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PaperclipPerfector  3mo ago (text post)   3305 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for July 21, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

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Church?

Many will have coffee or fellowship following service. People will likely make an effort to engage with someone new.

Also, isn't this kind of instrumentalizing religion. I mean, it seems like if one were to go to church, the primary reason should be religious belief, not the ancillary benefits? (Sure, I remember some folks in this space tend to discount this position — "Well…" back at SSC comes most readily to mind for mocking it while gloating about his own instrumentalization.)

Religious belief may take time. I wouldn't presume everyone is in the same place spiritually. Sharing fellowship with fellow Christians is a great way to strengthen your faith.

Sharing fellowship with fellow Christians is a great way to strengthen your faith.

But what if you aren't a "fellow" Christian? I'm certainly not.

Not yet. Learning about the faith is good way to begin.

Church?

Never been to one. Grew up pretty much totally irreligious. And several of the churches near me have closed down for lack of people (though one was the "no whites allowed" Samoan church, and another the weird Spanish-only South American "primitivist" denomination). It's pretty much the black Baptist church whose flyers advertise speeches by local Democrat politicians; the Eastern Catholic church whose materials for would be newcomers are all about how their services will differ from the Catholic churches you've certainly already attended (because you better already be Catholic before you show up…); or the tiny Thai Buddhist temple that I have no idea how to go about visiting without, like, interrupting the monks at meditation.

Myself I would look for a protestent church that isn't too large without pride, trans or other current thing flag or banner. Many of these congregations are growing as other current-thing congregations self-destruct.

Most Eastern Orthodox would also have traditional views of marriage and family. They likely also have a formal educational program for adults that some may find appealing. I'm sure they'd welcome newcomers, you could talk to the priest before attending a service if you were nervous or had questions. Many of these congregations are picking up former members of the Roman Church.

Myself I would look for a protestent church that isn't too large without pride, trans or other current thing flag or banner.

This helped me rule out the nearest Lutheran church — not so much the church's webpage, as the LinkedIn page of its woman pastor.

Do you have any opinions on the Pentacostals?

Pentacostals wouldn't be my first choice.

Sadly the congregational church in Anchorage seems to be of the 'open and affirming' sort.

The Christian Church of Anchorage, Anchorage Church of Christ and Faith Lutheran Church looking at their websites are where I start looking for a church home.

The Christian Church of Anchorage, Anchorage Church of Christ and Faith Lutheran Church

Why those three?

I'll also note that the first one is way out on the wrong end (the south end) of town for me. The other two are at least busable, though via multiple buses (and then there's the lack of early Sunday buses). And the third one is just down the street from my parents, which means I know the neighborhood… and no, that's not a positive.

And again, I'm not a Christian, so wouldn't it be kind of wrong to be going to church just for some sort of social benefit?

Briefly searching for churches in Anchorage those were the first three that appeared to meet my criteria of a traditional approach to Protestant Christian theology.

Were I look for a new church I'd visit several that offer traditional teachings until I found a good fit.

You're not a Christian yet. Meeting with and talking to Christians, seeing yourself and the world through a Christian lens is a great way to learn about the Christian faith.

Myself I would look for a protestent church that isn't too large without pride, trans or other current thing flag or banner.

Problem is that I'm limited in transportation, and Anchorage is at once small in population (and shrinking — hence limited selection of churches) but large in geographic size. I've looked specifically at the Eastern Orthodox churches, as Alaska has the highest Orthodox population by percentage (5%) — understandable, given the Russian history. There are two Russian Orthodox churches here. Unfortunately, they're both on the outskirts of town. One (which I've actually had contact with someone who attends thanks to a mutual online acquaintance in Romania) is way out on the southern edge of town, over 9 miles away from where I live, and miles from any of the bus routes. The other is on the northeast edge of town (there are only two roads out of Anchorage), and while I could get there via a couple of buses, they don't really run early enough in the morning, particularly Sundays.

Edit: and that's before the massive reduction in bus services that's coming in a few months.

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