Comments about ‘Religious groups need to back off partisanship to shore up confidence’

Mr. Brown wrote a thought provoking article. He stated that 56% of those who left the Catholic faith, left because of that Church's teachings on abortion and homosexuality. What he didn't report was the age group involved. According to PEW, 48% left before age 18, and another 30% left between the ages of 18 and 23. Only 21% left who were 24 or older.

Could a life-style in conflict with church teaching cause the youth to leave their church? I think that it is far more common for people, especially the young, to find fault with the "establishment" rather than to modify their own behavior.

Should a church stop speaking against abortion just because some of its members decided that an abortion would "solve their problem"?

Is "party politics" really involved, or does one political party tell us that it supports birth control and abortion while another political party tells us that the unborn have rights? Could those who reject their church's teaching against abortion also reject political parties that reject abortion?

Should churches teach things pleasing to the ear, or things pleasing to God? Do churches represent man or God?

I agree with Mr. Thompson that Mr. Brown has written an excellent article. My hubby read the article early this morning and then asked me what I thought about it. I read it and then re-read it and then read it one more time. It was worth the effort because it got me to thinking about the role of religion in our lives.

My Hubby and I are LDS, so we haven't had the experience to attend a "political church" where the preacher thumps the podium preaches politics. So, from a narrow point of experience, here's what I think.

I think that true principles should be taught even if the entire congregation gets up and leaves.

I think that when God tells a Prophet to speak about something, then that Prophet is obligated to teach us that doctrine, even if it drives us away from the church.

I think that many look for an excuse to be offended.

I agree that church is not the place to preach politics, but it is the place to declare God's doctrine, even that doctrine offends us.

I think that Mr. Brown should be commended for his work.

L White,
You are kidding right?

"My Hubby and I are LDS, so we haven't had the experience to attend a "political church""

“But those monitoring the decline in church membership....see a corresponding trend of people leaving their faith primarily because faith and partisan politics have become too intertwined. “

It should be obvious to any intelligent and observant person that the marriage between politics and religion damages both. It fuels hyperpartisanship when parties start staking out the “moral high ground” with blatant or not so blatant suggestions that they are on “God's” side and the other side 's political positions are essentially morally depraved. Often today's youth are exposed via modern media and school/community activities to a variety of viewpoints and although family values are strong influences the maturation process often propels independent thinking and questioning. Demonizing the opponent isn't as effective if one has a personal association with the “demon.”

Although not mentioned in the article, no doubt public scandals involving religious leaders contributes to the decline in church participation.

mightymite,

It looks like you have a problem with the LDS Church. Let me tell of my experiences with the LDS Church. I first voted in 1960. The LDS Church didn't tell me to vote for Kennedy or for Nixon. The LDS Church didn't tell me to vote for a particular Senator, or a particular candidate running for the House. The LDS Church didn't tell me to vote for anyone at anytime for anything.

I accept that policy.

The LDS Church is responsible to God for Doctrine. Doctrine, or fundamental beliefs, are not negotiable. They are not "voted on". When God speaks, the issue has been decided. God spoke on the importance of families. His Prophets issued a proclamation TO THE WORLD, not just to the LDS Church.

By authority of the Priesthood, which the Prophets hold, they are obligated to voice the will of the Lord. Not everyone agrees with them. Perhaps you do not agree with them. So what? You have agency and I have agency. I choose to listen and to obey.

The article seemed to suggest that many will not listen and many will not obey. Is that God's fault?

I'm glad that religion has a place in the nation's affairs. From our early history, religion has played a vital role. It was religion that helped to end slavery in this country. Religion is what makes our constitution work. As the hymn says, "Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law." Religion is the glue that has held the nation together for 236 years. It was the Old North Church that allowed the minutemen to hang the lanterns aloft in the old belfry arch. Take away religion and watch liberty wither.

mightymite

The political endorsement of a candidate by LDS church leaders would be a kiss of death. The members are conditioned to be so independent by past "official" statements of neutrality that voters would rebel and head off in the opposite direction. I saw this happen once when someone hinted members should support Ernest L. Wilkinson in a political bid. He lost in a landslide. Just because a majority of members support the platform positions of only one of the two major parties, don't think we vote as sheep. We vote our consciences based on deeply held principles.

I loved the article. I think it is true on so many levels. I am a member of the millenium generation and so many people and friends of mine are leaving organized religion. My wife and I left about 2 years ago and we have never been happier in our lives. I look forward to the day when more and more people start to question and analyze their religion. We live in an amazing world!!

"The members are conditioned to be ...."

That is a sad statement.

If any religion needs to poll its members to decide what to preach, then that religion has already conceded that it is ignorant of God's will.

Seperating the wheat from the tare's

I think it's not just politics though you can see obvious political indicators like Prop 8. It's also a matter of how open the religion is by which I mean we're a very interconnected society. We have friends of all sorts of different faiths and dont' really see why they should go to hell for being Catholic, LDS, Jewish, etc. Or how open is a church to inter-denominational or inter-faith marriage? If someone is getting too much grief from members of their faith for being in love with someone of another faith well they might just choose to ditch that faith in favor of their love.

Super article and I totally believe the gallup poll is spot on. The biggest and worst of the organizations mentioned, and that are questionable was left out in the analizing and text however. The "whole" media, newsprint, broadcast, computer and high tech included is by far the worst of those mentioned regarding the mess this country is in and the contributors for it!

Mr. Brown has mistaken taking a moral stance on issues with political partisanship. Particularly, when using the example of the "Catholic Church flexing its political muscle".by going to court to protect its religious and constitutional rights against the encroachment by the federal government to restrict the practice of its faith in the educational and healthcare institutions, which it sponsors. Nothing to do with party here. And, this is the problem with the entire article. It simply misrepresents partisanship for maintenance of the longstanding values of the church.

Religion has a lot more to do than just extract itself from the political process to restore people's fait in it as an institution. But it would be a start.

"Jesus sought me a stranger, wandering from the fold of God, He to rescue me from danger" and still those churches that continue to share his message and invite to come into that fold protect and save all that do from the "danger" of populism.

re: A1994 at 6:12 p.m. July 14, 2012

"Take away religion and watch liberty wither." Said the clerics in the Middle East.

It has been rational thought and compromise that has held this country together.

re: Church member 9:44 p.m. July 14, 2012

Agreed. Isn't the lack of stress due to the expectations of others liberating?

in regards to J Thompson July 14 10:04 a.m.

"Do churches represent man or God?"

Churches are the natual by product of organized religion which are nothing more than a mans interpretation of God.

in regards to Hellooo July 15 10:37 a.m.

Interesting. An argument could be made that Christianity started as a populist movement.

%L White;

It is difficult to understand how you could have missed it; but, the LDS church is virtually the driving force of politics in Utah. Perhaps one could argued if that is a good or bad thing.

I think its interesting when people claim the LDS church didn't tell them to vote for any particular person, etc. Let's get real here. Any organization is nothing but the product of its members. You really cannot say the LDS church doesn't do this or that when many of its members do this or that. So how about a couple of things here: the LDS church stop trying to control the political decisions in the State of Utah and in other States as well. And more importantly, how about the members of the LDS church stop telling democrats that they cannot be a "good" member of the church if they are a democrat.