Gaia: Post-Christian

Re: Hello from the pod Cultivator

http://oraclephoenix.gaia.com — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:47:57 GMT

Hey all!

Andrew, I found a particular parallel in your experience and mine. I was raised in a Jehovah's Witness household although we were only partially practicing by the time I came along. I have never really found any particular fault with their version of events and translation of the Bible which, although it has been widely misinterpreted, draws the greatest parallels with Messaianic Jewish teachings. They believe in Christ as a savior but not in the Trinitarian doctrine and closely follow the Old Testament in their Bible studies.

The hardest thing for me to grasp, however, was the level of apathy and superiority with which they approached the other religions. They seemed to view every person they met as someone that they simply hadn't managed to convert yet instead of viewing them as a person with valid, though different, beliefs. I didn't like their pushy response to the people they disagreed with and I especially had problems with their belief that, as you said of your previous religion, the vast majority of the human population is doomed, though not to Hell as much as existence outside the blessing of God.

I knew the people that they disagreed with and knew that many of them were as good or better people than I would ever have the strength to be and I found it shameful that they could simultaneously believe in a just and loving God and a god who would turn away from these honest people.

So over the past few years I have been slowly developing my own brand of post-Christian universalism. One that feels right to me. It is a constant struggle because my parents do not approve and I reman fearful of making the wrong choice but I cannot believe, in my heart, that theirs is the right one. So I'm searching. Drawing inspiration from Christianity, Judaism, and Taoism and embracing all faiths as a valid and meaningful attempt at understanding something which I feel is ultimately impossible for one person to grasp.

Most religious doctrine, in general, is to certain and dogmatic for me to adhere to and so I will probably never commit myself to a church. I am, however, committed to the greatest understanding that I can personally achieve in a lifetime and, for now, that's enough.

I look forward to getting to know all of you and having good discussions. :)

Re: Hello from the pod Cultivator

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:59:10 GMT

G'day Jim and all.

My name is Andrew and I am post-Christian.

I was raised in a Church of England (Episcopalian) environment prior to a few years of hedonist delights then when I just about in the gutter, I was picked up and became involved in the Charismatic Pentecostal Christian movement, at about 23yo.

After seeing and experiencing some pretty amazing things, something started to niggle me on the edge of my consciousness. I'd been in and around various Pentecostal denominations and, because I wasn't a good pew warmer, I liked getting involved doing stuff, I started to see some of the other less known unpleasant aspects. Power struggles, kingdom builders, sheep stealers, and started looking more closely at the scriptural basis of many of the doctrines that had been adopted. Many were based ib questionable assumptions, which threw the others out of bonk.

It also became apparent that conditions for entering the Kingdom of Heaven excluded about 95% of the world population and I couldn't fathom why God created all those people just to throw them into a Christless eternity of agony and suffering in the pit of fire.

I came to realise the bible was so simple, you needed the mainline Christian religions doctrines and teachings to help misunderstand it.

That's why I became a heretic, a Post-Christian, a term I hadn't heard before but fits comfortably, like a glove in fact. And I'm looking forward to chewing the fat with this group.

An eccentric Aussie

Re: Hello from the pod Cultivator

http://mcfarland.gaia.com — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:32:02 GMT

Welcome to the group. I haven't been very active on Zaadz/Gaia lately, but hope to remedy that soon.

Jim

Re: Hello from the pod Cultivator

http://suntlanume.gaia.com — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:48:26 GMT

Hello to all!

I was raise methodist, went to a Spanish Reformed Episcopal church for 3 years, then continued to be methodist, then got disilusioned with the people around me there, and decided to explore. Currently I am very spiritual, mostly of pagan influence with som christianity splashing up now and again. Every once in a while i shop (tee-hee), and am still looking for the right fit for me...

Re: Hello from the pod Cultivator

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:36:16 GMT

Hi all, I smiled at Stop and Ponder's description of himself as a Spiritual Shopper. I used to called myself a Paganbuddhisthinduquaker (say that fast!), but lately, I just call myself Catholic. I'm probably an atypical Catholic, since I practice a zen-style meditation every day, read books on yoga, and like to change up the names for God (no one name can contain Him/Her/It, right?). I'm fine with being atypical, and I'm a member of a great parish church that is fine with it, too. I think religion is one tool of many that can be used to broaden and deepen one's spirituality. I also practice gratitude and blessing people (especially those who cut me off in traffic!), and just about any other practice that will make a more loving me. Anyway, I have liked reading about everyone's journeys here. I'm looking forward to reading more. Take care, Kari

Re: Post-Christian / Post-Denominational?

http://mcfarland.gaia.com — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:00:16 GMT

It's interesting, but no, it wouldn't fit within my own personal definition of Post-Christian. I think your term Post-Denominational is a better label for it. But, others may disagree?

Jim

Post-Christian / Post-Denominational?

http://evanleonard.gaia.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:54:41 GMT

Hi There,

I'm not sure if this fits in "post-christian" as you're talking about it, but there's a new idea about post-denominational christianity that transcends and includes all the major vehicals of Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, Reformation Protestant and Evangelical Protestant), and draws on all the eastern traditions to reinvigorate the language and symbology of Christianity - as it was originally intended by Christ. There's a little more info available here: http://www.christlogos.org

Evan

Re: Some possible discussion topics

http://stop-and-ponder.gaia.com — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:07:40 GMT

Hi JIm.

Your discussion topics sound good. Could I also add topics like sacred space, altars, rituals, miracles, God-Realized souls, mantras, Univeral Mother to name a few.

Re: Hello from the pod Cultivator

http://stop-and-ponder.gaia.com — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:50:58 GMT

Hi Jim and others,

Just a short introduction from me. ( I can go on and on...)

I was bought up Catholic, then at 18 became "born again" and joined a university Chrisitan movement. Then went on to lead a "Pentecostal" student Christian organisation, went to 2 Bible colleages, and was on my way to becoming a pastor. In that process I went from being a member of a Baptist church then got heavily involved with the Assemblies of God movement.

But then I began to see that much of what was being taught to me was making me rather arragant, so I ended up leaving full time ministry, and went back to the Baptist tradition. But I felt all out of touch with the Baptists, so I left the church and joined a Home church for a while. But the Home Church movement kind of died off where I was.

After this there was a long period of "unlearning" lots of things, esp Pentecostal fundamental stuff, - realising that a lot of things were not "Christian" at all.

The pendulum really swung for me, and for a while I became an athesist, seeing that life did not seem to have any meaning or purpose.

My spiritual path then started again from learning about Numerology, then later on reading about Gnostism. Later on I attended some New Age seminars on Angels, Pagonism ( I even did Paganism 101 with a real witch) and other things, but eventually became interested in Tibetan Buddshism. meditation, yoga and mantras. Now I'm opening up to Hinduism of all things.

From being a very fundamentalist narrow minded Bible basher, I now see that all religions show certain aspects/revelations of God or the Divine - and there is great wisdom to be found in all of them. So I'm kind of like a Spiritual Shopper, a grab a bit here, I take a bit there, knowing that there are truths to be found in all.

So whether I fit into the definition of "Post-Christian" I'm not that sure. I'm more like a seeker, still making mistakes, but still trying to keep an open and non-judgemental mind. I kind of feel I have so much to learn, and that I have only just started .

I hope I can be of some contribution to you all.

Re: Why I Am Post-Christian

http://yayme.gaia.com — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:42:18 GMT

I never was a Christian. I was raised by a Christian and an atheist. I never took to either way of thought.

I never was a Christian. I have always been God.

Re: Why I Am Post-Christian

http://wabisabi.gaia.com — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:44:28 GMT

Hi,

I'm a little reluctant to identify myself as a post-Christian. Who I am today is largely because of years of nurture, insight, and love received from good hearted Christians. So I really want to respect that, while admitting that most of popular Christianity today is a strange extension of early misunderstandings of the Jesus experience.

I just finished Jesus for the Non-religious by Spong. There is so much that he misses in that book, but it did help me see that I really don't believe orthodox creeds, so I guess I am, by default, cast out!

I also recently listened to Don Beck's Spiral Dynamics audio series and feel pretty strongly that the "transcend and include" mantra is essential for those of us at this stage. But how do we do that? If we are in the yellow meme, then we should be looking to support meme masters as each stage. This means we should be supporting both the evangelical (blue) meme, and the agnostic (orange) meme, and all the others.

Frankly, I don't feel up for it, I want to run and hide!

Anyway, appreciate seeing that others are in the same place I am. Nice to meet you!

Richard

Re: The Golden Compass

http://yayme.gaia.com — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:48:29 GMT

I've just re-read the first two books (I read them the first time when they first came out), and the third book is next on my reading list. The first two (The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife) were great, I thought. They were very well-written and imaginative. I also just saw the movie, and it sucked compared to the book. They waaaaaay oversimplified the plot, left out key plot points, put things out of order, etc, you know, the regular movie adaptation slaughter of literature. But the acting and special effects were good. I don't feel qualified to comment on the trilogy as a whole, though, since I haven't read the last book.

Re: The Golden Compass

http://yhd52754.gaia.com — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:37:06 GMT

Jim,

After reading that the movie was based on those books, I looked into them and actually, I am interested in reading them (I haven't seen the movie but just bought my grandson a video game based on it as I thought it better than the standard fare which I have seen him attracted to). Hah, here I am judging it better and I know nothing about it. Yet, I did peak at a trailer for the game and it seemed different and interesting.

I am buried in reading material but now reminded, I think I'll pick it up and once I start reading will come here to comment.

Deborah

Re: Hello from the pod Cultivator

http://stellaluna.gaia.com — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:21:05 GMT

I was raised Bapstist until I was around ten. Then I was raised what you may call Messianic Jew, i.e., I believe in Jesus as the Christ but I go to church on Saturday and keep the Jewish Holy Days. Then after a period of doing nothing in my latter teen years I started going to the episcopal church with my husband. However, everything I have been taught has stayed with me so therefore I feel like I don't quite belong in any group or church. But that's OK, I'm a seeker and always will be because I believe the Truth never changes and therefore, if the Truth is what I seek, I will always be on the right path.

The Golden Compass

http://mcfarland.gaia.com — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:55:00 GMT

With all the fuss over the movie "The Golden Comapss" and the trilogy of books it comes from lately, I decided to read it myself, and so have put some other planned reading on hold for now. As soon as I make time to finally finish the final Harry Potter book, I am going to start reading "His Dark Materials", which I picked up in a 3 books in one paperback edition a couple weeks ago.

Has any one else read any of these 3 Philip Pullman books or plan to?

Jim

Re: Hang in there

http://mcfarland.gaia.com — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:50:39 GMT

I haven't forgotten about this pod. It is just that as things started to ease up on my work, I found other things to fill my time. I joined the Web Team at my UU congregation and have spend lots of my free time learning PHP and working on additions and improvements to that site. And things have continued to change at work. Same company, but our team's process and my role have changed and I have had to do a lot of reading of technical books in my free time. So, my reading time for other stuff and my online time in communities like Zaadz have been low.

But, I'll try to check in here more often and get some discussion going. I also want to grow the membership, but am not quite sure how, at this point.

Jim

Re: Hang in there

http://yhd52754.gaia.com — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 05:28:11 GMT

And perhaps summer is too alluring to get outside and do stuff. When the long, dark, colder days come, sitting in front of a warm computer monitor may be the activity of choice.

Hi Jim,

Deborah
Not sure what I am, I am my beliefs, currently those include being raised Episcopalian, having seriously Church of Christ grandparents who taught me conviction in beliefs, 30 yr foundation in metaphysics as taught by Science of Mind, recent interest in Taoism, Pantheism, Paganism of a Wicca tone and Buddahism - all with a sprinkling of open-mindedness towards divining.

Expecting to get into some books gathering dust in my library that might fit in here.

Re: Hello from the pod Cultivator

http://21stcenturyministries.gaia.com — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 14:12:05 GMT

I grew up in the Southern Baptist tradition, and went to ministerial school, studying to become a minister in the 1960's. When studying world religions, psychology of religion, philosophy of religion, I felt my mind expanding in ways I never imagined. Through this process I attended just about every tradition known to man, found in the U.S. I, too, visited the Unitarian Church in my city, as well as a Russian Orthodox Church. In the 1990's I became involved in Unity, which best expresses my belief system. Why, because Unity interprets the Chrisitian Bible metaphysically. Lessons can be garnered from the Bible metaphysically and used greatly in this world in a practical application. People in the South are uneducated about metaphysical interpretation of the Bible. Meditation is a bad word i.e. for Buddhists, etc. Tis' not so, of course. My mission has been to translate and include through my weekly columns in local newspapers and magazines. You can read these on my Zaadz blogs. My website is www.21stcenturyministries.com I can appreciate the Christ, Krishna, Buddha in you as you recognize the same in me.

Re: Hang in there

http://kabbalahkev.gaia.com — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:10:19 GMT

I'll be checking in...sometimes the harvest is ripe in the summer...

Re: Why I Am Post-Christian

http://kabbalahkev.gaia.com — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:08:51 GMT

I'm ready to abandon all religous traditions with something more closely connected to the mind and body....although something "on the outside" still brushes its stroke on my canvas.