Check in

[Cheswick2.0]

Perhaps I should have waited and let RevCheesehead have the honor of making the first post here. But I went to ATA to see if the group was approved and since it was, I really couldn't wait to say hello to everyone.

So check in:

I am from northeastern Pa. I am a member of Presbyterian Church USA. We are a moderate mainstream denomination.
I truly enjoy church and have said many times that I hear the BEST sermons every sunday.

[cally]

1. Hi all

I'm from the SF Bay Area. I'm a member of the Presbyterian church but I'm looking for a new church. I'm a liberal because I'm a Christian. My family are conservative Republicans. I was introduced to liberal ideas at my church.

[RevCheesehead]

2. pfft.... I'm on vacation! No need to be first in line!

Besides, someone I know once said "the last shall be first..."

[Cheswick2.0]

3. How about those in the middle?

Hi, thanks for getting this set up.

[Cuban_Liberal]

4. Greetings!

I'm from rural Illinois and am a Roman Catholic and Marianist.

Peace unto you, my brothers and sisters in Chrst!

:hi:

[vetwife]

5. I wish blessing upon all this New Year

[AngryOldDem]

6. Hello, everybody

Just came across this board's "birth" while perusing ATA. Glad to see it.

I'm in western Ohio, and a converted Catholic, committed to social justice as taught and practiced by the Church. I post every so often on the relatively new Catholic and Orthodox board; I'm looking forward to having another "safe haven" to read and share ideas on faith and Christianity.

Happy New Year, everyone!

:hi:

One more thing: Thanks, RevCheesehead!

[RevCheesehead]

7. Aw, shucks - all I did was ask if anyone wanted to play.

It was YOU guys who responded! :)

[RevCheesehead]

8. Welcome, everybody, to Christian Romper Room!

I sincerely hope we can have a good time, and share our faith, our hopes and joys, our sorrows and pain, everything that makes us HUMAN, with one another.

I am an Ordained United Methodist Minister (female), serving in the Wisconsin Conference. People tell me that I'm "down to earth," so I'm giving you fair warning. You will read me bitchin', whinin', angry, just like any other person. Please do not be "shocked." I have made peace with myself, and hope you won't take any irreverant comments as some kind of blasphemy. I'll also try to watch my mouth, but I make no absolute promises. (One of the best compliments I have ever received came from someone who said, "You're not like any minister I've ever known. You're fun!")

I am the proud mom to three cats: Oreo, Binky, and Roo. I am an avid Packers fan, and during basketball season, it's DUKE all the way, baby! (I went to Divinity School at Duke)

[fishnfla]

55. I like this one ,yes I do

I'm gonna come pay a visit when I'm up salmon fishing this summer.

We've a cat named oreo too!

[RevCheesehead]

70. Greg, you simply must do so!

Be sure to PM me to make sure I've saved the date!

[Kat45]

9. I'm so glad this group got started.

I grew up Catholic, stopped going to church in college, then joined a Congregational church several years ago. I love my church; the minister shares my opinion of bush, and he often preaches about social justice. We are a UCC church and have some involvement in the "controversial" ad campaign that stated that everyone is welcome in our church. The UCC curently has signs with a Gracie Allen quote "'Never put a period where God put a comma.' God is still speaking." My particular church has another one of the signs saying "Our faith is 2000 years old. Our thinking is not. God is still speaking."

BTW, I'm in the Boston area.

[DemExpat]

10. The idea for this group is GREAT!

Even though I am not formally practicing religion anymore, my most progressive ideas and feelings were born out of children's Christian
stories I heard at Bible school and in Baptist and Presbyterian churches while growing up.
It was only when I was a teenager that I started feeling out of place at church, where I felt very strongly that the practice was totally different from the original meaning.
I have visited churches since then (along with Buddhist meditation practice, enjoying Jewish practices of my liberal Jewish girlfriend, and Unitarians) but have never found one that feels right to me.

:hi:

DemEx

[mzmolly]

11. I don't attend Church and am in the exploratory phase, but I did find a

UCC that I like and feel I can support ... provided I start attending Church.

I'd love to see a book group, and start reading some of the books I hear good things about:

Marcus Borg is supposed to be good, Bishop Spong and others are as well.

"The Rapture Exposed" is also supposed to be a good book for discussion.

Anyhow, I think it's great that this group is here for all who wish to partake.

:hi:

[Razorback_Democrat]

12. Borg Rocks! Haven't read Spong, but hear he's good

I don't know anything about the "Rapture Exposed" but it sounds interesting especially given the times we live in where the Dominionists seem to be trying to bring about the end times!

I'm an Episcopal from Arkansas, go to a very liberal Episcopal Church there.

This sounds like a great group to start!

Thanks!

[mzmolly]

19. Here's more info on "Rapture Exposed"

http://www.tcpc.org/resources/reviews/rapture_exposed.htm

*snip*

The author points out that the Book of Revelation, at the time it was written, is an example of apocalyptic literature which was popular with Jews and Christians. The meaning of apocalyptic is “unveiling.” The purpose of the Book of Revelation is not to give “God’s play-by-play script for the future,” but to unveil a new vision of life for people who were under the domination and oppression of the Roman Empire and to encourage them to be faithful to God alone. She writes, “Revelation’s proclamation of an impending ‘end’ referred not to the end of the world but to the end of Roman rule.” Moreover, The Book of Revelation is prophecy, which does not mean predicting the future, as dispensationalists maintain, but “timely warning.” The prophetic tradition of the Bible is to speak God’s word of warning of the consequences of injustice and encourage people to return to “God’s vision of justice and generosity for the world.” The author writes, “Biblical prophecy tells us not the specifics of what the future holds, but who holds the future. We can know the most important thing about us: God is the one who holds our future.”

The author proceeds to put the Book of Revelation in historical context as a message to the churches of Asia Minor who were suffering from the domination of the Roman Empire. She stresses that Revelation was written to counter the ideology of the empire which focused on military victory. The purpose of John in writing Revelation was to oppose Rome’s vision of victory with the vision of the victory of the Lamb of God. She writes, “The book of Revelation deals with the opposition between two kinds of power in our lives and in the world: the power of oppressive systems of domination verses the power of God’s Lamb to bring life and healing.” Lamb power manifests itself in “the power of nonviolent resistance and courage in opposition to injustice; it is the power of solidarity and forgiveness.”

She uses several chapters to compare the vision of John and the vision of dispensationalism and finds a radical contrast. The dispensationalist timetable postpones “any healing and renewal of the world until a distant time way off in the future,” in effect sanctifying the status quo. It also depicts Jesus as a “warrior-like lion” leading an army to establish a kingdom. She terms this vision “rapture in reverse.” In contrast, the vision of the Book of Revelation focuses on the establishment of a community of God, dwelling in the world, that is an “alternative to empire.”

At Epilogue is titled, “Debunking The Rapture by Verse.” If the reader has any doubts that dispensationalism is a “fabrication,” she exegetes I Thessalonians 4:13, Matthew 24:39-42 (See also Luke 17:34-35), Matthew 24-25, and John 14-1-2. These texts and many other biblical passages used by dispensationalists, are shown, in their historical context, to have nothing to do with the Rapture. She concludes, “Jesus will return - once. Until then, we are always with Jesus and he is with us - Emmanuel. Our life is held in God’s time. And we are called to live in wakefulness, to pray as the final verses of Revelation do. “Amen, come Lord Jesus.” It is salutary and timely to have a scholarly and lively critique of a dangerous misinterpretation of the Bible.

Note the parellel to the "empire" and military victory with the mind set of the current administration. It's no wonder "Rapture Ready" books are flying off the shelves. ;)

:hi:

[AngryOldDem]

16. Funny you should mention Spong...

I'm halfway through re-reading Why Christianity Must Change or Die, and I was going to try to pull my thoughts together after I finished for possible discussion here. I have several of his books that I also plan to revisit, as I get the time.

I find his views refreshing -- controversial, because they go against the accepted dogma, for sure -- but if you can put your ingrained biases aside, I think he makes a lot of sense.

I think his thoughts could lead to a lot of discussion here, and I look forward to it.

[mzmolly]

18. Let me know, our local library has many books by the Bishop.

And by Mr. Borg as well. :hi:

I'd love to partake in a mind opening discussion.

[yardwork]

13. Hello, wonderful Christians!

I am not a member of a Christian Church anymore, but I joined a liberal Episcopal Church when I was a teen, just before 1976. I was the first female acolyte in my church and was there when the first woman priest was ordained in my church.

I recently attended a Blessing of two female friends in a local Episcopal Church. I'm proud of my former church for continuing to take important steps toward equality for women and gays/lesbians and others who are "different." Christianity is the foundation of my original beliefs, even though in recent years I have chosen to follow a Pagan path.

I stand with you in honoring the words and actions of Jesus and trying to live in accordance with his example.

[UrbScotty]

14. I live in Kentwood, MI

I am a Catholic in a largely Christian Reformed area.

I think the priests at the Catholic Churches I usually attend are liberals: they talk a lot about peace and loving thy neighbor, and you hardly hear much about abortion and gay marriage.

Sadly, our much-adored Catholic bishop died suddenly in May. Hopefully, we will get a new bishop soon; the bishop in Saginaw died in march, and his successor was named last week.

My favorite section of the Bible is Matthew 5:3-12, the Beatitudes.

[AngryOldDem]

17. I thought the death of Bishop Untener

was a tremendous loss.

Who is the successor?

[UrbScotty]

25. Bishop Robert Carlson

http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcarlson.html

He has been Bishop of Sioux Falls, SD.

[demosincebirth]

22. Blessed are the Poor....

I'm Catholic in the bay area...the "liberal bastion" of the USA. Glad I found like-minded Christians on DU. Thank God!

[UrbScotty]

26. Yes - THANK GOD

:-)

[Frogtutor]

15. Hi ya'll!

I live in Fort Worth, Texas. I am a wife and mother (12-year-old son) and I tutor on-line, part time. I was raised nominally Baptist, but never regularly attended church. I don't currently have a church, but I'm thinking of trying out United Methodist or United Church of Christ sometime soon.

I think I'm going to enjoy this group; I'm also in the Religion group, but I've noticed lately it's being frequently used for anti-Christian sentiments. Aren't us liberals supposed to be tolerant and accepting? :shrug:

:hi:

[boomboom]

36. Welcome Hornfrog

I spent my first 37 years in Fort Worth. In Houston now, but return often as all my family is there. Do you know specifically what church you're interested in?

[Frogtutor]

45. Thanks; welcome to DU, yourself!

I'm thinking United Church of Christ, or United Methodist; yellowdogintexas has recommended First United Methodist (I think that's the name) in downtown; I would prefer something a bit closer to my home, which is in SW Tarrant County, between Fort Worth and Crowley.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

[boomboom]

46. Growing up

Many of my friends went to University United Methodist Church on West Berry.

[pelagius]

20. Episcopalian from the Central California Coast

I was raised in the Assembly of God (fundamentalist, tongues-speaking) and left that denomination as soon as I moved out of my parent's house. I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church four years later. I called myself a "Zen Episcopalian" because I was also an active Zen practitioner at the time.

I grew disillusioned with Zen -- it seemed to be a trick of words more than anything else to me -- and embraced more fully the contemplative traditions of Christianity. I was only a sporadic church attender at this time, as I was newly married with kids and my wife was only interested in a particular type of church that wasn't available in our area. We did, however, get married in an Episcopal Church with a BCP ceremony, so the seed was planted in her mind.

While we may have had our denominational differences, we both agreed the gay people should be welcome in the life and ministry of the Church. When the Episcopal Church consecrated Gene Robinson as a bishop, we heard that Episcopalians would soon be leaving their churches in droves in protest. I told my wife we should go to the local Episcopal Church, put a fat check in the plate, and tell everyone we were here _because_ the Episcopal Church had made such a wise decision.

My wife did the usual squawking that some people from non-liturgical backgrounds do upon encountering liturgy for the first time, but discovered one of the women she really admired in the community was a leading member of the congregation. We attended regularly after that. My wife's friend showed her the ropes and talked to her about the Anglican tradition and what it meant to her.

On the first Sunday of Advent 2003 we formally joined the local church. Our children were baptized on the First Sunday after Epiphany My wife is going to take confirmation classes this spring.

My liberal beliefs come directly from my Christian upbringing and later personal study and reflection. I'm grateful for this forum as a opportunity to share with like-minded individuals without having to endure the sniping from the peanut gallery.

[Cheswick2.0]

30. It is great to hear your story, because an Episcopal priest

here in Scranton Pa, just left the E church and is applying to join the Catholic church as a clergy member. When asked on TV why he did it he said (and this is a guy in his thirties btw)"first the episcopalians advocated for abortion in the 1973 (what were you, all of 10 years old?), the ordination of women and know, apparently the straw that broke the camels back, the ordination of gay clergy. So he and 80 of his flock have left to join one of the local catholic churches where for sure they condemn all of those horrible things.

I was so bummed out hearing that story tonight on the news.

[GOPBasher]

21. Hi everyone!

I go to an Episcopalian church. I love my liberal denomination. :-)
I'm looking forward to coming here. :hi:

Happy New Year everyone!

[tanyev]

23. Hi, all!

I am Lutheran (Missouri Synod) and I'm very involved in the music program at my church. Politically I probably would be more comfortable in the ELCA, but I have personal and professional reasons for wanting to stay with the LCMS. The experience you have in a church can vary widely depending on the pastor and the makeup of the congregation, and so far I am happy with the church I attend. Our pastor stays very neutral with his public comments on politics and world events, and I have no idea what his personal feelings are. Considering that I live in the heart of rapture-ready, Bible-thumping North Texas, measured neutrality is still light years ahead of many other churches in the area.

tanyev

[supernova]

24. Hi everybody

I just saw this group today. Wonderful idea. :-)

I belong to a Presby USA church which is a mainline to liberal denom. Although, theologically, I'm probably more liberal than most of my congregation.

I'm sort of in the midst of wondering if I fit in there. I'm somewhere between Presby, Quaker and UU. :shrug:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. Brought up Lutheran, switched to the Episcopal Church

My father was an LCA Lutheran pastor, and I stayed in that denomination until I went to graduate school and found that I preferred the Episcopal chaplaincy to the Lutheran chaplaincy.

After that, I attended either Lutheran or Episcopal churches, depending on which was more congenial where I happened to be living at the time, but in all cases, I went for the more liberal option.

In 1991, I became an official Episcopalian, and I haven't looked back.

I appreciate the combination of a respect for tradition and liturgy on the one hand and theological freedom on the other. The book study group at my parish in Portland studied both Borg and Spong, as well as other thoughtful writers.

I currently attend the local cathedral, which is largely liberal in its orientation. It is heavily involved in the Cross of Nails, a peace and reconciliation movement headquarted at Coventry Cathedral in England. A group from the cathedral is currently in Cuba, working on reconstruction after the hurricanes.

[mvd]

43. Right on!

I love your posts, Lydia. :toast:

It's very important that we do combine tradition with theological freedom. I'm currently a Catholic and think they are too rigid. I believe in principles such as Jesus was the Son of God, the Ten Commandments, the Resurrection, the gist of the Gospels, believing in world peace, and Heaven. But I don't rule out reincarnation in some cases, am pro-choice, think of God as a force instead of an old man, don't think going to church is absolutely necessary, have doubts about Jesus's birth being a Virgin birth (it's a nice story, but not necessary to the faith and may be a mistake,) am pro-stem-cell research, think women should be able to be priests, etc.

BTW, great group idea! I am tired of fanatics giving Christians like me a bad name.

[melnjones]

28. Well praise God, it's about time:-)

Sooooo glad to see this group here. I live in Indiana, grew up in the Mennonite church, just graduated from a Church of God university (studied social work and Spanish), and am currently attending a Christian and Missionary Alliance church. I want to get my Masters of Divinity at my same university. My town is republicanville-USA, and also the home of the Church of God (Anderson) denomination, so I'm thankful for a place like this where I can be myself a little bit more.

[boomboom]

29. Long time coming I guess

Texan, actually raised a Christian Scientist (!) Took me 45 years to get where I am now. I'm a Baptist. Love the way Baptists love our Lord. And, frankly, are actually very tolerant.

[Cheswick2.0]

31. Glad you are here

It is hard sometimes for people to understand that not all babtists are right wingers.

[boomboom]

32. No kidding

It surprises me too sometimes. I never thought I'd be Baptist. What I've personally learned though, at least at my church, with our pastor, teaches me how to have the relationship I desire with the Lord. It's beautiful, really. My pastor, the Sunday before Nov. 2nd, gave a sermon on how to pick a president. I was so worried I'd end up being angry. I wasn't. He gave scriptural reference to what makes a good leader. (Exodus) Without showing any bias or partisanship whatsoever. I left with my Kerry vote confirmed in my heart. I can't speak of course for the rest of the congregation, but I really, really appreciated my pastor's message.

[Cuban_Liberal]

33. I have friends who are American Baptists.

I'm quite pleasantly surpised to discover how progressive the denomination is. Like most people, when I heard 'Baptist', I automatically imagined fire-and-brimstone Southern Baptists. Nice to know there are other kinds.

:)

[DemExpat]

34. I grew up in a Southern Baptist church in which my Grandfather dedicated

much time and love.
This southern Baptist Grandpa was the kindest, sweetest and most inclusive human being I have ever known, so my feelings about S.B. always start with him as an example.

DemEx

[Cuban_Liberal]

39. See, I feel that way about the Amish and Mennonites here...

Our county is at the heart of the Illinois' Amish country, and when I was a deputy sheriff, I had a lot of contact with both communities. It has been my privilege to know both groups, and some of the most loving, truly Christian folk I have ever met belong to these two denominations.

As an example, I remember answering a call for traffic control when a non-Amish/Mennonite family's house burned; sadly, because of its isolated location, it burned to the ground. Even sadder, the family was uninsured. Without so much as a word, various of their Amish neighbors showed up with food, blankets, clothing, offers of a place to stay, etc.; the very next morning a gang of about 40 Amish men showed up with wagonloads of lumber, concrete, roofing and all manner of building materials, and by the end of that week, the family had a brand new house. Now THAT is Christianity in action.

:D

[Cheswick2.0]

42. that is a wonderful story

I am glad to hear there are still people like that in the world.

[Princess Turandot]

35. hello..

I'm a Roman Catholic in NYC. Probably not the tried and true Baltimore Catechism Catholic with only six years of parochial school in my past, but I still identify myself as one.I firmly believe in the RC's teaching that faith needs to be accompanied by good works, and that the most important lessons of Jesus are to love one's neighbor as one's self, and to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

I ask for forgiveness is advance if I slip and call other Christians
"Protestants". Old habits die hard!

[boomboom]

37. Hey Princess

You're up late (or early).......I know many Catholics, but don't really understand Catholicism. Glad you're here.

[Princess Turandot]

38. I'm a Catholic Vampire..heehee..

I prefer to be up at night. (I'm not working, and my internal clock seems to reset itself when that happens!)

One small downside is when I start to pick up a phone to call someone then realize it's 3AM!

I don't know if I'm an authoritative source on Catholicism, but I'll do my best, as long as you don't call me an idol worshipper! With 5 cats, if I was worshipping an idol, it would have to be Bastet!

[faithnotgreed]

40. love Jesus and am green party

so its a natural

one thing i have been wrestling with for a long time is that i have such passion for the earth and its Creator and its creatures but that emotion and drive caused its share of physical problems for me

through that i continue with my ideal of allowing and sharing that love for all but with God as my pilot
though of course i fail often and revert to the back seat driver

quite a journey i have to say.... and im happy for this new du group

heres to celebrating Gods love and integrity that is in each of us - wherever it leads

[boomboom]

44. Hey faith

Really? Your passion for God's creation has caused you physical problems? What do you mean? Ulcers, stress, etc? Are you female? I was told once that strong, independent women have the hardest time surrenduring themselves to not be back seat drivers. Which I identify with. Is this what you mean?

[faithnotgreed]

47. hi boom - i dont at all think this is Gods "fault" but my drive

for wanting to fight the good fight and not understanding very well that the world turns on a different axis than i would like caused over time a great deal of stress.
i have come to believe that my illness is a gift that i must be able to receive - that took some time! but i do receive it and try to let it in with the love it was intended

yes - i was an A type person and truly did not realize how much control was a part of all this. i wasnt an angry control freak but i have discovered that anger and hurt were in there as forms of control along with a lot of stress and just plain confusion how people could so easily disregard the earth and each other

im so thankful for all that i have been given whether that means wellness or illness. i do pray for health and believe it is coming but i try hard - and of course fail - to receive God in all the ways He presents.

hope that helps clear up a little. complicated yet so simple. its such a long time coming that im grateful im even aware that its not my place to be in complete control or give what i just do not have. and most importantly to not be so invested what others do even and especially when i cannot comprehend it.

my responsibility and my privilege is to receive God. i want to see all things through Him and not through the worlds filters. ive done that and it manifested in my hurting me but now i have another chance to see it all through a much higher beauty and possibility.

its all wide open
and im trying to not blow that away

[Left Is Write]

41. Hi. I'm an ELCA Lutheran.

Born and raised. I'm from Minnesota, living in Idaho, where the ELCA isn't quite as prevalent.

[realisticphish]

62. another ELCA here

:hi:


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[GreenPartyVoter]

48. Hi, Sorry I'm late *wave*

I am in Maine. Married into a fundagelical family so I am "forced" to go a Church of the Nazarene. It's not as fundy as the Baptist church I went to as a kid, and does have a nice emphasis on service to the needy, but still too cult-like and rigid when it comes to gender issues and the like.

You can read a bit more about me in one of my rare blog entries:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/gpv/324.html

-------------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[scarlet_owl]

49. Hello. I'm in RCIA right now, which means I'm studying

to become a Catholic. I attend St. Patricks church in Urbana, IL. I love Jesus with all my heart, and I try to lead a good life. I'm glad this group and the Catholic group are here. It's nice to talk about matters of faith and religion with like-minded, liberal people.

[mourningdove92]

50. Raised Southern Babtist but no longer attend church.

Except for "whenever two or more are gathered in his name"

[ktowntennesseedem]

51. Raised Southern Baptist in East Tennessee

Somewhere along the way learned to think for myself, now progressive, liberal, and proud! (Mom says I'm a heretic.)

Still Baptist, but only progressive Baptist Churches for me. Attend a church that is part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

[rainbow4321]

52. North Texas UU'er...

Finally exploring the rest of DU and found this group. :bounce:

It's not easy being a Texas UU sometimes. My 8th grader keeps having a fundie in her class lecturing her about non-fundies going to hell. He's been known to bring pamphlets to school. I offered to get a UU pamphlet--actually, her sister has some here at the house...one in English and one in Spanish :-) I told her if we looked around the UU church hard enough, we could even find something Wiccan for her to take to school--just to watch the fundie's head explode! I got her a chalice symbol necklace this Xmas and she wears it everyday...
She was more excited about getting IT this year than any of the rest of her stuff.
My oldest daughter does tech work in her high school's theater dept. She said that one of the students dropped out of the school play because she would have had to say the word "God"...apparently she said that it would be taking "his name in vain" and wouldn't do it..so she dropped out. Given the fundie atmosphere down here, we're probably lucky that the student who dropped out is not suing the school district over it..fundies sue the district annually (last incident being this past Xmas over an elementary school kid not being able to bring to school a candy cane with a religious message attached)!
Anyway, glad you all have a group on DU!! It is a nice break from dealing with the locals around here!

[SCDem]

75. Hello - a UU newbie here!

And I'm also in a red state. I attended my first UU service last week and really liked it. I brought my 15 month old son to the next service and all the people and the more I read about UU the more happy I am that I chose to attend and get involved.

[ezekiel333]

53. Hello

Gnostic Christian here, which depending on whom you listen to either makes me a heretic or a true fundamentalist.

"Be vigilant, and allow no one to mislead you by saying: 'Here it is!' or 'There it is!' For it is within you that the Son of Man dwells." The Teacher, Yeshua, (Jesus) from the Gospel of Miriam, Miriam of Magdala, (Mary Magdalene)

[hvn_nbr_2]

77. That's in the "accepted" gospel too

I don't remember offhand the exact quote or which gospel. Something about not being deceived by "Lo, here" and "Lo, there" "for the kingdom of God/heaven is within you."

I'm finally looking at this thread for the first time!

[realisticphish]

54. I am from central ohio

im a member of the evangelical lutheran church of america (ELCA), and my home congregation is in Newark, OH, at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church. im in columbus at school, and really havent found a church to attend up here

:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[elshiva]

56. I am a Jewish-Episcopalian with other assorted beliefs

I love God so much! Peace to all beings!

[pelagius]

57. Hi! I very seriously called myself a Zen Episcopalian...

...for a few years while I was Zen student and a regular at my local Episcopal church. I parted ways with the Zen path -- I felt my own tradition of Christian contemplation would suffice, once I understood more about it -- but am now attending Torah study classes at my local Reform temple. Still a regular at the local Episcopal church!

So I can definitely relate!

[elshiva]

59. Blessings on You!

I consider myself Jewish-Episcopalian who believes that Krishna, as well as the other incarnations of Vishnu, are incarnations of The One Ultimate Reality. (Also Buddha and others as well.) I am a descendant of Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism. I'm now reading The Book Of Mormon, to understand this faith.

[LDS Jock]

58. I've been lurking but I'm here too

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, aka the Mormon Church. I grew up in another church, or churches. My father was Baptist and my mother a member of the Assembly of God. As a kid we alternated back and forth between the two. At 18, I started my own search for a church home. I didn't know where the search would lead, but eventually settled on the Mormon Church. I felt it was an answer to my prayers at the time and for several years it was a great fit. Now, I'm not so sure. I've learned many valuable lessons there, grown so much, but it just doesn't seem like the best place for me anymore. Now, it looks like I'm about to start up another search. I'll be visiting and reading about other churches, trying to find a new spiritual home. I'm kind of excited to see where it leads me to this time.

[pelagius]

60. Man, if you can be a progressive or even a Democrat...

...in the LDS church, you have my hearty "atta-boy". Good stuff!

Theology aside, there are many things I admire about the LDS way of life, especially where it promotes responsibility within community.

I'm an old Assemblies of God boy myself and can see how the transition into the LDS might come naturally. And I can definitely see how the transtion OUT can be a good thing, too.

I always put a plug in for the Episcopal Church when I can, but there are many good alternatives for you to puruse. Blessings on your path!

[LDS Jock]

64. LDS church isn't as bad you most think

The politics aren't the only reason I'm not satisfied. I try to keep the two separate, although it's not easy. The Episcopal Church is one of the demoninations I'm planning on checking out. There is a large one downtown which does many things for the less fortunate in the community. I like that a lot. I also like the history and tradition of the Episcopal Church. I think it would be a good fit for me, but still feel the need to check out a number of places.

[GreenPartyVoter]

61. Since you are church hunting, have you investigated the

denoms listed on my site? And if so, do any of them appeal to you? Keep me posted and let me know when you find a new worship home. :)

[LDS Jock]

63. no, I didn't know you had stuff on your site about it

I'll check it out though, thanks!

GPV, you just keep becoming one of my favorite posters all the time.

[LDS Jock]

65. I checked it out

and yes, there are several on there I wanted to look at closely. The Episcopal Church and ELCA are the two top ones I wanted to look into. Also the Presbyterian and United Methodist interest me too. I had no idea there was a Progressive SDA Church. The SDA has interested me for a number of reasons, so I'll look at that too. I've been to MCC several times. It a little too progressive for me. From what I've read, the Unitarians would also be. I think it would be too much like MCC, which seemed to be overly concerned with being non-offensive and almost lacking for standing for something. Some of the others I'll have to look into more. I'm not very familiar with them, if at all but that is a good thing. You've pointed me toward some new places to check into.

[GreenPartyVoter]

66. Glad you found something useful... I just wanted to remind you,

though I am sure you already know, that every individual church is different and that some of those denoms have very strict counterparts, so that it wouldn't hurt to have a series of questions handy you can ask the pastors of some local congregations. (War good or bad, pro or anti choice, gblt acccepting or not, pluralistic, biblical fallibility.... whatever is on your mind in terms of what a church needs in order to be a good place for you.)

For myself, I think MCC and UU are a bit too progressive for me as well in that I am happy with having a traditional trinitarian Christian approach in a church, because that is the metaphor for God that I grew up with and understand best. If I ever change churches I think the UCC congregationalists would be an excellent fit for me, since even though I admire the Episcopal church I am used to the simplicity of protestant worship. High church is beautiful, but feels ...distant to me. :)

[Selwynn]

67. *wave* I'm not sure the label "Christian liberal" fits me, but hi anyway

I suppose I can fit comfortably under the Progressive People of Faith label. Certainly Christian tradition is my background, but ultimately it really depends on what you think "Christian" really means. Does it mean believing that Jesus is literally a God/man, and believing in miracles and creedal things like virgin birth and all of that? Then I don't thank that's me.

If on the other hand, being a "Christian" means finding the symbol and language of Christian tradition to have interpretive value in communicating about our real experiences of a rich and spiritual world, then perhaps the term fits. :)

Anyway - hi.
Sel

[AlabamaYankee]

68. Lutherpalian here

That is, lifelong (several generations in the family) LCA/ELCA Lutheran, but the only Lutheran church where I'm living now is Missouri Synod. It's liberal for the LCMS, but I can't buy into the inerrency and low status for women that is the official doctrine. So now I'm Episcopalian, which is pretty much the same except that they have too many sacraments, and their concept of the priesthood is more Roman than Congregational. But they do have EFM (Education for Ministry) which is a great program.

[realFedUp]

69. I just found this forum a few days ago

good thing.

[RevCheesehead]

71. Welcome to the LC/PPF group!

:hi:

[elshiva]

72. God bless you!

:hi: :hi:

[GOPBasher]

73. Hi everyone. I'm a new Christian.

I just became a Christian within the past year. I'm still looking for a church to call home. For right now, I've been going to church with my wife; it's a conservative, evangelical, Southern Baptist church. I want to find a denomination and a church that's a little more liberal. But anyway...

Hi, everybody! :hi: I look forward to great conversations on this forum! :-)

[GreenPartyVoter]

74. Welcome. :^) Try looking for a church from one of these denoms

in your area and ask the pastors where they stand on key issues.

http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/liberalchristians.htm#denom

[GOPBasher]

76. Hey GreenPartyVoter, thanks for the link! nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

78. Any time :^D