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3catwoman3

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30. We have several Buddhists in our little congregation, a lot of...

Sat Jun 20, 2026, 02:21 PM

Jun 20

...folks who call themselves recovering/recovered Catholics, some Wiccans, and a number of atheists. A much beloved minister, who served for 25 years before Parkinson's forced him into retirement, was an atheist, which I found fascinating.

I have no problem with most of the teachings attributed to Jesus. I have a huge problem with how those teaching have been co-opted, corrupted, and contaminated by the likes of Joel Osteen, Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggart, etc, etc, etc.

I was never comfortable with the exclusivity of "No one gets to the Father except though me," and the expectation to go out and witness and try to get people to convert.

I'm not comfortable with any belief system that is exclusive, and that's most of them.

What I like about the UU philosophy is what I think of as its "patchwork quilt" outlook - a little bit of this, a little bit of that.

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I teach religious studies. Vance's book on his conversion is one of the worst things I've read. [View all] Jilly_in_VA Jun 19 OP

I was at a Barnes and Noble this week and they have a table display with his books kimbutgar Jun 19 #1

Just like the Melanoma book. Crowman2009 Jun 19 #20

I will always be agnostic. IMO, there are many ways to end up with belief but 31j20b3 Jun 19 #2

I consider myself a content questioning agnostic... 3catwoman3 Jun 19 #14

Very wise comment Catwoman... wcmagumba Jun 20 #28

We have several Buddhists in our little congregation, a lot of... 3catwoman3 Jun 20 #30

I find the Wiccan and other Earth centered traditions (Native American and others) very compelling... wcmagumba Jun 20 #31

I remember quite clearly, even as young as about 8... 3catwoman3 Jun 20 #32

Thanks for the link, I might do that...my nearest UU Congregation is 30 miles one way and I don't trust my car... wcmagumba Jun 20 #34

Welcome to our DU family. niyad Jun 20 #22

I find Vance's conversion as hollow as the one taken no_hypocrisy Jun 19 #3

That is an absolute winner! Trumpdumper Jun 19 #13

I'm a believer and always have been Jilly_in_VA Jun 19 #4

I got the identical impression of him. DFW Jun 19 #18

I thought Hillbilly Elegy was awful. Alice B. Jun 19 #5

I felt the same Raven123 Jun 19 #15

100% that. And the old Welfare Queen tropes. I couldn't believe what I was reading. Alice B. Jun 19 #21

The book club in this smallish Texas town had fierce competition to see who would get the book next. (No one was willing efhmc Jun 20 #23

I was in grad school when I read it; got it through my university's library. Alice B. Jun 20 #33

It doesn't matter what's in the book LogDog75 Jun 19 #6

I wonder if going from Evangelical to atheist to Catholic karynnj Jun 19 #10

Good point - this gambit could easily backfire and alienate both groups (one hopes!). TheRickles Jun 19 #17

The conservative playbook.... SergeStorms Jun 19 #19

Given that the NYT best-sellers list is pretty easily GenThePerservering Jun 20 #36

This made me laugh😀😂 malaise Jun 19 #7

Vance is not either a "hillbilly" promise first book, nor is he a "Christian" by this book ashredux Jun 19 #8

Vance's conversion from evangelical to atheist is probably the only genuine religious stance he has taken that we know ToxMarz Jun 19 #9

Why Roman Catholic? There's credible sources say he was recruited by Opus Dei. nt Hekate Jun 20 #35

Vance is fake. yardwork Jun 19 #11

I'd like to throw JD Vance across the room and into the trash. Mr. Evil Jun 19 #12

Either he is still an atheist edhopper Jun 19 #16

Probably changed his beliefs as many times as he's changed his name. miyazaki Jun 20 #24

Best description ovf him yet! Jilly_in_VA Jun 20 #25

This prick is as religious as my toilet seat. PCIntern Jun 20 #26

I was reading that Americans are more likely to change religions than political parties Walleye Jun 20 #27

I would say also that Americans seem to confuse GenThePerservering Jun 20 #37

;-{) ASPIRATIONS Goonch Jun 20 #29