Reply To: What defines an Orthodox shul?

The Me’iri in Chullin differentiates between halachos that unfortunately many aren’t careful about (in his words, gevinas akum etc.) and regular halachos. This is in regard to whether someone is considered a kosher Jew with regard to shechitah. I would postulate that a similar idea applies here; yes, sadly many people talk during davening and many people speak lashon hara (was that just lh?), but while that is a bad thing one isn’t considered ‘not frum’ until they move ‘beyond the pale.’ That I think is the basis for the shabbos, kashrus, and taharas hamishpacha standard.