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shimman | on: Prioritize mental health, and why communication is so important
You don't need to go to church to find community, a better response would be what you're saying but something where you don't pressure people to join an institution that might be extremely hostile to women or minorities.

Anyone can find a community nearby, churches aren't the only way.

Glad it worked out for you, but it doesn't for many people and that's okay. There are other communities out there.

Also Church is no substitute for mental health professions. Would you tell someone to "pray the cancer away?" I hope not, you'd tell then to speak to a qualified professional. That's where therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, or even guidance councilers come into play.

designed | parent | next
Many churches have professionally trained counsellors. No, they wouldn't tell you to "pray the cancer away" (though there are prosperity-"gospel" preaching churches that would say "donate to make the cancer go away"–beware), but they would counsel you from a biblical perspective, which is extremely helpful. And they would also tell you to seek professional help elsewhere if you need it and they couldn't provide it.
brightball | parent
> might be extremely hostile to women or minorities

This isn't accurate at all. Christian churches welcome everyone but there are no zoning laws directing people to specific churches. Many happen to be very homogeneous as a side effect of people often being more comfortable. There are numerous "black", "hispanic", "chinese", etc churches that are out there by perception but not by requirement. None of these churches are going to turn you away if you don't look like them anymore than a predominantly white church would.

Regarding women, I'm not sure what you've been reading to make that suggestion? There's probably no institution in the world that cares for women more than the Christian church. Strong families are part of the bedrock. Visit one on Mother's Day sometime. Check out the low cost and sometimes even free child care available (Mother's morning out, VBC, etc). Jesus treatment of women was radical in the context of the time period.

shimman | root | parent
Sorry man you can't honestly say this in the US. Especially since many churches blur the political lines and advocate for things like taking away women bodily autonomy (being anti-abortion), want to take away the right to vote from women (trad wife nonsense), openly attack children (yes attacking trans children is attacking children), believe that the civil rights act was a mistake.

Glad you go to a good church, but some of them ain't that and refusing to believe this is extremely dishonest. Especially when people like Jerry Falwell had open disdain towards certain Americans right up to his death while having major influence with several US presidents.

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