Methodists Are Hindering Christianity



Methodists have resisted breaking apart. Apparently there has been some official steps to break up but there are still groups scrambling to head off the split. Christianity is helped by these splits. Methodism needs to get on with theirs. The faith has always morphed and maybe is morphing faster than ever.

There are so many ways of interpreting the Bible one can find one that fits any particular time and place.  Think of fashions in clothing, how they change, and we can see the Bible. When one way of understanding the Bible seems out of date a new one emerges.

The faith runs into trouble, however, when interpretation of the Bible is not allowed to change. That is happening now in the Catholic denomination. The former Pope Benedict faction is trying to stop reforms that are needed. These include married priests. The wealthy German branch refuses to condemn gay clergy. Pope Francis' strategy is being less dogmatic about theology and rules. He prefers a vague style of dealing with thorny issues.  This allows the many factions to stay in the denomination without winners and losers.

It has been a healthy few years among Protestant denominations because several have split up over the gay pastor issue. In the spirit of capitalism, some factions will survive and the others will die. Why pay your tithe to a church that preaches something you disagree with when there is one down the street with just your cup of tea? The folks in the pews write the sermons of the clergy behind the pulpit.

The Methodist denomination needs to split up into factions to let the market do its job.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maybe the "Original Sin" Should be Reassigned

Image
We can all agree most Catholic priests are fine people and not guilty of sexual abuse. What Catholics must face, however, it that their church harbors executives who are dishonest . There is an incredible story about the Argentine Bishop Zanchetta. The Pope worked with him in Argentina and they are considered friends. Around 2015 Zanchetta sent nude pictures of himself and they began circulating world wide. He also was too friendly with young seminarians and some left because of him.  Three different officials say they made formal complaints to the Vatican about Zanchetta between 2015 and 2017. Yet, in 2018, the Vatican claimed it was unaware of any complaints about Zanchetta. This might be a good time to repeat the Catholic hierarchy claims to have the sole authority handed down from Jesus to what the faith stands for. It condemns as sinners those who practice birth control, have abortions and gay sexual relationships. Handing the hierarchy this responsibility would make som
Read more

The Religious Capitol Invaders May Yet Win

Image
So much about U.S. society and religion can be learned from the Civil War and what happened afterwards. After its defeat, the South started a myth about the unethical soldiers from the North. The South fought for principles of God and states rights. The North did not. It was the South, this propaganda told the country, that had the high moral ground.  The Capitol invaders, encouraged by Trump, swallowed the myth that Biden's election was stolen. Thus, they think they held and still hold the high moral ground. This was reinforced by the cross and prayers during the invasion. Even with Trump is gone, we will see political opportunists like Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley stroking crowds and feeding the same lies as Trump. Like "the South will rise again" these gullible followers will talk of victory over the unclean. After the Civil War the South rallied around the phrase, Lost Cause. For decades, and maybe to this day, there are ceremonies remembering fallen martyrs, Re
Read more

Father Frank Pavone, the Ultimate Crook

Image
Recently, the Vatican defrocked Frank Pavone. His diehard fans are outraged. This is because he cleverly manipulated his fans and the press all the while living well from donations and, apparently, abusing some women. By making abortion the "sin" of the century, and himself the main opposition to this one sin, he himself could get away with any sin he pleased.  As the link points out, Pavone was the perfect priest for the Trump era. Trump is so self-important laws have no role in his life. He felt accountable to no one. Women were there to be had. Pavone and Trump are interchangeable.  Pavone was very successful raising money. In his mind, abortion was so important in Catholic beliefs and he was so important in anti-abortion the money he raised opposing it was his to do with what he liked. The Catholic Church, the brand name he used to raise this money, thought the money belonged to it. When he gave the Vatican the bird, it gave him walking papers. With polls showing the majo
Read more