In religion in general, there are 'many' in almost every possible conceptual variation. I personally know..or have known .. those whose Christian stance is rock-hard fundamentalist, or some formal version of Ethical Humanist... and everything in between. I know Baptists, Catholics, Jews, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Quakers, Unitarians, Methodists (I used to BE one as a child)... and several other denominations less frequently. (I'm not sure if I know any Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses personally, but they have come to my door and we have had interesting discussions). I am not personally acquainted with all the strata in every denomination, but I have attended services in all those named except Jewish. It is culturally and historically fascinating to share in the emotion of those who have religious beliefs, if not in the actual details & belief itself. I find that I can generally respect their beliefs while not accepting the theology of their basic system.... as long as they 'try' to refrain from direct proselytizing and inserting aspects of doctrine into the educational system & political arena. (I say 'try' because many religious groups include 'witnessing' and missions and exhortations to join as fundamental precepts. IF one believes that a God ordered us to "become fishers of men", then it's hard to avoid.) This creates a real conflict in the US, where the Constitution "Prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, (or) impeding the free exercise of religion," If "free exercise" means exactly what it says, some feel that attempting to further & install that religion is allowed. If 'not establishing' means what it says, then those attempts are illegal... and away we go! In the US, those parts of the 1st Amendment are scrupulously obeyed or cheerfully avoided, depending on demographics, politics and $$$$$. I am perfectly willing to turn the management of everything over to "philosopher kings",,, as long as *I* get to choose the philosophic theories.... *wry smile*
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