Stereotyping and Overgeneralizing People and Institutions

[Soloist]

They seem quite willing to give air time to concern about things like "Christian nationalism"; I have yet to see any airtime given to the problematic political inroads in more liberal Anabaptist circles.

That's what I'm getting to.

It basically makes it a farce to claim that they're just concerned about politics in general, because they aren't: they're only concerned about one particular political leaning.

I disagree.

I think one of the reasons why there’s more discussion on this forum about the inroads into conservative Anabaptism rather than liberal Anabaptist is because the majority of Anabaptists on this forum are conservative. You can’t really have a conversation with liberals who aren’t here.

So I don’t think the imbalance itself is a sign of ideology. It may just reflect the makeup of the forum. I think that a topic like Christian Nationalism might have more urgency on this forum because it affects conservative Anabaptism more directly than MCUSA.

I think the majority of the conservatives on here are transitional.

I tend to think that most of the political subjects are heavy into Christian nationalism, but I mostly avoid them.

I do tend to think the thought that first it’s the right and then it shifts to the left is probably an accurate description.

[ohio jones]

For Simmons, one might fight that instead they get advice on dance routines to help stay in shape.

On this particular subject it might conceal the results. After all, Simmons was the inventor of the Hide-A-BanTM.

[GaryK]

I disagree.

I think one of the reasons why there’s more discussion on this forum about the inroads into conservative Anabaptism rather than liberal Anabaptist is because the majority of Anabaptists on this forum are conservative. You can’t really have a conversation with liberals who aren’t here.

So I don’t think the imbalance itself is a sign of ideology. It may just reflect the makeup of the forum. I think that a topic like Christian Nationalism might have more urgency on this forum because it affects conservative Anabaptism more directly than MCUSA.

I think the majority of the conservatives on here are transitional.

Transitional in what sense?

[GaryK]

They seem quite willing to give air time to concern about things like "Christian nationalism"; I have yet to see any airtime given to the problematic political inroads in more liberal Anabaptist circles.

That's what I'm getting to.

It basically makes it a farce to claim that they're just concerned about politics in general, because they aren't: they're only concerned about one particular political leaning.

I disagree.

I think one of the reasons why there’s more discussion on this forum about the inroads into conservative Anabaptism rather than liberal Anabaptist is because the majority of Anabaptists on this forum are conservative. You can’t really have a conversation with liberals who aren’t here.

So I don’t think the imbalance itself is a sign of ideology. It may just reflect the makeup of the forum. I think that a topic like Christian Nationalism might have more urgency on this forum because it affects conservative Anabaptism more directly than whatever is going on in MCUSA affects them.

That point has been made before but it doesn't seem to resonate.

[Soloist]

I think one of the reasons why there’s more discussion on this forum about the inroads into conservative Anabaptism rather than liberal Anabaptist is because the majority of Anabaptists on this forum are conservative. You can’t really have a conversation with liberals who aren’t here.

So I don’t think the imbalance itself is a sign of ideology. It may just reflect the makeup of the forum. I think that a topic like Christian Nationalism might have more urgency on this forum because it affects conservative Anabaptism more directly than MCUSA.

I think the majority of the conservatives on here are transitional.

Transitional in what sense?

In the strictest sense, changing how they grew up but I think I’m using it more in the sense of transitional churches like intermediate to less? Moderate Conservative? I suppose the ideas and thoughts I see expressed seem to be more modern or less historically based but I think it’s a feeling not specific examples

[JohnH]

I think one of the reasons why there’s more discussion on this forum about the inroads into conservative Anabaptism rather than liberal Anabaptist is because the majority of Anabaptists on this forum are conservative. You can’t really have a conversation with liberals who aren’t here.

So I don’t think the imbalance itself is a sign of ideology. It may just reflect the makeup of the forum. I think that a topic like Christian Nationalism might have more urgency on this forum because it affects conservative Anabaptism more directly than MCUSA.

I think the majority of the conservatives on here are transitional.

Transitional in what sense?

Generally speaking, if one looks at their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so forth, one will find that they were, generationally, more conservative / traditional as you go back.

If you look at their children, you will find their children are generally less conservative / traditional.

If you look at their grandchildren, the pattern continues to hold.

[ohio jones]

Everyone is transitional in one sense or another.

One set of my grandparents was Atlantic Coast Conference. On the other side, my grandfather was United Church of Christ and my grandmother was Catholic. I guess I should be a flaming liberal.

Stereotyping and overgeneralizing discounts the transforming and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

[JohnH]

Everyone is transitional in one sense or another.

One set of my grandparents was Atlantic Coast Conference. On the other side, my grandfather was United Church of Christ and my grandmother was Catholic. I guess I should be a flaming liberal.

Your family background isn't really transitional, then.

Stereotyping and overgeneralizing discounts the transforming and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

It is entirely reasonable to observe that some churches/denominations/affiliations/fellowship/conferences/groups/constituencies seem to have most of their membership derived from people from more conservative/traditional backgrounds, and also to observe many of the membership or their next generation seem to find another similar type of church, except less conservative/traditional.

The power of the Holy Spirit is that he is capable of working in the individual lives of such members, despite such a church as an institution being unconducive towards a multi-generational, victorious Christian life.

[ohio jones]

Everyone is transitional in one sense or another.

One set of my grandparents was Atlantic Coast Conference. On the other side, my grandfather was United Church of Christ and my grandmother was Catholic. I guess I should be a flaming liberal.

Your family background isn't really transitional, then.

Perhaps you are stereotyping the Atlantic Coast Conference. Grandma wore cape dresses and covering strings; Grandpa wore suspenders and a straight cut suit coat.

Maybe I'm transitional after all.

[Judas Maccabeus]

This whole thread makes Ernie’s point quite well.

Those who hurl criticism at those who they see as “transitional” are themselves transitional. To be consistent GET OFF OF THE INTERNET.