I am a child of the 1960s. When I said there are class wars here, I meant what every TV station, newspaper, and magazines refer to as America's "culture wars." The social science is also clear. Certain socioeconomic classes tend to be most comfortable and select certain types of denominations. Other factors are at play. There are exceptions. Geography is one huge factor. For instance, in Manhattan, most people choose to be atheists/agnostics or mainstream Roman Catholic or Protestant. Wherever you go, it seems everyone is reading The New York Times or the current New York Times bestselling books. When The Last Temptation of Christ was released, the RC Cardinal announced that no one should see it. Martin Scorcese and the film's producers must have been in seventh heaven. People came out of the woodwork to see the film. Banned books always sold well in New York.
When I moved to a Mennonite (sort of like the Amish) pocket in Pennsylvania, things were very different. First, almost everyone attended a church and many times a week. More conservative (the very terminology is class based) and rigid churches were popular. From an emotional standpoint, though, these churches provided a deep sense of community for its members. Social life revolved around the churches. When a new highway was built connecting to the area to Philadelphia, a lot of Philadelphia people moved into the area. There is ongoing conflict between the more cosmpolitan Philadelphia people and the farmers whose families settled the area.
The Pew Foundation tracks these factors in a neutral fashion. For the most part, different levels of education prefer different worship experiences. The social scientists do not believe that any one form of worship is better than another. Birds of a feather flock together. An intellectual understanding is important to me but the trade-off is that I miss a more emotional connection. Anglicans, Presbyterians, Lutherans are not known for their warmth or cozy feeling. I envy the churches that are more embracing ---but can also be suffocating. There are so many books describing this factor.
I am certain I chose a more sterile denomination and a one with looser doctrines precisely b/c of my WT experience.
I never heard of liberal Christians. The term I hear and use is progressive Christianity. Progressive Christianity, as I see it, promotes social justice. No one views the Bible as inerrant. They tend to be umbrella churches with loose doctrinal formulations that include rather than exclude. Sermons are gentle. I used to joke that the sermons were PBS programs. Every once in a while, Jesus was mentioned. Last Sunday the Bible readings included a passage often used by the Witnesses. I felt uncomfortable. The priests know how to use a phrase and turn it something that does not bother me. Specifically, it was Jesus speaking of the last days and how many will proclaim the end but no man no knows the hour. Jesus instructs his followers to beware such false teachers. The application to the Witnesses spooked me. I kept reading the text b/c I never noticed it before even tho the Witnesses quote it extensively. I would say the Sojourner Community was an excellent example of progressive Christianity.
Pls I would love to hear your take on progressive Christians the WT b/c in my mind I see no parallels. It feels a night and day experience. There may very well be parallels that I don't see. Sometimes it takes an outsider to see things.
