In the late 1970s my home was a halfway house for Cambodian refugees. In this endeavour I was supported by a committee of all the churches in town including the Catholic Churches, but not including the 'born again' church.

So during this time, as it took considerable time, I got to talk about christianity with representatives from every mainstream Protestant church and the two catholic churches.

I can report that the christianity Harvey expresses is that of mainstream christianity. The Unitarian Chriches, both of them, were more on the humanist side while the Episcopal Chruch and the Greek Orthodox Church were more into ritual. But they all were in agreement that helping the Cambodian refugees was a very good work.

The 'born again' churches did not participate. I am not sure why, but I would guess based on what I read on this forum that good works are not important in that type of church.

Now I think I am impartial because from my jewish perspective of what Jesus taught, churches should not even exist, as he taught where to pray:

Matt.6
[5] "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
[6] But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

BTW- My synagogue was also part of that committee. So jews and christians got together for good works, but the 'born agains' stayed away.

salom,
Richard

• Very interesting. . . - jracko - November 4, 2003 - 18:44 UTC
  • Churches did not exist in the time of Jesus - yanniru - November 4, 2003 - 18:58 UTC
    • Temple: a jewish "church" - jracko - November 4, 2003 - 19:09 UTC
      • Only one temple in the time of Jesus - yanniru - November 4, 2003 - 19:15 UTC
        • and now, back to the point. - jracko - November 4, 2003 - 19:25 UTC
          • Because Jesus said so - yanniru - November 4, 2003 - 19:51 UTC
            • "Thou shalt not pray in synagogues or on street corners?" - jracko - November 4, 2003 - 20:11 UTC
              • Joseph spoke for me on this one - carefuluniverse - November 5, 2003 - 05:48 UTC
            • Christ -- the messiah? - jracko - November 4, 2003 - 21:01 UTC
              • I practice all religions - yanniru - November 5, 2003 - 00:47 UTC
                • Wise Men Still Seek Him; Most folks still persecute him - carefuluniverse - November 5, 2003 - 05:35 UTC
                  • Christ Means Messiah! There is only one Messiah! - jracko - November 6, 2003 - 23:06 UTC
                • What path is not a valid path - yanniru - November 5, 2003 - 13:14 UTC
                  • You completely misquote the scripture! - jracko - November 6, 2003 - 23:05 UTC
                    • What do you think it means?? - yanniru - November 7, 2003 - 12:43 UTC
                      • and what of "hateth his life in this world shall. . ."? - jracko - November 10, 2003 - 20:44 UTC
                        • Seems we are in complete agreement - yanniru - November 10, 2003 - 22:00 UTC
                • Jesus was not "a christ"! - jracko - November 6, 2003 - 23:08 UTC
                  • Other religions have avatars - yanniru - November 7, 2003 - 13:04 UTC
                    • On what basis? - jracko - November 14, 2003 - 01:03 UTC
                      • Apparently you have notstudied any other religion - yanniru - November 14, 2003 - 20:12 UTC
                        • Avatar monkey-man? Nice story, Richard. - jracko - November 17, 2003 - 20:14 UTC
• Maybe they are filled with a different demographic - carefuluniverse - November 5, 2003 - 05:46 UTC