How big is the disunity where you live?

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Hail_Linus

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It seems we often debate on the is of the lack of unity among Christians. Some of us are more passionate about the issue than others. It occurred to me that our opinions on the subject of unity might be affect by our environment. I know I am affected by what I see in my local area.

In the 5 mile radius where I live there must be a least 35 churches. Most of them are nondenominational. Almost every shopping mall seems to have one. There are even some roads where there are six nondenominational Churches in a row literally side by side. We also have several Baptist churches. We also have an Episcopalian Church literally next door to a Presbyterian Church.

What is it like where you live?
 
Driving from my house to my parish, I pass 10 different churches. There are another 4 or 5 on the side roads that I’m not counting. It’s only about a 12 mile drive – fairly rural. Most are Baptist, 2 are Methodist, 1 Lutheran, a few non-denominational.
 
I live only 4 city blocks from one of the two Catholic Churches in our small town. I have a Pentecostal Church a couple of blecks one direction and Central Christian Church a couple of blocks the other direction. We have a Nazarene and a Baptist Church east of us in town, probably more; and a cluster of Churches downtown. They include a Baptist, a Lutheran, a Methodist and an Episcopal. There are more around, but I don’t know the denominations. This town has a population of about 10,000. It used to be called the town of bars and churches!
 
My city is fairly wide in its spread of different denominations and church types. There’s the two main cathedrals in the city centre, the Roman Catholic St Mary’s and the Anglican St Nicholas’, along with the main parish church, St John’s, as well as a Chinese language church, a Lutheran German-language church and a Salvation Army building.

You can find most denominations and church sizes here, and where I live within a short distance there is a small spiritualist church, a Methodist chapel, a large Baptist church, a large Catholic church and a small non-denominational centre. Most areas of my city will have a few churches, which nearly always include a parish church.

Bear in mind that this is in a church of some 200,000 people or so, which isn’t that big.
 
I live in a fairly small town with a Catholic parish, Lutheran (the biggest church; it’s a traditionally German area, like much of rural Upstate New York), Presbyterian, Episcopal, United Methodist, two Baptist, and a Pentecostal community that worships in an out-building of one of the Baptist churches (surprising, since I didn’t think most Baptists approved of Pentecostalism). There is also a Mormon place nearby, and Jehovah’s Witnesses a little farther. You also see a lot of Amish, Eastern Orthodox clergy, and Hasidic Jews shopping at our Walmart or walking on the sidewalk, though I don’t know where their nearest worship places are (there is an Orthodox monastery not terribly far, but some of the Orthodox clergy are clearly there with their wives and children). Also, evidently there is some sort of “emerging church” sort of community with out a single worship space that a lot of young people belong to too.

You also sometimes meet slick young muslims, of the sort that wear blue jeans, sunglasses, and head scarves, though I don’t know of any mosque nearby. A gas station a few miles away is operated by a Sikh, to judge by his turban. There’s also a Masonic Temple in town, though the Elks seem to be the organization that everyone and his brother belong to.

There’s also a shop owned by an Indian (from India) who is apparently Hindu from the way the shop is decorated, and there are a lot of Iroquois around still (they, under Tory leadership, burned down our town during the Revolutionary War, but oh well, if you play the historical blame game it will come back to bite you), who I believe often have complicated beliefs influenced by both Christianity and pre-Christian Iroquois belief, though I don’t know about these ones.

It’s amazing how diverse America is, even in Middle-Of-Nowhere Tea Party Land.
 
Here in Silicon Valley, we have every type of Christian Church imaginable, every type of sect such as Mormons, Scientology and Buddhist, Muslims, Hindu, etc.
 
We have 2 Catholic churches, one Baptist, one Anglican and numerous small evangelical churches. We also have a Mormon temple and a mosque (we have a lot of university exchange students and foreign students from Indonesia and Malaysia). Generally speaking there is a lot of cooperation between the Catholic, Anglican and Baptist churches less with the small evangelical churches.
Of course, we have loads of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples (Shikoku has an 88 Buddhist temple pilgrimage).

In my hometown in Ireland, there are 3 Catholic churches, including a beautiful French neo-gothic cathedral, and 1 Church of Ireland (Anglican). There used to be Methodist and Presbyterian churches but they closed as the congregations shrank.
Gearoidin
 
I don’t know about disunity, but there is a great deal of diversity here.

The three main denominations here seem to be Catholic (not a surprise, because New Mexico is traditionally very Catholic), Baptist and Mormon.

I live in a rather unique area, because while the county is 5,000 square miles, only 6 percent of it is privately owned. The rest is either federal, state or tribal land.

So, we have about 150,000 people squeezed into a finite area. Within this small area, there are nine Catholic churches, about a dozen Baptist churches (two quite large), and about a half-dozen large Mormon churches. The Mormons actually settled the western part of the county and named it Kirtland after one of their historic spots.

One point of interest, there used to be quite a few more Baptist churches, but several have dropped the Baptist monicker and gone non-denominational. I don’t know why.

There are a smattering of Lutheran, Episcopal, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist churches, a couple of large Assemblies of God churches, several Jehovah’s Witnesses halls and a few Seventh Day Adventists churches.

There is one Mosque not far away, and one Synagogue. We have a smattering of Hindus and Buddhists, although no temples as yet.

Oh, and one Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, which I attend.

We also have a fair number of Navajo people who practice their traditional religion, as well as some Ute and Apache people who also follow their traditional beliefs.

Makes for quite a community.

Peace,

Seeker
 
My city is home to a large Polish and Puerto Rican population (with some residual Italian), so it’s mostly Roman Catholic. But there’s the occasional Lutheran church, two Orthodox parishes (one Greek one OCA), a couple Baptist churches, an Episcopalian one, and a Pentecostal one.
 
Australia this time - Logan City (west) in Queensland to be more precise.

Within a ten kilometre radius there would be two Catholic Churches (both in our parish), a “Catholic” Church not in communion with Rome, Mormon temple, Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall, Anglican Church, Presbyterian Church, at least two and possibly three Baptist Churches, several non-denominational Churches including a couple of ethnic churches. There is at least one Buddhist Temple, and if we go a bit further, a Mosque and Islamic school, and a Hindu temple.

As for Christian “unity”, I think the attitude is we tolerate each other. But if you scratch beneath the surface, the tensions soon arise. I was in a charity shop the other day, and was served by an elderly (polite) lady who turned out to be Presbyterian. I said I was Catholic (I didn’t point out I used to be Presbyterian - that would have been a bit too challenging for a conversation) and was informed “I don’t believe in images” and “I think it’s (confession) is strictly between you and God”. I started to reply that we don’t worship idols, and the Scriptural reference “If you forgive the sins of another …” etc. In the end I thought it better to conclude the purchase and leave rather than raise hackles.

The point is that while we do not discuss differences, we tolerate each other. But as soon as we start to scratch below the surface, the misunderstandings very soon arise.
 
Cobb County Georgia here, home of the “Evolution is a theory” stickers on public school science books. Remember that?

Christ Church Cobb: in Frey Elementary School
With Purpose Church: in the middle school next door. “Got Purpose?”
Worship With Wonders: “Living a Life of Expectancy” in the old bowling alley under the TJ Max.
Grace Community Church: “The Empowerment Zone”
Elevation Church: where “God is in a good mood!”
Eagle Point Church: “Jesus Yes, Religion No”
**Freedom Church: **“Expect the Unexpected”
Grearter Deliverance Ministries: “We Teach Jesus” (I love that one :D)
First Baptist Woodstock
First Baptist Kennesaw
First Baptist Marietta
First Baptist Smyrna
Powder Springs Baptist

And St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church in sleepy 'ol Kennesaw, Georgia added 15 families last month. 👍 Catholicism is the fastest growing religion in the south.

-Tim-
 
4 Catholic churches within 7 miles of me. And if I expand that to 10 or 15 miles, then add a few more. But also nearly every Christian denomination is in the area including 2 SDA within 5 miles of me. Along with non denominational Christians. 2 Unitarian Universalist fellowships are in the county. Along with Jewish, Muslim, and other faith communities.

But not sure how much ecumenism goes on. I know there are Easter and Thanksgiving community services. But not sure any Catholic priests participate. I know this year at an Easter community sunrise beach service, I don’t think I saw a Catholic priest listed among those who was going to be there.

This contrasts with my small hometown. Where there were a lot of churches as well for the size of the town. 1 Catholic. Some of the mainline Christian denominations but also several Baptists. Every yr there was a Thanksgiving community service and various clergy including the town’s Catholic priest participated. The clergy also had an ecumenical group among themselves and met monthly for coffee at the local diner. The Catholic priest was very active in that and he and the PCUSA pastor were best of friends and had a great relationship. That might have been at a time though when there might have been a somewhat greater ecumenical spirit on the heels of Vatican 2 and for a number of years following. Non Catholic Christians were considered to be churches. Now I hear ecclesial communities more often. I personally miss those times.
 
I know of a town a short drive from me that has an ecumenical Stations of the Cross on Good Friday in a city park; I believe the participating churches are Catholic, Methodist, and Lutheran… but also Baptist possibly.

Peace,
Phil
 
Hail_Linus said:
It seems we often debate on the is of the lack of unity among Christians. Some of us are more passionate about the issue than others. It occurred to me that our opinions on the subject of unity might be affect by our environment. I know I am affected by what I see in my local area.

In the 5 mile radius where I live there must be a least 35 churches. Most of them are nondenominational. Almost every shopping mall seems to have one. There are even some roads where there are six nondenominational Churches in a row literally side by side. We also have several Baptist churches. We also have an Episcopalian Church literally next door to a Presbyterian Church.

What is it like where you live?
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Mostly Catholic, Methodist, Baptist. The Non. Dem is becomming more and more.

I read a statement of what they believe in. It was hard to believe really.

It said that the Bible is the complete inspired infalible word of God. Well lets stop right there. It contradicted the bible itself right of the bat. The Bible itself tells you that it is not the complete word of God that we are to stand by the teaching of the Early Fathers of by what is written or by word of mouth. So how can it be the Complete word of God. That as I said is the first problem right off the bat.

THe next sentence states it is the final authority of Christian worship?:eek: What! The bible says the Church is the pilar of all truth, and the authority was given to the Apostles.:eek:

The Church makes no sense to me. How can you have a Church that brings all faiths together, but then cannot give them the Eucharist which is the bread from heaven.

Then what happens when some people in the Church believe it is the living Christ, others a symbol. IT seems to be to me a whatever you want us to be kind of Church. Christ does not work that way.

The Church is the Pilar of all truth and you go by the teachings of the Apostles both oral and written. You just do not go by the bible alone. As I stated the bible itself tells you that.

The CC is led by the Power of the Holy Spirit that has been leading us from the Day of Pentecost and will until the Good Lord comes again in his Glory.
 
To paint a little bit of a more positive picture: When you think of all of these different denominations many of these denominations are in communion with one another. Episcopalians are in communion with Old Catholics, the ELCA, many of the Scandanavian national churches, the rest of the Anglican communion, some of the Morovian Churches. Many of the mainstream denominations are in communion with one another just not with the Roman Catholic Church.
 
nhylan said:
To paint a little bit of a more positive picture: When you think of all of these different denominations many of these denominations are in communion with one another. Episcopalians are in communion with Old Catholics, the ELCA, many of the Scandanavian national churches, the rest of the Anglican communion, some of the Morovian Churches. Many of the mainstream denominations are in communion with one another just not with the Roman Catholic Church.
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But what about the RCC. Is there not ONE HOLY CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH. Are we not all called to be in union with one another.

I see nothing positive of our other Brothers and Sisters in Christ not being in perfect communion with us.

But I also do not see where we are not IN COMMUNION with one another just not perfect Communion. How are we left out?:confused:
 
rinnie said:
But what about the RCC. Is there not ONE HOLY CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH. Are we not all called to be in union with one another.

I see nothing positive of our other Brothers and Sisters in Christ not being in perfect communion with us.

But I also do not see where we are not IN COMMUNION with one another just not perfect Communion. How are we left out?:confused:
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You don’t see anything positive about it because your understanding of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church is different than your reformed brothers. This is also why we are not in communion with you but with each other. And that’s not to say that that all the mainstream denominations are in inter-communion with each other because they are not. Episcopal dialogue with the UCC is on going as well as baptists, but our understanding of the OHCAC allows us to join with our brothers and sisters in an easy manner that we cannot with Rome.
 
nhylan said:
You don’t see anything positive about it because your understanding of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church is different than your reformed brothers. This is also why we are not in communion with you but with each other. And that’s not to say that that all the mainstream denominations are in inter-communion with each other because they are not. Episcopal dialogue with the UCC is on going as well as baptists, but our understanding of the OHCAC allows us to join with our brothers and sisters in an easy manner that we cannot with Rome.
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yeah, Catholics like having orthodox and homogenous beliefs, (need I also say true?), on things like baptism, Communion, sin, and salvation, how dare we. :rolleyes:
 
nhylan said:
You don’t see anything positive about it because your understanding of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church is different than your reformed brothers. This is also why we are not in communion with you but with each other. And that’s not to say that that all the mainstream denominations are in inter-communion with each other because they are not. Episcopal dialogue with the UCC is on going as well as baptists, but our understanding of the OHCAC allows us to join with our brothers and sisters in an easy manner that we cannot with Rome.
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But then how is this possible. According to our Pope as long as we are united to Christ by our Baptism we are united together as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. ALthough as I said not in perfect communion with one another.

Where do you feel that our Baptism does not join us together in Christ with One Baptism in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit?:confused:
 
rinnie said:
But then how is this possible. According to our Pope as long as we are united to Christ by our Baptism we are united together as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. ALthough as I said not in perfect communion with one another.

Where do you feel that our Baptism does not join us together in Christ with One Baptism in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit?:confused:
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well OK that’s true, i was thinking too broadly. The communion I was speaking of is one in which we can share the Eucharist with one another. Obviously we are all christians united in him who died for our sins. I assumed we were all talking about the first kind of relationship since thats the one that is the hardest to achieve.
 
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