tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29128991.post892949275041638901..comments2023-10-10T09:50:34.565-07:00Comments on Find and Ye Shall Seek: Creating Progressive ChristianityMystical Seekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10828225180668865911noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29128991.post-55043516941059615032007-04-09T13:10:00.000-07:002007-04-09T13:10:00.000-07:00Greg, I was on vacation when you left your comment...Greg, I was on vacation when you left your comment, and hadn't had a chance to respond, but thanks for your thought out comments. I think it is a subtle point you make about participating fully in a given religious tradition, which allows you to extract its full value, rather than simply practicing syncretism, which is what the UU tradition tends to do.Mystical Seekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10828225180668865911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29128991.post-87647104663606612792007-04-03T13:43:00.000-07:002007-04-03T13:43:00.000-07:00You may have heard the joke about UCC standing for...You may have heard the joke about UCC standing for, “Unitarians Considering Christ.” I grew up in Baptist fundamentalism, but now am a faithfully attending member of a congregation affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists and the United Church of Christ. We have quite a few members who are former Unitarian Universalists. This church experience was very different for me, and when I began attending I asked the pastor if it was okay to promote Jesus! As I have become more involved in the congregation, I gratefully see that the teachings of Jesus certainly hold a central place.<BR/><BR/>I am one who wishes to remain in the Christian tradition while also practicing “a thinking, non-dogmatic version of the faith that accepts modern science and serious biblical scholarship.” I also want to practice a Christian faith that affirms religious pluralism. Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki, in her book, “Divinity and Diversity,” has formulated some wonderful ideas as to a Christian affirmation of religious plurality. She and Marcus Borg both have enabled me to remain in a beloved and cherished Christian faith, while also embracing religious diversity. <BR/><BR/>We can share and learn from various religious traditions while at the same time retaining our place as distinctly Christian. To me, this is progressive Christianity. I’m reminded of Carl Rogers as he gave an illustration of empathy: It is to understand another’s issues as if you were in her or his shoes, but just to the point of not loosing the “as if” feeling. As progressive Christians we can appreciate the diversity of religious traditions and those who practice religious traditions other than Christianity by putting ourselves in their minds and shoes to understand their traditions. However, we retain our Christian tradition by remembering the “as if” caveat.<BR/><BR/>Each religious tradition is unique in its own setting, practiced by authentic adherents to its central ideas and tenets. I would not say that Unitarian Universalism is a bad thing either. However, I do believe that it is sort of an injustice to a religious tradition(and its adherents) to practice it when one does not actually claim it as her or his own. In my thinking, that minimizes its quality and authenticity. But with all that said, I have attended UU meetings, and very much enjoyed them; like you. The UU helped me make a bridge BACK to Christianity, and it also fostered an appreciation of religious diversity.<BR/><BR/>Great thought-provoking posts!<BR/><BR/>Greg<BR/><A HREF="http://blog.greggriffey.net" REL="nofollow">blog.greggriffey.net</A>Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15984292011603052399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29128991.post-58132945379660731502007-03-30T03:51:00.000-07:002007-03-30T03:51:00.000-07:00Mystical - Agreed.Grace - I have to say that I don...Mystical - Agreed.<BR/><BR/>Grace - I have to say that I don't particularly agree with your line of thought.<BR/><BR/>Personally, as you know, I think adherency to "progressive" or "orthodox" teachings has far more to do with individual psychological needs, then what teaching one is exposed to.<BR/><BR/>I was reared in a very dogmatic, doctrinal theology - RC. Yet...here I am, all progressive, and loosey goosey. This is NOT what my parents or church taught me. And I know of people who were raised with no or very little religion who have becoem staunch orthodox Christians.<BR/><BR/>What I mean to say by this is, that people who have religious beliefs that are "watery" are not going to eradicate orthodox beliefs - because the psychological needs that drive those beleifs are not going to cease existing. <BR/><BR/>God calls his own back to himself from where they are. I believe this. I believe God, as creator, understands the human condition in a capacity that obviously far exceeds the human capacity.<BR/>JMHO...episcopalifemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18092579249862725163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29128991.post-74869741944310211212007-03-29T19:16:00.000-07:002007-03-29T19:16:00.000-07:00Grace, I think the real house of sand lies in a re...Grace, I think the real house of sand lies in a religion that asserts that it must guard its dogmas at all costs lest it collapse. This makes it a religion that enforces its dogmas out of fear and which distrusts intellectual honesty as a threat to its foundation.Mystical Seekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10828225180668865911noreply@blogger.com