We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
He is talking about the moonbat churches. They are not very representative, and I do not think many people attend them. Why would they? Those are not the churches I know.
Only partly agree. The institutional churches - the mainstream churches - continue to own a lot of property, remain involved with colleges and seminaries, have greater prestige in the culture at large, and retain considerable membership. This is eroding daily, but they started from the very high spot of including 80% of everyone in 1960.
They in turn have some influence over the rising, more evangelical churches, because they still control a great deal of research and scholarship money, and do not hesitate to use the social pressure of implied sneering and smirking - sometimes not so implied - over young men and women starting off on a career.
So I'm still worried about them, even as they fall.
#2
Assistant Village Idiot
(Link)
on
2015-02-22 13:16
(Reply)
He is talking about the moonbat churches.
Depends on your definition of moonbat. The article informs us that the “Very Reverend Dr. Shaw, an LGBT activist and lesbian,” is an Episcopalian. Since when is a mainstream Protestant church like the Episcopalian considered “moonbat?”
They are not very representative, and I do not think many people attend them.
In the last 50 years, the mainstream Protestant churches have lost members, whereas the evangelical Protestant churches have gained members. So, yes, the mainstream Protestant churches are less and less representative. Circa 1790 the Episcopalian church had the largest church membership in the US. Today, there are around only 3 million people who consider themselves Episcopalian.
Over the last 50 years, political, or shall we say, Social Gospel, messages have gained greater emphasis in mainstream Protestant churches at the expense of theological messages. The Very Reverend Dr. Shaw is very much within this trend.
QUOTE:
Shaw said that greatest current crisis is “climate change” and as a proponent of “practical religion,” everyone should work to raise awareness of the issue and bring change on a local, national, or global front.
“I think the great crisis of our day is climate change and the environment….(s)o I rather hope that more people would take that seriously and begin to think and reflect on what they are doing with their own lives and how they can bring some pressure to bear to change things.”
. Joseph Bottum in An Anxious Age: The Post-Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of America points out that what is preached nowadays in mainstream Protestant churches very much resembles a Liberal Democrat catechism. The Very Reverend Dr. Shaw is merely following the trend of the last 50 years.Unfortunately, when compared to other mainstream Protestant sermonizers, she is not a moonbat at all.
The writer is definitely talking about ECUSA, which is espousing - far too often - a very secular doctrine while ignoring (or worse) the Bible and historical teachings. There was one priest who wore a hijab, and saw nothing inconsistent with her calling. The American Anglican Council was formed in response to ECUSA's increasing secularity and embracing of current cultural norms, and represents an increasing number of parishes who can no longer in good conscience obey the Episcopalian doctrines.