Kiraze

Lutherans are one branch of Protestants so it is much simpler to use that term

Anyway, I chose here "other" as I do not believe in religions but I am not atheist either

gisela

kharmine,(or anyone else that knows) might I ask what this word means? I have never heard it before.

"ostentatious"

Kharmine

Donya, there are many, many Lutherans in the United States. Chiefly because many of the immigrants to the United States came from Nordic countries. Lutheran is the first of what we call today the Protestant (non-Catholic) religions. I belong to a branch that is considered liberal.

Gisela, "ostentatious" means "showy" and "loud," deliberately making a very public display of itself. (Come to think of it, "ostentatious" is a showy word, innit?)

Lutherans do not believe in aggressive conversion, nor in politicizing their faith. (There are Lutheran sects that are more conservative and old-fashioned, but they tend to keep to themselves.) They believe that politics is a matter of individual conscience.

In our society, "Christian" has come to be a loaded political term, almost synonymous with aggressive and intolerant fundamentalism. Some denominations are more deserving of this reputation than others, which is why I identitfy myself as Lutheran, when it seems necessary.

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What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?

sultan

Lutherans are generally open minded but there is one part of the church that remains segregated and that is the Wisconsin Synod [a close friend dropped out of that church because he is so strongly opposed to racism]. Here in the Hispanic part of St Paul we had a very large congregation of that branch which remained segregated right up to just a year or so ago. The Synod has left and the church that took over is now non-denominational.

It would be great to have a world free of prejudice. As I wrote on another thread, we can have more peace and brethrenship in this troubled world through beauty and art. And that's where you the artists who perform Oriental dance can do a great service to the world by creating more beauty and art so that we can reach those ideal goals.

Some may call me a dreamer but that's how I feel. So here's some applause for you .

Kharmine

Yes, sultan, I understand there is a very conservative branch that doesn't even recognize Lutherans outside of it as fellow Christians! It's about control, really. There are older people in my church who remember the struggle for power that resulted in a splitting along policy guidelines -- had nothing to do with the basic tenets of Christianity.

Let that applause go to all who respect the faiths of others! And that goes for those who have a strong moral/ethical code, but no particular religious belief.

__________________
What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?

Reen.Blom

That's why I started this poll: to show how different we all are and how united we are by Belly Dance! I think It is truely awesome! Not to divide and build fences, and not decide who is wrong or right.

But also as a responce to the other thread that tells us how most religions condemn belly dancing, which is true in fundamentalistic cases, but not ALWAYS! After all one does not have to be atheist to Belly Dance...LOL

charity

i think if any category i fall under pagan though i put down other as my vote.

i surely do not believe in Jesus. God i believe in but not in such a personified sense as i think most Christians do.

to answer this question would be a drawn out story. as far as i know my religion has no name. it is a fabrication of my own mind.

Tikvah

I have yet to read the rest of the posts, but I just wanted to say that although I clicked Jewish, my path is really more of an odd hodge podge of Judeo-pagan-pantheist :-)

Tikvah

You pretty much live in my back yard. I'm in a suburb south of St. Paul, and drive through St. Paul to get to work :o) I think we need to have a meetup at the Med Cruise or something!!

sultan

Tikvah,

Just for you ...