Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This^?

Combination of both.

Chose to stay within overall major world religion of ancestors for cultural reasons but converted to much more liberal, non-dogmatic, denomination that welcomes women and GBTLQ+ people as leaders and members. My chosen denomination encourages individual reflection of sacred texts in non literal ways that relate to modern life while respecting historical contexts. It also values interfaith work, science, and showing Gods love in practical ways.

Can you provide examples of how God shows love in practical ways?

Thanks for asking

- Feeding homeless and providing safe place to shower each week
- Supporting homeless families in transition out of homelessness towards gaining employment, housing, tutoring for children and mentoring
- Support for prisoners
- Supporting art programs for prisoners to express the leaves through visual art and poetry
- Sponsoring refugee families and helping them to adjust to life in US/ find employments, support the children and provide free legal advice for eventually gaining green cards
- providing safe welcoming community for GTLBQ+ people
- social and moral support for elderly parishioners
- lay ministers who train in providing pastoral care for other church members going through difficult transitions such as job loss/ divorce/ death in family
- Service work by youth helping to rebuild homes in disadvantaged communities

Many more practical examples in other churches also. So many valid human needs.

I agree that these are good examples of kindness and charity to others. What I don't understand is how these are examples of Gods love in practical ways. I don't see any role that God plays in any of those items listed. I see humans acting nobly towards their fellow humans.

We believe that just as Christ was God embodied - that Christians embody the Holy Spirit. When we show love and kindness to others - especially the most vulnerable among us, we are expressing the love of God in practical ways that speak much louder than words.

'Come, blessed ones of my Father, inherit the Kingdom that was prepared for you from the foundation of the universe.' For I was hungry and you gave me food, and I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you came to me.'

Then the righteous will say to him, 'Our Lord, When did we see you that you were hungry and we fed you, or that you were thirsty and we gave you drink?

And when did we see you, that you were a stranger and we took you in, or that you were naked and we clothed you?' And when did we see you sick or in a prison, and we came to you?'

And Jesus answers and says to them, 'Amen, I say to you, as much as you have done to one of these my little brothers, you have done that to me.'

I also believe that any kindness and compassion showed towards vulnerable people (the poor, homeless, the sick, migrants, prisoners etc) is of God (whatever the religion of the actor may be).

Jesus advised his followers that "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:16) This is a core teaching about discerning true character and authenticity by observing actions and the quality of one's life, rather than appearances.


"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

You may prefer to refer to such acts of kindness as showing humanitarian concern.

Wishing you peace, whatever you call acts of kindness and love.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This^?

Combination of both.

Chose to stay within overall major world religion of ancestors for cultural reasons but converted to much more liberal, non-dogmatic, denomination that welcomes women and GBTLQ+ people as leaders and members. My chosen denomination encourages individual reflection of sacred texts in non literal ways that relate to modern life while respecting historical contexts. It also values interfaith work, science, and showing Gods love in practical ways.

Can you provide examples of how God shows love in practical ways?

Thanks for asking

- Feeding homeless and providing safe place to shower each week
- Supporting homeless families in transition out of homelessness towards gaining employment, housing, tutoring for children and mentoring
- Support for prisoners
- Supporting art programs for prisoners to express the leaves through visual art and poetry
- Sponsoring refugee families and helping them to adjust to life in US/ find employments, support the children and provide free legal advice for eventually gaining green cards
- providing safe welcoming community for GTLBQ+ people
- social and moral support for elderly parishioners
- lay ministers who train in providing pastoral care for other church members going through difficult transitions such as job loss/ divorce/ death in family
- Service work by youth helping to rebuild homes in disadvantaged communities

Many more practical examples in other churches also. So many valid human needs.

I agree that these are good examples of kindness and charity to others. What I don't understand is how these are examples of Gods love in practical ways. I don't see any role that God plays in any of those items listed. I see humans acting nobly towards their fellow humans.

~ OP

I used ancestors but should've said religion of your parents and grandparents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This^?

Combination of both.

Chose to stay within overall major world religion of ancestors for cultural reasons but converted to much more liberal, non-dogmatic, denomination that welcomes women and GBTLQ+ people as leaders and members. My chosen denomination encourages individual reflection of sacred texts in non literal ways that relate to modern life while respecting historical contexts. It also values interfaith work, science, and showing Gods love in practical ways.

Which denomination did you choose?

Episcopalian - it works for me but I know it’s not for everyone.

The church has been very kind to me through several difficult times and also provides many opportunities to safely show kindness to others. I love the music and approach worship and everyone is welcomed to the Eucharist / whether or not they are baptized, what their sexual affinity is or even whether they have faith or not. Wherever you are in your life journey you are welcome. The religion of my upbringing only welcomed people baptized into their denomination to the Eucharist and shunned openly gay/ GTLBQ+ people. They do many good works though and meet the spiritual needs of many people.

There is a spiritual home for everyone even if it is the local Chapter of the American Atheists.

I, an atheist, like the Episcopalians for the same reasons as cited above. But pp should know that atheists, while they may be members of atheist groups, do not have or need a spiritual home, because they don't believe in spirits.

Ok whatever you prefer to label your tribe is fine - people of like mindedness.

I have close family and friends who are agnostic/ atheists and we find many connections that are respectful of each others different belief systems. Some of them attend UU churches and do refer to their community as spiritual while others don’t. I don’t care what labels they prefer as long as they feel they belong somewhere.

Anonymous wrote:If you go further back, one could argue that Christians are Jewish Buddhists.

OP said ancestors. All Christians are not descended from early Christians.

My ancestors were probably druids, but we've been Catholic for as long as anyone can remember.

No, I am not an active SDA, but I was probably 5th+ generation on my father's side and 3rd on my mother's

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This^?

Combination of both.

Chose to stay within overall major world religion of ancestors for cultural reasons but converted to much more liberal, non-dogmatic, denomination that welcomes women and GBTLQ+ people as leaders and members. My chosen denomination encourages individual reflection of sacred texts in non literal ways that relate to modern life while respecting historical contexts. It also values interfaith work, science, and showing Gods love in practical ways.

Which denomination did you choose?

Episcopalian - it works for me but I know it’s not for everyone.

The church has been very kind to me through several difficult times and also provides many opportunities to safely show kindness to others. I love the music and approach worship and everyone is welcomed to the Eucharist / whether or not they are baptized, what their sexual affinity is or even whether they have faith or not. Wherever you are in your life journey you are welcome. The religion of my upbringing only welcomed people baptized into their denomination to the Eucharist and shunned openly gay/ GTLBQ+ people. They do many good works though and meet the spiritual needs of many people.

There is a spiritual home for everyone even if it is the local Chapter of the American Atheists.

I, an atheist, like the Episcopalians for the same reasons as cited above. But pp should know that atheists, while they may be members of atheist groups, do not have or need a spiritual home, because they don't believe in spirits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This^?

Combination of both.

Chose to stay within overall major world religion of ancestors for cultural reasons but converted to much more liberal, non-dogmatic, denomination that welcomes women and GBTLQ+ people as leaders and members. My chosen denomination encourages individual reflection of sacred texts in non literal ways that relate to modern life while respecting historical contexts. It also values interfaith work, science, and showing Gods love in practical ways.

Which denomination did you choose?

Episcopalian - it works for me but I know it’s not for everyone.

The church has been very kind to me through several difficult times and also provides many opportunities to safely show kindness to others. I love the music and approach worship and everyone is welcomed to the Eucharist / whether or not they are baptized, what their sexual affinity is or even whether they have faith or not. Wherever you are in your life journey you are welcome. The religion of my upbringing only welcomed people baptized into their denomination to the Eucharist and shunned openly gay/ GTLBQ+ people. They do many good works though and meet the spiritual needs of many people.

There is a spiritual home for everyone even if it is the local Chapter of the American Atheists.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This^?

Combination of both.

Chose to stay within overall major world religion of ancestors for cultural reasons but converted to much more liberal, non-dogmatic, denomination that welcomes women and GBTLQ+ people as leaders and members. My chosen denomination encourages individual reflection of sacred texts in non literal ways that relate to modern life while respecting historical contexts. It also values interfaith work, science, and showing Gods love in practical ways.

Which denomination did you choose?

My grandmother was Jewish. She refused to raise my mom Jewish after WW2 but my best friend was Jewish so I went to synagogue, Jewish youth groups, fasted for Yom Kippur and learned how to make Matzo Balls and tried, unsuccessfully, to eat Gefilte fish when I was sailing on their boat... But I married a catholic, and don't really follow any one religion, although I wish I did - it would give me a stronger identity I think.

Ask the Force.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This^?

Combination of both.

Chose to stay within overall major world religion of ancestors for cultural reasons but converted to much more liberal, non-dogmatic, denomination that welcomes women and GBTLQ+ people as leaders and members. My chosen denomination encourages individual reflection of sacred texts in non literal ways that relate to modern life while respecting historical contexts. It also values interfaith work, science, and showing Gods love in practical ways.

Can you provide examples of how God shows love in practical ways?

Thanks for asking

- Feeding homeless and providing safe place to shower each week
- Supporting homeless families in transition out of homelessness towards gaining employment, housing, tutoring for children and mentoring
- Support for prisoners
- Supporting art programs for prisoners to express the leaves through visual art and poetry
- Sponsoring refugee families and helping them to adjust to life in US/ find employments, support the children and provide free legal advice for eventually gaining green cards
- providing safe welcoming community for GTLBQ+ people
- social and moral support for elderly parishioners
- lay ministers who train in providing pastoral care for other church members going through difficult transitions such as job loss/ divorce/ death in family
- Service work by youth helping to rebuild homes in disadvantaged communities

Many more practical examples in other churches also. So many valid human needs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This^?

Combination of both.

Chose to stay within overall major world religion of ancestors for cultural reasons but converted to much more liberal, non-dogmatic, denomination that welcomes women and GBTLQ+ people as leaders and members. My chosen denomination encourages individual reflection of sacred texts in non literal ways that relate to modern life while respecting historical contexts. It also values interfaith work, science, and showing Gods love in practical ways.

Can you provide examples of how God shows love in practical ways?