While shooting footage for a documentary in Brooklyn this past weekend I came upon this sign outside of a Methodist church and felt compelled to share it with you. It made me feel good to see tolerance so boldly stated.
If the Methodists can do it, why can’t everyone?
Mike: This sign reminds me of a bumper sticker I've occasionally seen:
"God bless everyone, no exceptions."
It seems that many of us struggle with this concept. Human animals are rigged to think in terms of social units consisting of far less than everyone, and that the units are often defined in visceral ways, which makes the Methodist sign seem naive to many.
Anyone is welcome to post their creed on their private property. Even though churches are subsidized via no taxes, this is not technically a government endorsement.
I'm not sure what you are getting at Dan. I didn't think we were bringing government into this at all. To me the sign is merely a reflection of people looking around at their neighborhood and trying to do what's best for everyone in it. The fact that it is also the Credo of a Christian church makes it all the more impressive.
Puc, I used to live in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Park Slope is a very diverse community right around the area of Prospect Park. We'd play softball on weekends as pickup games and everybody played or coached or picked their position. I just showed up with some friends and we started hitting the ball around, the next thing you know, we had a regular game!
Soon, all kinds of people from all kinds of places would just come up and ask to play; we'd picnic, somebody would bring or play music. I think we counted about 12 countries were represented from all the continents except Antarctica. It became a "thing" we all shared. Very Cool. New Yorkers are great, just don't waste their time!
The church my niece and nephew attend lumps Methodists in with cults like Catholic and Mormon: Not true Christians. These are the people to whom they send missions.
Really.
My nephew has twice been on missions to Mexico to help convert those heathen Catholics to Christianity. His father has traveled even farther, to Bolivia, to support the effort to win those Papists over to Jesus.
Tim, I was not very familiar with Brooklyn before a few weeks ago. Park Slope was not at all what I expected! I liked the area and the people very much…except when driving!! Not only do New Yorkers and Brooklyn-ites honk their horns at everything, they also do what I now call "preemptive beeping" when they THINK you are going to get in their way!!
Mike,
This is a great sign and what I believe Jesus truly intended.
Lack of taxes doesn't support anything. Just ask any Christian, Jew or Muslim. It costs us a fortune to keep our religious in poverty. All that stained glass I guess.
Vesperiant