can go there!

I haven’t voted for a Republican, but wouldn’t rule it out entirely based just on party. Currently I would not vote republican because I want my immigrant husband to stay here and also I’m very pro-life. Not to be confused with pro-birth, I believe in helping everyone stay alive whether rich, poor, black, brown or white. I don’t want abortion to be illegal, I want it to be unnecessary (in most cases) because women are safe, have adequate support, adequate medical care, access to birth control, etc.

I also think Jesus would be too extreme for the Democrats.

If you think Jesus would be too extreme for Democrats, he would totally abhor Republicans.

Anonymous wrote:What I don’t get is, if churches are necessary to worship, why don’t evangelicals insist Trump go to church?

Don't you know.. he gets a mulligan from the evangelicals every Sunday.

Anonymous wrote:This is definitely political and meant to attack trumps base who is more religious — supposably- because it seems like here is very little harm on allowing people to sit on a big open church space - properly distanced with masks - probably a lot less harmful then all those people standing in line to get in to Trader Joe’s or Costco or the lines I’ve seen for unemployment!!!

Did you write supposably non-ironically?

What I don’t get is, if churches are necessary to worship, why don’t evangelicals insist Trump go to church?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh yes, WHITE evangelical, correct.

That full merging with the GOP was orchestrated by GOP operatives, notably Paul Weyrich (the guy who planned to redefine abortion, where before him, evangelicals believed life started at first breath.)

I feel about the same about evangelicals of all races tbh. And the Catholics, frankly.

It’s true.

Even the most extreme Jews—Hasidics, for example—tend to be politically conservative. It’s an odd thing, considering American Jews vote overwhelmingly for the Democrats. Something about rigidity and conservatism finding common ground, probably.

- An American Jew who is fairly alienated by most religions

The Democrats espouse social platforms that are anathema for the ultra-Orthodox just as they are to evangelicals. And for many who also saw their way of life eradicated and their relatives killed by big strong centralized governments with anti-Semitic platforms (Nazis, Communists), there is a deep-seated fear of government getting big and trying to "fix" things. Historically, that did not end well for the Jews.

PP here. Yeah, I’m aware. You don’t need to explain my own family’s history to me. I still think it’s weird that Jews could support the GOP, considering the anti-Semitism rife in that party.

Anonymous wrote:Outrageous that churches don't pay taxes.

Have you not heard of the prosperity gospel?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh yes, WHITE evangelical, correct.

That full merging with the GOP was orchestrated by GOP operatives, notably Paul Weyrich (the guy who planned to redefine abortion, where before him, evangelicals believed life started at first breath.)

I feel about the same about evangelicals of all races tbh. And the Catholics, frankly.

It’s true.

Even the most extreme Jews—Hasidics, for example—tend to be politically conservative. It’s an odd thing, considering American Jews vote overwhelmingly for the Democrats. Something about rigidity and conservatism finding common ground, probably.

- An American Jew who is fairly alienated by most religions

The Democrats espouse social platforms that are anathema for the ultra-Orthodox just as they are to evangelicals. And for many who also saw their way of life eradicated and their relatives killed by big strong centralized governments with anti-Semitic platforms (Nazis, Communists), there is a deep-seated fear of government getting big and trying to "fix" things. Historically, that did not end well for the Jews.

In addition, Trump and Jared's policies are strongly pro-Israel. Some Jew vote only on this, just as some Christians vote only on abortion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh yes, WHITE evangelical, correct.

That full merging with the GOP was orchestrated by GOP operatives, notably Paul Weyrich (the guy who planned to redefine abortion, where before him, evangelicals believed life started at first breath.)

I feel about the same about evangelicals of all races tbh. And the Catholics, frankly.

It’s true.

Even the most extreme Jews—Hasidics, for example—tend to be politically conservative. It’s an odd thing, considering American Jews vote overwhelmingly for the Democrats. Something about rigidity and conservatism finding common ground, probably.

- An American Jew who is fairly alienated by most religions

The Democrats espouse social platforms that are anathema for the ultra-Orthodox just as they are to evangelicals. And for many who also saw their way of life eradicated and their relatives killed by big strong centralized governments with anti-Semitic platforms (Nazis, Communists), there is a deep-seated fear of government getting big and trying to "fix" things. Historically, that did not end well for the Jews.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Money. People aren’t mailing in enough checks.

Our giving has ironically been the highest ever. We aren’t concerned about money at all.

Also, OP remember that “evangelicals” on TV are a whole different type of evangelical than the people in your community. 99% of us are not crazy!

Depends. Do you vote for Republicans? If so, you are crazy — or just deceived. Judges that will decide to ban abortion (following the fake bible translation changes in the 1970s) aren’t worth screwing children and the poor by cutting social safety nets and funneling all money to the top 0.01%. Jesus would be a Democrat today — Jesus was an SJW. Just read the sections of the Bible on Jesus condemning the rich and the pursuit of money, and warning his followers against the Pharisees and money changers. And Jesus advocating for giving money to the poor and to children.

If you vote for Democrats, then I agree. You’re not crazy and we support your church and community. And tell us the name of your church so we can go there!

I haven’t voted for a Republican, but wouldn’t rule it out entirely based just on party. Currently I would not vote republican because I want my immigrant husband to stay here and also I’m very pro-life. Not to be confused with pro-birth, I believe in helping everyone stay alive whether rich, poor, black, brown or white. I don’t want abortion to be illegal, I want it to be unnecessary (in most cases) because women are safe, have adequate support, adequate medical care, access to birth control, etc.

I also think Jesus would be too extreme for the Democrats.

Good for you. These are all reasonable positions.

Just to add: Jesus told us to care about others all the time, not just when it was convenient for us. You should support allowing immigrants to stay here at all times, not just based on whether your household is affected.

Setting that small point aside do you think the rest of the congregation mostly agrees with you?

Your small point is absolutely true and I am in absolute agreement.

Overall, yes, most of the people in our church share similar beliefs. We are a small church though so not a large sample size. We are a pretty diverse bunch, though I am as pasty white as they come (and my parents are a NRA card carrying Trump supporter and a never Hillary whatever). So there, I’m also a WHITE evangelical. Now if we could ALL stop lumping groups of people together that would be great. There are very few things you can say about “all ___ people” that would be true.

Outrageous that churches don't pay taxes.

This is definitely political and meant to attack trumps base who is more religious — supposably- because it seems like here is very little harm on allowing people to sit on a big open church space - properly distanced with masks - probably a lot less harmful then all those people standing in line to get in to Trader Joe’s or Costco or the lines I’ve seen for unemployment!!!