I have been to a few thrift stores in my area of SW FL that are

[Maraya1969]

connected to a Christian church and they either try to hide it or just do not link to them openly.

The last one was last week. I had been to this place and was gong back in with a bag full of stuff when it occurred to me to ask what organization they were with, (They previously told me they were a charity that helped women recovering from addictions). The guy told me that they were associated with this church I happen to know. They use "Being saved" as a way of recovering from addictions.

Which may work for some people. But as we all know here that church and its beliefs can be very dangerous.

When the guy told me I said something like, "I don't like that" and then, "I don't like that you are kind of hiding that" and another woman who was standing near me agreed.

But truthfully I think they need to hide. There are plenty of thrift stores around here - Habitat for humanity, one for the women's shelter, animal welfare ones. Who the hell is going to donate to an organization that causes such hurt and pain to so many people? (And I am one of those people......I feel lucky to have gotten out of the whole scene).

The Christian church really needs to look at their declining poll numbers and their reputations. It is so obvious that they need to fix a bunch of things. Any other group that is not a cult would have done some reputation recovery after finding out what people think of them. But I swear I think that so many of these types of Christians think they are "The chosen ones" and don't even see how wildly hated they are.

[mopinko]

1. that's their proof.

[mitch96]

2. the big "tell" for me is when leaving they say "have a blessed day".. Always get it at

chick-fil-a and hobby lobby.. that's why I stopped going there.. Passive "secret" code words I guess...
m

[Conjuay]

3. I pretend

deafness and answer back,
"You have a blasted day too!"

[Mariana]

4. Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization.

Just saying.

[Maraya1969]

5. They are a way cool Christian organization I have just found out!

I am fine dealing with this type of Christian.

"Is Habitat for Humanity a Christian organization? Yes, we are a global nonprofit Christian housing organization. All who desire to be a part of this work are welcome, regardless of religious preference or background. We have a policy of building with people in need regardless of race or religion."

[Mariana]

7. They renovated a couple of beat-up old buildings in my town.

They were really nice buildings, just neglected. They basically gutted them and converted each into several housing units. They did a fantastic job. The buildings look beautiful, and eight families have very nice homes.

[niyad]

21. Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter.

[BlackSkimmer]

6. "Their declining poll numbers"?

Are there really polls about “Christian churches”? Which ones?

Methodist? Presbyterian? Episcopal?

[Maraya1969]

8. Just numbers. Christianity has been declining in numbers for a long time

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the US.

[BlackSkimmer]

9. So there are no polls?

Do you find Islam to be a “better” religion?

[Maraya1969]

11. I am not commenting on what religion I like or do not like

https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx

U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time

In 2020, 47% of U.S. adults belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque
Down more than 20 points from turn of the century
Change primarily due to rise in Americans with no religious preference

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans' membership in houses of worship continued to decline last year, dropping below 50% for the first time in Gallup's eight-decade trend. In 2020, 47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999.

U.S. church membership was 73% when Gallup first measured it in 1937 and remained near 70% for the next six decades, before beginning a steady decline around the turn of the 21st century.

As many Americans celebrate Easter and Passover this week, Gallup updates a 2019 analysis that examined the decline in church membership over the past 20 years.

Gallup asks Americans a battery of questions on their religious attitudes and practices twice each year. The following analysis of declines in church membership relies on three-year aggregates from 1998-2000 (when church membership averaged 69%), 2008-2010 (62%), and 2018-2020 (49%). The aggregates allow for reliable estimates by subgroup, with each three-year period consisting of data from more than 6,000 U.S. adults.

Decline in Membership Tied to Increase in Lack of Religious Affiliation
The decline in church membership is primarily a function of the increasing number of Americans who express no religious preference. Over the past two decades, the percentage of Americans who do not identify with any religion has grown from 8% in 1998-2000 to 13% in 2008-2010 and 21% over the past three years.

As would be expected, Americans without a religious preference are highly unlikely to belong to a church, synagogue or mosque, although a small proportion -- 4% in the 2018-2020 data -- say they do. That figure is down from 10% between 1998 and 2000.

Given the nearly perfect alignment between not having a religious preference and not belonging to a church, the 13-percentage-point increase in no religious affiliation since 1998-2000 appears to account for more than half of the 20-point decline in church membership over the same time.

Most of the rest of the drop can be attributed to a decline in formal church membership among Americans who do have a religious preference. Between 1998 and 2000, an average of 73% of religious Americans belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque. Over the past three years, the average has fallen to 60%.

[ForgedCrank]

19. "I am not commenting on what religion I like or do not like"

It's odd that you say that after reading the original post.

[Maraya1969]

20. In that particular post I was making no comment. That does not

mean that I have never commented or that I do not have an opinion.

I grew up in that church. The minister that molested me was an integral part of that church for many many years. I was abused by people in that church.

So if you are here just to do a rah rah for the church it will fall on deaf ears with me.

[ForgedCrank]

23. Re-write

your post in a new one, and replace the words "Christian" with "Islam" and let's see what happens then. Something tells me you would be considerably more reserved.

I don't go around "just to do a rah rah", you post was hateful and an attempt to paint all of Christianity in a negative light, and I found it offensive and misguided.

"it will fall on deaf ears with me"
Likewise. I've said what I needed to say.

[BlackSkimmer]

26. Bingo. nt

[BlackSkimmer]

13. That article included all religious beliefs.

Not a “poll” about Christianity.

I have no religious affiliation, and I find anyone trying to sell others on any particular one, or to disparage any particular one, to be a wee bit curious.

Ymmv.

[Maraya1969]

15. Are you trying to harass me?

[BlackSkimmer]

16. Because I disagreed with something you said?

Oh my.

[BlackSkimmer]

12. Interesting. I did some googling after reading this, and didn't find that.

Islam is certainly growing in other countries, but not the fastest growing here.

[ForgedCrank]

24. I'm not positive

about current tends, but at one point a few years ago, it was reported that Islam was indeed that fastest growing religion by global numbers. I'm not sure where things stand currently. It was a widely distributed "news" thing, but I have no idea regarding it's accuracy or validity. If I can find something I'll share it, but it's been a while since I've seen that.

[BlackSkimmer]

25. Yes, that's what I found.

It’s growing rapidly in China, India, and other countries. Some of those countries have some interesting things in common.

I didn’t see it was growing “the fastest” in the US however, which is what the OP claimed.

[Skittles]

10. judge not lest ye be judged

but that is all churches do - JUDGE PEOPLE

[BlackSkimmer]

14. This.

Indeed.

[ForgedCrank]

17. Well, which

is it? When Christians are open about what they believe, it's "ramming it down our throats", then if we are quiet about it, something surely nefarious must be happening, some sort of evil like maybe helping women who ask for assistance with addiction. Yea, it would be best to starve this place of donations I recon.
Frankly, I don't think you have any idea how much these evil churches do. That is primarily because most of the time, bragging about it is considered self-serving, and we generally don't do that. It is mostly frowned upon. True charity only comes from the anonymous shadows carrying the name of all mankind, not an individual or his Church. We do it for our brothers and sisters, not ourselves.
Even if you believe God is an illusion, there are countless people who have this imaginary deity to thank for inspiring the work we do in order to help others in need.
I often read how terrible it is to judge an entire group of people based on what a few individuals do. You know, stereotyping. And I agree, it's short sighted and lazy thinking. Christians are humans, not infallible beings who are incapable of doing wrong. ALL of us are seriously flawed. And in case I really have to say it, anyone can call themselves a Christian. But that isn't even a requirement for being one.

Oh and trust me, we don't need to see a poll to know how badly some people hate. We see it all day, every day in some places.

[Treefrog]

18. Excellent post.

So sad to see intolerance here.

That, and all the trumpie posts, is why I rarely visit anymore.

[Raine]

27. EXACTLY 👍 nt

[UTUSN]

22. Am so over "religion"