Board index ‹ Assorted Bible Questions

[Appletree]

Do you think your God encourages diversity and individuality? Does Christianity/religion demand us to conform to a certain norm or is there freedom to deviate within reason?

Culture is obviously shifting and evolving, as it always is in one way or another. Obviously not always but similar to American politics, churches are often led by old white men telling their followers they should be obedient to certain rules and pay their dues. Every church has its own identity and personality that will vary. Do you think most people engaged in your church community typically fall into the same demograpghic? Do you feel comfortable expressing your own flair or do you feel pressure to look and behave a certain way to fit in? Is there a lot of diversity in your church? How do you think your community of believers can do a better job reaching people who may look or act differently?

Can go into any of the questions/curiosities in more detail, sorry if I packed too many questions into one post. You can speak on the broader Christianity you see in your areastate/country or specifically the faith based community you are actively a part of. "Echo chambers" can be dangerous in our current day and age so thats part of what I was hinting at. Have a great day.

[jimwalton]

> Do you think your God encourages diversity and individuality?

Yes, yes, yes, absolutely! Look at nature (topography), look at humanity, snowflakes, look at the vast diversity of animal and plant life. So much similarity, and yet so much uniqueness.

> Does Christianity/religion demand us to conform to a certain norm or is there freedom to deviate within reason?

We are supposed to be like Jesus, but all within our personalities and gifts. Peter was a very different personality than John. Paul was different than the two of them. And yet they all conformed to the likeness of Christ without losing their individual personalities. There is always freedom; Christ has set us free. We are free to be, to do, to explore, to know, to learn, and to grow in our individual ways.

> churches are often led by old white men telling their followers they should be obedient to certain rules and pay their dues.

This critique is neither fair nor accurate. Many churches led my millennials, many by Asians, blacks, and every other color and ethnic group. Many churches led by women.

> Do you think most people engaged in your church community typically fall into the same demograpghic?

That was true 60 years ago, but no longer. Churches are very demographically and ethnically diverse nowadays.

> Do you feel comfortable expressing your own flair or do you feel pressure to look and behave a certain way to fit in?

Oh definitely yes, I feel comfortable expressing my own personality and flair.

[Appletree]

Thanks for your feedback.