Independent Baptist vs United Church of Christ - Whats the Difference?

What is the difference in the teaching and practices of Independent Baptists and the United Church of Christ? This video seeks to answer that.

[@aduenamz2569]

Remember when the problem was baptize baby’s or not? Good times...

[@TracyW-me8br]

Right?! Haha 😂

[@Toetalwar]

the UCC is bizarrely specific on what they want the UN to be O.o

[@geraldwalker7609]

You couldn't have picked two more different. Even IFB and Catholics may have more in common. Good job.

[@brendonpremkumar8207]

Oh yes. Independent Baptists and Roman Catholics do affirm basic Christian teachings, such as the Trinity, the Bible as God's word, the human need for salvation, Jesus as the only way to heaven, and loving God and neighbors. The UCC rejects many of these and has fallen into apostasy.

[@nicholasshaler7442]

Don’t know which of those two you are, but as a Catholic, I agree.

[@frogtownroad9104]

Ironically, Episcopalians and Catholics have more in common despite both UCC and the PEC being Mainline Protestants.

[@Dylan-ct7ec]

@@brendonpremkumar8207 Our UCC church teaches those exact things though... What do you mean we've fallen into apostasy?

[@brendonpremkumar8207]

@@Dylan-ct7ec A lot of UCC ministers deny the divinity of Christ. The UCC definitely rejects the Bible as the Word of God, and teaches all religions are the same. The teachings I listed above are not dogma for the United Church of Christ. An pastor in the UCC can believe or teach pretty much anything he or she wants to and still be in good standing. I'm not denying that there are still orthodox, faithful Christians in the UCC but they are a very small minority.

[@matthewahern3394]

This is great, I'm a more "conservative" UCC member and I love the varying beliefs and dialogue we get to have.

[@devonbrahm9536]

Me too, Matt. I like that a congregation can make decisions. I love the ground up way instead of having a top down such as say the catholic church. (Nothing against any other denominations)

[@davewil3]

I am also a conservative member of a UCC church but on my way out. When most of the UCC no longer believes in the need for salvation, or hell, and that Christianity is all about Social Justice, climate change, etc., it is time to leave.

[@keithwilson6060]

Is anything off limits in your “varying beliefs?” Are NAMBLA members barred from UCC church leadership and dialogue?

[@johonanandrewgomes7593]

@@davewil3 Good decision my guy

[@colesisler582]

@@davewil3 seems like your beliefs would align more with the Episcopalian church

[@donalddodson7365]

My goodness, what has changed since I attended a UCC Church in 1970. Thank you, Joshua, for giving this detailed comparison. Blessings.

[@JohnPaul-ol5zl]

It's a plague spreading into multiple churches regardless of denomination. Essentially they are becoming Satan's playground.....a free for all. Where nothing is seen as sin. Make your own morals....if you can even call them that. Integrity and respect of God's Word is being trampled on. Twisting verses to fit their agenda.

[@darthfine]

These videos are excellent. You won't get these detailed explanations anywhere else. The comparisons are most helpful also. Keep up the excellent work. Grace and Peace.

[@barefootinroann]

I honestly don’t know how you were able to talk this long about these two groups without your camera melting. Talk about both ends of the spectrum. I truly appreciate your objective analysis of denominations and churches.

[@matthewkopp2391]

Although the UCC in my experience no longer follows Johannes Calvin’s predestination idea, we do learn about what he wrote, and what came out of it. The social gospel idea is demonstrably routed in Calvinist tradition and emerged in the USA by Baptist Walter Rauschenbush. Part of Calvin’s idea was NO ONE can know the mind of God, because he is transcendent of man. And that follows Biblically as well in many areas. But let’s be clear the Social Gospel was fought against by exploitative industries who used child labor. Walter Rauschenbush fought against child labor and other issues and that fight was successful. As far as the democratic structure of the church that is also Calvinist in origin. There was also a lesson on “calling” in regards to occupational choice also from Calvin. So there was a lot of Calvinist ideas in the UCC I attended. But the theology comes out of survey of the entire Christian tradition. Confirmation took years of study. It was rigorous scholarship of every era. When you learn the entire history of Christianity, you find that Christianity is hundreds of different beliefs and ideas. But there are key principles. I think learning to love more and greater tolerance of others is a far more pronounced principle as Jesus teaching in the Gospel than believing that Revelations is literal and not allegorical. And even ancient Christians did NOT believe that Genesis was literal. Ancient Christians thought literal belief in Genesis creationism was completely childish. Other Christians can waste their time judging other denominations as heretics or whatever, I think that is the most mediocre waste of time imaginable. 1000’s of versions of Christianity and your version is somehow absolutely the right one. Really? The Logos is a living principle and Jesus reveals himself to us. How he reveals himself to you I don’t know, but I do know how he has revealed himself to me.

[@rosehammer9482]

Why do they use the name of Christ for their gathering when they don’t believe the Bible. I visited a United Church of Christ and took my Bible with me. I was called a fundamentalist and the man told me he had one of those but leaves it at home. I came on a bad day as they had gathered for a guided meditation by a Franciscan monk or priest and a business meeting. This was a totally new experience for me I’m glad I visited them I had no clue what the churches were all about and thank you for your video you cleared up a whole lot for me I never went back

[@SZD.]

Why do overzealous Christians call themselves Christians when owning material possessions and spitting in the face of Christ's teachings?

[@Inhumantics]

The UCC acts as an "advisor", but as our pastor reminds us, they are not in any way an authority figure for us. In this way, Congregational churches generally consider themselves independent in the sense that the people govern the church and write their own general belief statements. However, congregants are often encouraged to come to their own conclusions, and if they choose to do a "statement of faith" upon membership, what's within can vary greatly.

[@DV-mq5fv]

In the 1950s I grew up in a Congregational church and it was great. When it became UC it gradually went downhill. By the 1980s it was over for me.

[@Bob.W.]

You do a good job on these.

[@stevendrumm4957]

I grew up in the liberal, apostate United Church of Christ but abruptly left after I was born again when I was in my early 20s back during early 1996.

[@En3rgyMaximus]

I like the amount of work you seem to have put into this video! I would like to share that, from my perspective and experiences, the national setting of the UCC (as found in General Synod or the national conference) may make statements on beliefs held by the Church, but not all local congregations or even individuals part of the UCC may hold the same beliefs. Some congregations don't believe LGBTQIA+ people deserve certain rights. I'm certainly a fan of your work, though!

[@stanleyglover7797]

So what did you prove? That you can judge another denomination solely on stats you searched on the internet? Have you prayed for the denomination? I didn’t hear it. God is still in control no matter if you’re UCC, Methodist, presbyterian, AME ZionOr your beloved independent Baptist. After all that you still have to turn right around and go repent because you didn’t do it from the spirit of love. IJS

[@En3rgyMaximus]

@@stanleyglover7797 The message I wanted to share was that even though the national setting of the UCC may make a resolution not all congregations will immediately follow the national setting's leadership. I shared this experience because I'm a member of the UCC and have witnessed much of how it works. I recognize there are many ways to pray, meaning that simple conversation can be a prayer. Saying "amen" isn't always an indicator of prayer. Thank you for your suggestions. I do want you to know that I have much love for people, their creation, and all of God's creation.

[@sethward1835]

I just got baptized at a UCC congregatiom that's Open and Affirming! ❤️

[@amftpt]

How could anyone, in good conscience, gather together under the name of Christ and completely ignore what the Lord Jesus said in his word? Why not call yourselves "The Church Of The World?"

[@jamaicanprincess87630]

I was thinking the exact same thing. How are you called the United Church of CHRIST but may not believe in Christ, nor that HIS word is inherent? It makes no sense to me.

[@tcb6857]

Exactly!!!

[@thehistoricalgamer1960]

@@jamaicanprincess87630because it doesn’t matter, everyone goes to heaven in the end and it’s no one’s place to tell someone else how to live their life

[@enigma0876]

​@@thehistoricalgamer1960completely false, not everyone goes to heaven. Just read Luke 13:23-24.

[@thehistoricalgamer1960]

@@enigma0876 your wrong

[@rev.stephena.cakouros948]

At the reading of No. 4 and a thru H I couldn't help but think of Reinhold Niebuhr and his desire for a one world government.

[@user-kg3tx5lc6q]

Interesting comparison. What I think has been left out of this video is why the comparison is pertinent. The Baptist tradition grew out of the Congregationalist tradition. That's why both denominations have congregational polity. What is ironic is that, as a result of that congregational polity, the descendants of those churches sometimes find themselves on opposite points in the Protestant theological spectrum. However, not all Baptist churches are theologically or socially conservative. Most in the American Baptist denomination are not, for example. Meanwhile, as you have mentioned some Congregationalist churches are theologically, and even socially conservative, such as some in the comparatively small 4Cs. I think it is important to draw a clear distinction between theological liberalism and conservatism and political polarization in the United States. Both theologically and socially conservative and liberal churches can sometimes (justly) be accused of throwing their support behind certain parties. But this is not what we are talking about. The only entities who benefit from stirring up hatred based on politics in the United States are the enemies of the United States, and the followers of Christ should have no part in this. Meanwhile churches can be theologically liberal, and socially conservative, or the reverse, theologically conservative and socially liberal. In addition, some theologically conservative churches have been very strongly aligned with more liberal politics and social policies in the United States, or at least parties representing these. Consider for example, the Roman Catholic Church, and Black Christian denominations in the USA. So, the real sociological picture is much more complex than soundbites or KZbin videos often make it seem.

[@sdthyng]

Sounds like a battle of wits between two unarmed opponents!

[@forty_two42]

I was a member of a UCC church. There was alot of animosity towards Baptists, CCCC members, Catholics, and especially evangelist.

[@SototG]

I joined a UCC church 4 yrs ago because my husband's family has a historic connection & we were married there. I haven't been a church member since Jr High (Presbyterian) & was/am ignorant re denominations. I am amazed how little I knew about Jesus & Biblical truth. I have learned how left UCC is & it breaks my heart. The clues of it in our specific little church are subtle, but I found out re their views on abortion on Christian radio. As I researched, the more dismayed I became. VERY few attend our church, mostly elderly. At some point I'm praying we change to Baptist or Evangelical or ? What is the most Biblical? Can you compare those? Thank you SO much

[@forty_two42]

@@SototG the UCC is weird. I wouldn't necessarily call them "left" because it's super church by church. Yes some are very liberal, some are very conservative because the UCC is an association instead of a denomination. Plus alot of the UCC churches are Congragational which is even more church by church because though they are generally Calvinist, Congregational churches have the Congregation vote on all church matters so the liberal/conservative nature is based on how liberal/conservative the Congregation itself is. Regardless most denomination don't seem to care about following the word of Christ, they care about the Dogma of their individual organizations. Anyone following the teachings of Jesus Christ as stated in the actual book sees the hypocrisy of most denominations

[@kova1577]

What about Orthodox?

[@mikegaskin5542]

@@SototG Your mistake was listening to Christian radio And if you want to be a "real" Christian, you have to be Orthodox

[@matthewkopp2391]

I had the opposite experience. I was baptized and confirmed in UCC and taught Bible school for the Baptists even though I didn’t share all beliefs. It was part of interfaith work. We also worked with Reform Judaism, visited Evangelicals, Mormon, Catholic and Pentecostal church. All in all only one person said I was totally condemned to hell so I consider my interfaith work a success!

[@leatherpastor]

I’d like to see a video showing differences between UCC and its spin-off, the Evangelical Association of Reformed & Congregational Christian Churches (EA).

[@ReadyToHarvest]

Thanks for the comment. I am very interested in doing this.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

For a moment, when I saw "EA", I thought "Electronic Arts".

[@Vulcansrule6969lol]

You forgot to mention that some UCC Churches preach universal salvation and not saving faith in Christ.

[@tormentorox1]

Universal salvation makes sense. If god is all powerful how could one have the power to deny god in his presence? It would be like denying gravity, or denying languages exist. And if god is all powerful, what can stop god from granting salvation? Salvation isn’t a choice to many Universalists much like being born isn’t a choice.

[@juanmanuelariasperea7092]

United church of Christ is great! That's my beloved denomination.

[@Inhumantics]

Cheers! Mine too.

[@stevendrumm4957]

Its great if you don't believe that the Bible is the word of God and your idea of being a "Christian" is really being a humanist!

[@sethward1835]

@@stevendrumm4957 We believe the Bible is the INSPIRED Word of God, not the literal translation. We take the core prospects and use the most up-to-date scholarship in our understanding of the particular text (semantics and all that). My church uses the New Revised Standard Version, and my pastor gives parishoners the Oxford annotated version to get more context into the translation and its sources. It's very interesting, I'd at least give that Bible a try. The Bible is, as always, a good read 😊

[@ericsutter6385]

Yes, me too. I nurture my spirituality there.

[@polemeros]

If the Episcopal Church has just become Unitarians in drag, the UCC is Unitarians in pants suits.

[@patrickmccarthy7877]

What do you get when you mix a Unitarian and a Jehovah's Witness? Someone who rings doorbells, but doesn't know why.

[@patrickmccarthy7877]

If you want to join a good Bible honoring church, quit your sin.

[@frogtownroad9104]

Episcopal Church explicitly affirms the Trinity via statements of the trinity, the Nicene Creed, the Apostles Creed, and multiple times in the Book of Common Prayer. This is beyond lazy.

[@matthewkopp2391]

@@patrickmccarthy7877 love your humor.

[@nicholasshaler7442]

Love these older videos where he calls out Antichrist. 4:55

[@alexandercox7425]

So, after seeing that video, I came to conclude that the difference between IB and the UCC are one of the most wide in Protestant America.

[@c50ge]

Disciples of Christ Churches and the United Church of Christ have a reciprocating policy for pastors, might be the next denomination to join the UCC. My great uncle stood up at the discussion on merging Evangelical and Reformed Church with the UCC and said the day will come when you will regret joining up with The UCC. (In the late 50s)

[@JxT1957]

wow united church of christ is the polar opposite of the church of christ

[@ammsgod1764]

Is this a church or Super PAC.

[@ronaldwilliamson4762]

When I think of main line churches I think of communism and immorality.

[@stevendrumm4957]

And apostasy and heresy!

[@sethward1835]

If communism is synonymous with immorality, then is capitalism (think about it now)... representative of morality??? 🤔

[@matthewkopp2391]

ACTS 2:44-45 44 And all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them among all, as anyone had need. In my experience, no UCC member I know sold all things and gave it all to those in need. But giving to those in need and sharing things seems to me to be an important Christian principle at least according to the Bible.

[@Patriot-oi7mj]

We need to get out of the UN, and get the UN out of our country.

[@MrRezillo]

Amen to that. The UN is beyond useless; it's harmful in many ways.

[@locutorest]

Why did the Congregational Christian churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church merge? Was the merger a good idea?

[@cheez-itman2784]

I'm realizing more and more how cool independent baptists are. Coming from LCMS btw

[@wessbess]

Your the best at this

[@ChristianVazquez12]

IFB usually apolitical? I would consider their heavy conservatism political.

[@Esqualey]

This is great, and a big reason I am drawn to the UCC. Love and Peace.

[@rafwolf3707]

The "Pure" Congregationalism Is Rare Because Most of The Congregationalist Churches Are Liberal or Conservative and Do not accept the others point of View Take a denomination That is mostly Conservative for Example (SBC and others) They Would not Allow a Single Churches that perform gay marriage and Other things So in these days I would say that most of the denominations that calls themselves congregationalist are in fact not

[@rhondawhite1396]

Well, I WAS wondering why you use "Independent Baptist" churches as the denomination you compare others with for this series. Now listening to the social gospel issues that the UCC is in favor of, it seems that they resemble modern Democrats. If the "Independent Baptist" churches are against all the social gospel Ideas they resemble modern Republicans.

[@shirleylay1257]

I agree

[@nicholasshaler7442]

He uses Independent Baptism as the foil in his videos because that’s what he is. Catholics and Presbyterians are far more hardline when it comes to government support of religion than Independent Baptists.

[@matthewkopp2391]

The Baptists started the Social Gospel movement, Walter Rauschenbush, and in the north were also early abolitionists.

[@williamjarrell3541]

UCC could stand for the United Church of Castro. I know of a UCC minister who is enamored with Cuba. I attended a presentation about his most recent trip to Havana. It was more like a pilgrimage. He displayed a Che poster in the church sanctuary while talking about the great accomplishments of the Revolution. Given decades of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reports you don't have to be a John Bircher or a Fox News junkie to think he might be a bit off the rails. Could someone please tell me that he is only an outlier?

[@sethward1835]

Well we're fed propaganda nonstop and never hear any good things about Cuba (which there are so many), and many people who point out the poverty and disrepair of the infrastructure don't take into account the illegal embargo on them that prohibits trade to the island from any country. It's much less oppressed than what it was, and it would be more prosperous if they were not cut off from the world economy almost completely. There are established churches in Cuba as well and there are many different beliefs over there the same way there are here. Cuba's not perfect but it hasn't had a chance to pursue self-determination since its founding so it's unfair to judge them in that way tbh

[@williamjarrell3541]

@@sethward1835Cuba is a totalitarian dictatorship with a lousy human rights record. You may disagree, but I do not think this fact should be excused by the number of schools and hospitals built since 1959. The political repression is more the result of the Castro Brothers' Marxist-Leninist beliefs than it ever was the result of the US embargo. Do you really think Cuba would cease being a police state if they traded with the US any more than US trade has eased the repression in Saudi Arabia and China? I don't care to defend the embargo but blaming it for any and all failings of the Cuban regime is a Radio Havana talking point. Blaming the US embargo for the flaws of the regime is an admission that their socialist system doesn't work. I don't expect Cuban socialism to make the island like Beverly Hills, but the system should at least be able to provide basic needs. What is the meaning of socialismo e muerte if they need capitalist bad guys in order to thrive?

[@lm386opamp]

I have a Howard Miller Mantel clock. Some of my chime strikes are dull because the hammer seems to bounce on the chime rod muting it. Any suggestions?

[@brianwhite2104]

That's a strangely off-topic question for this video lol

[@lm386opamp]

@brianwhite2104 Wow, no kidding ! How did I make this bizarre of a mistake 🤣😂🤣😂 well who knows where you'll find good advice about a mantle clock! Haha!!

[@mistyautumnwoods]

Is the hammer resting on the chime when it’s not moving?

[@lm386opamp]

@@mistyautumnwoods Great question I will look thank you!!!

[@skiboi1]

Thank you for your work. It just goes to prove a point I have always known- there is NOTHING Christian about a Baptist.

[@FaithMurri]

Lol I'm like 96% sure that the guy in Ready to Harvest (idk his name) is Baptist himself, so maybe don't gatekeep Christianity. You may not agree with practices or beliefs, but if someone believes in Christ, they're a Christian.

[@JadedWarlock]

This explains so much.

[@wessbess]

The Reformed Tradition seems to be mostly gone in the UCC

[@Christiamorous]

As a former Catholic who is a recent UCC member, I'm very thankful that they've lost their Reformed distinctives.

[@paulwoodhouse3386]

Wow. The UCC used to be the church of Jonathon Edwards and John Winthrop. They must be rolling in their graves right now.

[@keithwilson6060]

I thought liberals were sharply against religion getting involved in political issues and processes. And yet, the UCC encourages members to lobby political representatives to enact their religious values? Jesus had his sharpest condemnation reserved for hypocrisy.

[@matthewkopp2391]

The Synod makes a statement and individual congregation members don’t have to agree nor or they required to agree with the statement. But there is a long history of Pacifism the position for example on Palestin-Israel of the Synod is similar to the Quakers, Methodists, and Mennonites. My beliefs are not the same as other people’s beliefs. I appreciate Paul Tillich’s theology who was a member. For me Jesus is the Logos and in us gives human beings the capability to make ethical discernment. I agree with Tillich that Symbols are meaningful on account of their relationship to the ultimate. But there is an idolatrous tendency to confuse the symbol (a holy person, book, doctrine, or ritual) with the ultimate. Therefore I view a lot of Biblical literalism as idolatrous in the same way that Prophet Isaiah described it. But a lot of Evangelicals see Tillich’s ideas as not Christian, heretical, atheist, or pantheist. I don’t.

[@christinacody5845]

@@keithwilson6060 Actually, they do.

[@ComradeMemez]

Read Leviticus 20:13 “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination, they shall surely be put to de@th.”

[@xirux01]

Where did Christ go they seem to be more interested in politics and the UN

[@christinacody5845]

The Evangelical and Reformed church is also a merging to two churches. Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed. So basically it's Lutheran as well. The church my father grew up at, the church I was raised in and both UCC churches I have attended or been a member of all have historical roots in the Evangelical Lutheran part of the denomination. I want to point this out because it kinda goes against the "Congregational" suggestions you made on this.

[@RevDanNC]

Hey Christina, You are correct to note that that Evangelical and Reformed Church was part of a merger, but your answer is slightly misleading. The Evangelical Lutherans did not merge with the Reformed Church in the United States (there is an denomination called the Evangelical Lutherans), rather it was the Evangelical Synod of North America which merged with the Reformed Church in the United States. In America, the Evangelical Synod had some Lutheran theology with mostly Reformed practices (The Evangelical Synod having come from German where it stated as a United Church of Lutherans and Reformed Christians).

[@Pax-Africana]

What makes a private organization the Church of Christ?

[@christinacody5845]

Church of Christ is NOT the United Church of Christ. Two different denominations and two VERY different religious philosophies and organizational structures.

[@Pax-Africana]

@@christinacody5845 Now, answer my question: what makes a private association a church?

[@matthewkopp2391]

@@Pax-Africana If you are talking about the synod vs the church, the synod are seminary and elected congregation members in the synod. Democratically they make theological statements for the church. But the congregation in the church can have whatever position they have as their own revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus reveals himself individually in our own journeys. So we respect both conservative and liberal opinions and we don’t foreclose in Jesus’s revelation in the individual. But we can discuss and argue our particular points of view. For a church congregation this has been very positive allowing both progressive and conservative points of view. But let’s take one political point of view. The UCC first supported Israel, then was concerned that equality was being violated, then condemned the state of Israel. The politics is all humans whether Jewish, Christian, or Islam deserve to live in peace and equal dialogue of differences. So I support the synod on that choice.

[@Pax-Africana]

@@matthewkopp2391 No, I am saying that common sense tells me that Jesus spoke about one single Church and not a multitude of churches. So which Church is really His and which churches are men made corporations?

[@chilternsroamer872]

Some folks just like to give their churches (lower case) fancy names. But we should measure them on the truth (or otherwise) of their belief, not on their naming habits. If my neighbour is a decent fellow, with appropriate standards and beliefs, then although he is not directly of my family, he kind of is. The Catholic Church, for example, speaks of "separated brethren" (their choice of words) in "Unitatis redintegratio". If they are "separated brethren", they are more than just unconnected "corporations"/"charities"/"folks with big ideas".

[@aduenamz2569]

UCC is not cristian at all..

[@stevendrumm4957]

As a person who grew up in the UCC, I agree 100%. I left the UCC as a young adult shortly after I was born again.

[@thehistoricalgamer1960]

@@stevendrumm4957as someone who is ucc I can say that your wrong

[@tbrickman]

Honestly one of the most wack religions.

[@samuelwillis]

how so?

[@Jimstacyray1]

Hello, question instead of pinning each denomination out against each other. And show how denomations are alike and can work together in unity with one goal the kingdom of God.

[@freemind9721]

Good idea but not realistic.

[@sethward1835]

I love that idea but it's difficult when some churches are conservative and don't let certain people into their congregations. It's not Biblical to show anything but Love to those who want to know and follow God. As a trans person, I was rejected from my childhood church when I came out. It was an Independent Baptist Church, and when thet denied me the opportunity to be baptized (which in that sect is a truly "born again" experience that is an essential ordinance to receive salvation, so depriving me of that meant rejecting personhood as a follower of Christ because they didn't see me as worthy of it) I found the UCC not because it was liberal, but I felt God's calling for me to follow Him without denying other parts of my identity. I am a Christian first, but I have trouble believing that other "Christians" would rather reject me than love me for something I can't change. And with so many denominations like that... if we can't agree on the basics, what even if the Church? My UCC congregation teaches that God doesn't choose specific denominations are going to Heaven but that all who Believe in Him are saved (and God only knows, literally).

[@ActiveAdvocate1]

"...seeing that as a step towards the rule of the Antichrist." I laughed out loud. I'm sorry. Not at YOU: you're doing an excellent job of describing all this, but yeah, you pick two denominations this different from one another, I'm probably going to end up laughing at one of them. Just researching to see whether I want to make my book series' protagonist Unitarian Universalist or United. There are differences, I think...? I'm under the impression that Unitarian Universalism is, like, the "every religion". I don't mean like Pantheism--that's different thing--I men more like people of every religion just get to chill together and be cool. But my protagonist here does say to his to-be-girlfriend's EXTREMELY conservative Baptist father: "I believe in the same God as you. I'm a Christian."

[@sethward1835]

UCC is still much more theologically sound as Christians than Unitarian Universalists because they're a mainline denomination and follow lectionaries that are all from the Bible. UCC still believe in the Holy Trinity, Three in One, Jesus' divinity, and take ordinances like communion and baptism-- while UU do not. To most people, Unitarian Universalists are not Christian at all, even if it teaches similar morality. In that case, either could still work for your protagonist, but if they're a UU member, that'd piss off any conservative Christian because it's seen by them as heresy

[@ILoveMahCat]

4:14 love it when liberal American organizations turn out to be imperialist :)

[@joeshuler2886]

It sort of demonstrates how backward the independent baptists’ are and how they couldn’t even agree to basic civil/human rights.

[@patrickmccarthy7877]

Reckless behavior should not be rewarded. If you want to kill your baby, pay for it yourself, don't use my tax dollars for it.

[@ruthvansandt9713]

😳

[@hol-upLIL-bit]

what a mess…

[@rons4297]

Demonic

[@patrickmccarthy7877]

When I lived in Chicago, I visited a UCC church, dumbest sermon I had ever heard, don't should on me and I won't should on you.

[@Nccr3-ht8gm]

False church