It's been working for me lately. Been making quite a few older friends, and it's nice to find they accept me despite maybe not voting the same way they do. Not for everybody, and there's a lot of churches not as conductive for it. If you grew up in that environment it may be comfortable for you.
You just gotta bite your tongue during service when they conflate faith with candidate choice. May December 2024 arrive quickly.
Check out Unitarian Universalism if you're looking for a more liberal church community. If you follow a specific religion and care that the services talk about that it may not be for you, they don't have specific religious beliefs in the way that Christianity does. But the UU congregations I've seen are largely made from old hippies and their children and grandchildren, as well as ex-Christians and Muslims who grew disillusioned by their own congregations but still want a church community
Maybe check out an Acts 29 church. I don't know what they're all like, but the one I'm in is very against conflating faith with politics.
Another option may be churches affiliated with 9Marks because I know the leader of it, who is a pastor on Capitol Hill in DC, was outspoken against getting involved in politics a decade ago. However, a lot has changed in a decade, and I haven't kept up.
Of course, if you're happy with the community you have and are fine biting your tongue, that's fine as well.
Thanks! I actually gave acts29 a look and might consider switching over to one in the future. Interesting to see their map with options all over the world.
Joined an orthodox church last year. Hasn't been a single mention of politics in any way shape or form yet besides "the current climate is spooky, have faith and support one-another". It has been incredibly refreshing.
Traditional denominations are probably less prone to party politics than evangelicals.
In decades of going to Catholic and Anglican churches (not in the US, but in multiple varied places) I have never heard a candidate endorsed from the pulpit. The only political thing I recall was being told we should stand up for people of other religions who were at risk of persecution - apart from unarguable and nonspecific things about the poor
There are also plenty of more liberal churches out there, especially if you're in a city. Even in Arkansas I found a church or two that I found more reasonable.
IMO, the "I go to church for community but I don't agree with their views" crowd are essentially enablers. I'd rather not have community at all than give legitimacy and support to a cult that has a net negative impact on society.
I'd even go so far to say that Church is the last real "third place". One that hasn't signifigantly deteriorated over the decades like bars, public facilities, malls, etc.
sure, and there's also local fire fighting, St. John's Ambulance, State Emergency Services, Men's Shed's, etc. There are community groups all over, in this part of the world at least.
for sure, and if you are not religious, for instance I belong to a rationalist group (https://rationalists.nz/) which has regular meetups also, martial arts groups - I made many friends through this especially doing BJJ, hiking groups especially after going on multiday hikes you develop a bit of a bond with the others.
