Discussion and dialogue. The very act of either is opening the self up to possible arguments, superficial connections or in the best cases, getting below the surface and the formation of friendships. This was not the goal of the SPSCC Forum though. I wish I had been though, given that the building was completely full of all the people who had come to learn or to re-validate their beliefs. The goal of the forum was to present 4 different perspectives on 3 big questions. Which I think would have been more powerful had it included small group discussions after. For what it was worth though, it was extremely educating on learning a Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Buddhist perspective on "The Meaning of Life," "Humanity's Problem" and "How to fix humanity's problem." Each representative was given three minutes to respond to each question with a little time after for questions from the audience.
What is the meaning of life?
The first to answer was Muhammad Ayub representing Islam from the Islamic Center of Olympia. He quoted the Quran, specifically the verses, "God says I have created people to worship me," and "Blessed is he who created life and death so that we could be good." From this I took the meaning of life is to worship God and through our worship of God be good, which he articulated also as being able to face God on the Day of Judgment.
The next to respond was Paul Jones the pastor of Reality Church in Olympia. He said that the meaning of life was to worship God and that through our worship of Jesus who is God we would be made good. To quote him directly, "There is a purpose that can be known, but not within ourselves, only within Him," and "We are He was quick to show the difference between Islam and Christianity by talking about God as the Trinity, being the Union of Father, Son and Holy Spirit and God as having no beginning or end and us as characters in the story he wrote. I took this meaning the meaning of life is God and letting God shape the individual which was similar to Islam.
Next to speak was Rabbi Seth Goldstien of Beth Hatfiloh the Reform Jewish Synagogue in Olympia. He expressed the meaning by using three stories from Torah. The first story was of Genesis and how man is made in the image of God and because of it holds the divine spark of God which is articulated through mercy, creation, compassion and creativity. Because we were made in the image of God we therefore partners with God in his ongoing creation.
The next story was of Sinai and Moses's receiving of the commandments from God. From this became the purpose of our relationship to one another and our relationship to God.
The third story was the Exodus, and the story of moving out of slavery to freedom and our responsibility to repair the world as we and the world transform.
Together I took this to mean our meaning is to be partners with God in creation, live in relationship of respect for another and to work to heal the world.
The final person to speak was Kelsang Tsoglam of the Mahayana Buddhist Center of Olympia. She expressed meaning as cultivating peace in the heart so that we may create that peace in the world. She said it can't be mandated or legislated but can only come through individuals finding of inner peace and helping others find inner peace as well.
What is humanity's Problem?
The first to speak was the Rabbi this time around. With each question the professor hosting the forum would switch the order around. The Rabbi's answer to the question was that humanity's problem was being human. We are fallible and not God and that it's in recognizing our humanity that we can overcome it. He said the way of moving forward knowing that we are human is through the liturgical cycle of atonement and repentance and that is how we can overcome are evil inclinations and be good. "We are in a constant state of becoming." Humans are change. He also expressed one of the problems is fundamentalism which he saw as denying our humamanness.
After the rabbi the Nun spoke of what she believed humanity's problem was. She said it was our inability to make ourselves happy. We are so focused on outside material things to be happy that we lose state of true happiness coming from within.
Next Muhammad Ayub spoke. He expressed humanity's problem being that we have a sense of hopelessness, lack of direction, greed and racism and are unable to achieve balance. He said the answer is in the Quran and that "By remembering God you find balance in your heart." As well as the words of Prophet Muhammad who said, "You are not a true believe until you love for others, what you love for yourself." It is by remembering this that we advance in God Consciencesness.
The last to speak was the Pastor. He said, our problem is pride. We don't like God being in control of our story and that was the reason for original sin and our rebellion against God. We were once perfect because of God, but because we chose self over God we have been suffering since. God declared us "dead" because of sin.
How to solve humanity's problem?
Some of the questions were answered partially in talking about the problem, but there was still more said by all. First to speak was the Buddhist Nun who reiterated that we need to solve our own problems first. She used the analogy of the airplane and that before you put the oxygen mask on another you need to put it on yourself. When a person is at peace that peace effects others and that is how the problem is solved, by more people achieving peace in their heart.
Next Mr. Ayub spoke, he expressed the solution was through the 5 Pillars of Islam, which are:
1) Testimony to God and prophets and in doing recognizing the many attributes of God.
2) Pray 5 times a day, and in doing so achieve balance through the honoring of God.
3) Charity and the giving of 2.5% of savings to the poor. Egalitarianism and looking after the widows, orphans and those who have the least in society.
4) Fasting during Ramadan in order to gain greater will power and to remember those who have not.
5) Haj - The pilgrimage to Mecca in memory of the past and to form more connections.
"A friend is someones story we have heard. An enemy is a story we have not heard."
Next was Pastor Jones who said the solution was not through doing more good works then bad. That the solution is faith in Jesus Christ and the Trinity of God not through certain behavior modifications. He believed that God would bring about those behavioral modifications in us though through our faith but that can only happen through repentance as a coming back to God. God puts the oxygen masks on us in the plane. In the end he said God will rule over creation in relationship with Him.
Last to speak was Rabbi Goldstein. He first made a joke about using another airplane analogy but couldn't think of one. Rabbi Goldstein said that the solution could be found in the Torah and the commentaries on the Torah known as the Midvash. He used one of the commentaries as an example where there are angles arguing with Moses on why he should receive to Torah when it comes from God. In the end Moses wins because he establishes that humans need to the Torah in order to be good and establish holiness in the world. He shows that the angels don't have the same problems as people do so it is really only people who need the Torah. He closed saying the answer is to live righteous and holy life and in doing so we bring each other close to one another in the Divine.
After there were a few questions in which I learned that Islam and Judaism do not believe God inhabits the individual like with Christianity. On the question of the afterlife and beginnings and endings the afterlife was also discussed. Islam describes it depth having 1/3 of the Quran cover it, Mahayana Buddhism defines it as it as continuum where Karma keeps recreating it. How a person dies depends on what they are reincarnated into in the next life. God and life are eternal in Judaism and God is most concerned with our actions in the now and for Christianity God was the beginning and is the possibility of being eternally present or eternally absent based on our choices.
Now it would be difficult to really describe all my thoughts on everything that was said. I learned a lot about all four faiths today. I wish the Nun had brought up more points about Buddha's teachings though, just as I wish there could have been small group discussions after. One thing I respect about all of these faiths is their call for virtue. Whether it's through believing God is making them virtuous, through submitting to God, to co-creating with God or living by Right action I believe that is the essential Good that I wish more members of these faiths and all people would turn too.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Mennonites visit Campus - The Evergreen State College - Olympia, WA - Febuary 2nd 2011
After reading the letter and the vibe of greed and exploitation that Reverend Peter Popoff is doing it was nice to meet the polar opposite of that mindset today. While on campus outside the main building where students meet there were three Mennonite men from the Rochester Mennonite Church with literature explaining their interpretation of the Bible and what Jesus meant for them.
The men were dressed very classy in old style suits (suit and long coat) and one of them was dressed in Amish garb, even having a long gray beard and hat, and black suit. They were very cordial, genuine in humble, not just in their garb but in how they talked and greeted me. There wasn't the "In your face, have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior deal." Which honestly turns me off from Christianity. We talked about history, of which will be discussed in the next few paragraphs.
Who are the Mennonites? The Mennonites came out of the Reformation movement through the Anabaptist Menno Simmons. They differed against the Lutherans in that they thought the Catholic Church wasn't practicing real Christianity, unlike Luther who just wanted to reform it. They believe Jesus honored separation of Church and State and wanted his community to be separate and not involved with politics as seen by his turning himself in when the soldiers came and his call for non-violence of loving of one's enemies.They also reject infant baptism and that only believers should be baptized. This was a huge point they made when they were saying that the first Mennonites rejected Catholicism claim to being Christian and Luther's reforming of a Non-Christian sect as the wrong approach.
I do think that the Orthodox and Catholic Church are Christian Churches, which is a big issue I have with any Christian Church that rejects the fact that they all share the core belief of the trinity and Jesus dying for sins.
I agree with their idea of living simply, baptism coming from belief, the call for non-violence and separation of church and state. Any Theocracy is just as dangerous as any secular dictatorship or oligarchy.
In practice many Mennonites are Amish and rejecttechnology in living the simple life to the extreme, this I think can be a problem as well, especially if abuse happens in a community and there are no ways to get out to get help. They are also usually very conservative in regards to family where only the Mother and Father with children are the only recognized type of family. I disagree strongly with this as well as their conservative interpretation about homosexuality and women.
Meeting humble men, living simply while honoring God was a good experience after Reverend Peter Popoff's letter. I hope to visit their church at some point, to see how they honor God and worship. I think if the Mennonites met some of the Orthodox and Catholic orders of monks and nuns who also live simply, theirperspective would change..and I hope I could someday facilitate that meeting to help heal the wounds that divide the Body of Christ.
The men were dressed very classy in old style suits (suit and long coat) and one of them was dressed in Amish garb, even having a long gray beard and hat, and black suit. They were very cordial, genuine in humble, not just in their garb but in how they talked and greeted me. There wasn't the "In your face, have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior deal." Which honestly turns me off from Christianity. We talked about history, of which will be discussed in the next few paragraphs.
Who are the Mennonites? The Mennonites came out of the Reformation movement through the Anabaptist Menno Simmons. They differed against the Lutherans in that they thought the Catholic Church wasn't practicing real Christianity, unlike Luther who just wanted to reform it. They believe Jesus honored separation of Church and State and wanted his community to be separate and not involved with politics as seen by his turning himself in when the soldiers came and his call for non-violence of loving of one's enemies.They also reject infant baptism and that only believers should be baptized. This was a huge point they made when they were saying that the first Mennonites rejected Catholicism claim to being Christian and Luther's reforming of a Non-Christian sect as the wrong approach.
I do think that the Orthodox and Catholic Church are Christian Churches, which is a big issue I have with any Christian Church that rejects the fact that they all share the core belief of the trinity and Jesus dying for sins.
I agree with their idea of living simply, baptism coming from belief, the call for non-violence and separation of church and state. Any Theocracy is just as dangerous as any secular dictatorship or oligarchy.
In practice many Mennonites are Amish and reject
Meeting humble men, living simply while honoring God was a good experience after Reverend Peter Popoff's letter. I hope to visit their church at some point, to see how they honor God and worship. I think if the Mennonites met some of the Orthodox and Catholic orders of monks and nuns who also live simply, their
Religous Corruption and the Gospel of Wealth - Reverand Peter Popoff
This last week my girlfriend received a letter. The letter stated it was a "PROPHETIC REVELATION FOR:" for her, and that it was notice for:
UPCOMING MANIFOLD BLESSINGS
OF CHANGES THAT ARE COMING...
THAT NEW DOORS ARE OPENING...
THAT A COMPLETE NEW DIRECTION TOWARD THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS UNFOLDING
Everything was in all shown on the letter. It also claimed to be highly confidential and not to be read by anyone except the recipient...and for good reason. If the person's fears are successfully preyed upon as the letter seeks to do, you've got yourself set up for possible financial debt and the personality cult of Reverend Peter Popofff.
Ignoring the fact that her name was spelled wrong in the letter, what does the letter seek to accomplish? Why it's the "Prophetic" Reverend asking for money. Or as he puts it,
"Yea, MY BLESSINGS ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, but only those who walk in faith will enjoy them. DO NOT be the one who dreams of my best, but the VERY ONE I HAVE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE MY BEST...Increase, health, and blessings of my favor shall be poured upon those who walk in the spirit of obedience. I ask thee now to sow a seed of $20.00...OBEY ME!"
"Only I have the POWER to put all your MONEY WORRIES BEHIND YOU and ONLY YOU HAVE THE FAITH IT TAKES TO MOVE ME. Sow and reap, GIVE and RECEIVE, SEEK and FIND...This is your moment, your season of change. Do not let this moment pass you by...OBEY ME and I SHALL HEAR YOUR PRAYERS AND GIVE QUICK AND MIGHTY ANSWERS," Saith the Lord.
If you do this and burn the incense while saying a prayer that the Reverend claims came from God, then all your financial worries will be put away. You also need to sign the contract that is this letter and the money back to him. Basically so he can get more money from you and send you more crap. All you have to do is obey. The corruption and audacity. It was people like this guy who were a part of my complete rejection of religion. He's the most blatant and obvious of the corruption of money and power, and God as a way to achieve both, but he is not the only one.
This is disgusting. How many strangers get pulled into this lie? Apparently a lot. Popoff was once of the biggest Televangelist preachers until the Amazing Randy, a skeptic magician revealed the hoax that his wife was reading off of prayer cards and that it wasn't God telling him what people had and who they were.
http://wn.com/Televangelist_Peter_Popoff_Investigation
Here is a great report on what Peter Popoff is doing now and about the incident where he was revealed to be a hoax.When it comes to him and other groups or people like him be alert. Beware those with charisma and follow up to see if they practice what they claim to preach. I would meet a religious group today who provided a nice opposite to the greed, pride and avarice of Popoff and they'll be my next post.
UPCOMING MANIFOLD BLESSINGS
OF CHANGES THAT ARE COMING...
THAT NEW DOORS ARE OPENING...
THAT A COMPLETE NEW DIRECTION TOWARD THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS UNFOLDING
Everything was in all shown on the letter. It also claimed to be highly confidential and not to be read by anyone except the recipient...and for good reason. If the person's fears are successfully preyed upon as the letter seeks to do, you've got yourself set up for possible financial debt and the personality cult of Reverend Peter Popofff.
Ignoring the fact that her name was spelled wrong in the letter, what does the letter seek to accomplish? Why it's the "Prophetic" Reverend asking for money. Or as he puts it,
"Yea, MY BLESSINGS ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, but only those who walk in faith will enjoy them. DO NOT be the one who dreams of my best, but the VERY ONE I HAVE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE MY BEST...Increase, health, and blessings of my favor shall be poured upon those who walk in the spirit of obedience. I ask thee now to sow a seed of $20.00...OBEY ME!"
"Only I have the POWER to put all your MONEY WORRIES BEHIND YOU and ONLY YOU HAVE THE FAITH IT TAKES TO MOVE ME. Sow and reap, GIVE and RECEIVE, SEEK and FIND...This is your moment, your season of change. Do not let this moment pass you by...OBEY ME and I SHALL HEAR YOUR PRAYERS AND GIVE QUICK AND MIGHTY ANSWERS," Saith the Lord.
If you do this and burn the incense while saying a prayer that the Reverend claims came from God, then all your financial worries will be put away. You also need to sign the contract that is this letter and the money back to him. Basically so he can get more money from you and send you more crap. All you have to do is obey. The corruption and audacity. It was people like this guy who were a part of my complete rejection of religion. He's the most blatant and obvious of the corruption of money and power, and God as a way to achieve both, but he is not the only one.
This is disgusting. How many strangers get pulled into this lie? Apparently a lot. Popoff was once of the biggest Televangelist preachers until the Amazing Randy, a skeptic magician revealed the hoax that his wife was reading off of prayer cards and that it wasn't God telling him what people had and who they were.
http://wn.com/Televangelist_Peter_Popoff_Investigation
Here is a great report on what Peter Popoff is doing now and about the incident where he was revealed to be a hoax.When it comes to him and other groups or people like him be alert. Beware those with charisma and follow up to see if they practice what they claim to preach. I would meet a religious group today who provided a nice opposite to the greed, pride and avarice of Popoff and they'll be my next post.
Monday, January 31, 2011
The Beatitudes - Saint Michael Parish - January 30th, 2010
You might be wondering why I'm choosing to write about Saint Michael Parish again. The reason for doing is is the theme of universalism and inclusiveness that I experienced at Mass and though different, the language of the Mass complimented the practice of Beth Hatfiloh.
First, what are the beatitudes? The beatitudes are Jesus describing how even those seen as cursed are blessed by God and that God will help them find what they were unable to receive in life. They're meant to bring humility for from humility comes love, most people who are described in the beatitudes people did not love:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses land
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice: for they have their fill
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God
Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justices' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Each beatitude holds a lesson that calls upon our greater self and shows how God's kingdom belongs to these people. The self that in the Abrahamic Traditions that God can help you become, and in general a reminder for the things that our society is obsessed with, such as station, money, being right over being good, and other ills are all addressed in these beatitudes. They remind us of what we can achieve in living awareness of ourselves and others, by God's recognition of them. In the Mass attended I experienced that awareness again both in the sermon and prayer and afterwords in the Chapel.
First, what are the beatitudes? The beatitudes are Jesus describing how even those seen as cursed are blessed by God and that God will help them find what they were unable to receive in life. They're meant to bring humility for from humility comes love, most people who are described in the beatitudes people did not love:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses land
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice: for they have their fill
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God
Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justices' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Each beatitude holds a lesson that calls upon our greater self and shows how God's kingdom belongs to these people. The self that in the Abrahamic Traditions that God can help you become, and in general a reminder for the things that our society is obsessed with, such as station, money, being right over being good, and other ills are all addressed in these beatitudes. They remind us of what we can achieve in living awareness of ourselves and others, by God's recognition of them. In the Mass attended I experienced that awareness again both in the sermon and prayer and afterwords in the Chapel.
Visit to Temple Beth Hatfiloh - Olympia, WA - January 28th, 2010
What is the thing that seperates legalistic faiths from the reforms they go through later? Well, for one thing the interpretation behind the words is much greater and more based on the essence (the living of love) rather then the laws (considering many laws that existed years ago expressed in the Torah are clearly unethical - the stoning of prostitutes, of people who cheat on their spouses and people who are homosexual, ect.). These are laws that existed in Leviticus and the laws of Moses and because of this exist in Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
The thing is even if the Book doesn't change, people do. For what's worth I think we have become more aware then we were back then. The types of torture that happen today pale in comparison to what institutions of power did to those without power. The cruelty was creative and public...like the stonings I mentioned from Leviticus. As society evolved more and more cultures got away from that and began practicing a culture of healing rather then punishment. Where you could live if you were a non-believer and not be killed for it, and where all faith traditions were protected. Though there are exceptions and even back then there was the culture of healing and tolerance in some instances. The role of women has also evolved to that of an equal role thankfully, which also involved getting away from what the Holy Books stated on the matter.
What does this have to do with Temple Beth Hatfiloh though? Temple Beth Hatfiloh is a Reform Jewish Synagogue. It's been here when the first Jewish settlers arrived in the 19th century, though where they currently worship is new. Friday I visited them to get the rabbi's contact information and check out the Synagogue.
What I noticed were two themes. Jewish identity with emphasis on music, literature and community, and an all inclusiveness. On the Youth Board there was Scholarship being offered for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender youth. This is a living of the love of God for people and community. It's supporting people regardless of what horrifying things are actually said on the matter in regards and law and living what Rabbi Hillel (A Rabbi who predates Jesus) said in regards to the Torah.
"That what is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole of the Torah; the rest is explanation; now go and learn."
Every religion has this teaching, yet it is the teaching more ignored historically it seems. It's so much easier hurt and disenfranchise other people who are different, yet the essence of what all faiths call on is for us not to do that. Temple Beth Hatfiloh shows that it is living that rule in it's actions.
This made me joyous and I look forward to getting to know the community better, celebrating Shabbat with them, and my interview with the Rabbi that I will be scheduling.
The thing is even if the Book doesn't change, people do. For what's worth I think we have become more aware then we were back then. The types of torture that happen today pale in comparison to what institutions of power did to those without power. The cruelty was creative and public...like the stonings I mentioned from Leviticus. As society evolved more and more cultures got away from that and began practicing a culture of healing rather then punishment. Where you could live if you were a non-believer and not be killed for it, and where all faith traditions were protected. Though there are exceptions and even back then there was the culture of healing and tolerance in some instances. The role of women has also evolved to that of an equal role thankfully, which also involved getting away from what the Holy Books stated on the matter.
What does this have to do with Temple Beth Hatfiloh though? Temple Beth Hatfiloh is a Reform Jewish Synagogue. It's been here when the first Jewish settlers arrived in the 19th century, though where they currently worship is new. Friday I visited them to get the rabbi's contact information and check out the Synagogue.
What I noticed were two themes. Jewish identity with emphasis on music, literature and community, and an all inclusiveness. On the Youth Board there was Scholarship being offered for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender youth. This is a living of the love of God for people and community. It's supporting people regardless of what horrifying things are actually said on the matter in regards and law and living what Rabbi Hillel (A Rabbi who predates Jesus) said in regards to the Torah.
"That what is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole of the Torah; the rest is explanation; now go and learn."
Every religion has this teaching, yet it is the teaching more ignored historically it seems. It's so much easier hurt and disenfranchise other people who are different, yet the essence of what all faiths call on is for us not to do that. Temple Beth Hatfiloh shows that it is living that rule in it's actions.
This made me joyous and I look forward to getting to know the community better, celebrating Shabbat with them, and my interview with the Rabbi that I will be scheduling.
Monday, January 24, 2011
First Christ Episcopal Church - Seattle, WA - January 23rd 2011
Who are the Episcopals? The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the Church of England. Recently there has been a split in the Church though, with the more conservative African branches who reject the acceptance of openly gay men and women and women priests verses the American Church and some of the European Churches who accept them.
The Episcopal Church is what a more liberal version of the Catholic Church would look like. Out of all the Christian sects it's the one I find myself most drawn to for that reason. I see God's love and acceptance lived over dogma and tradition, yet the traditions that add so much mysticism to the experience Catholicism still stay. There is still the liturgy, the Eucharist, baptism, and confirmation to name a few. Now, what was my experience at First Christ Episcopal Church?
My experience was interesting. The day was there a baby was being baptized into the Church. The Church is right across from Mars Hill and while Mars Hill was full of a young energized group and full to the brim, this Church was smaller and had a lot of families and older folks. There was great energy though and the Mother (term for female priest) and Father were good at balancing the message of missionary work and being "Fisher's of Men" (the theme of the service) between the two of them. Because the building was small parts of the service took part at the back or the front of the building. There was an organic feel to it, and the choir was really energized. The baptism itself was the part I had the hardest time understanding though...
I talked to a man afterword who was an ex-evangelical who had come to the Episcopal Church because of how it aligned with what he believed about the Bible and he told me the reason why children are baptized. The reason seems to be that in the older days when an entire family was baptized the children were included as well. I have issue with this still though...how can a child that doesn't even know what sin is, sin? A baby who still needs it's mother for nourishment and can barely speak. The baby could have been no more then 1 or 2 years old and he was already supposed to be a minster of Christ? I guess that's why confirmation exists since that's when the baptism of belief and confession really is. Teenagers are in a better situation to think about what it means to be (enter religion here), babies have no idea, it's out of their experience and language that they know and speak.
I guess in that way it's more for the congregation to support the child in it's development to become more Christlike (which I support), but then it seems baptism is more for traditions sake and serves no real purpose for the child since the meaning of the baptism is beyond it's understanding. I was baptized in the Mormon Church at 8 years old. I still remember it. I know I had no idea of what it meant. I remember saying, "That was fun." After being dunked by my father in the baptismal pool but the meaning of what it means to be baptized I had no comprehension of. I wasn't at the age of true understanding yet. To me it was like swimming, I was dressed in a special white suit and with my family. I knew it meant something to my family, but it meant nothing to me. I did it because it was expected that I would be baptized at that age and I wanted to please my parents.
My experience with baptism articulates why I think it should be at an older age. Events only mean something when we understand the significance behind the events. If not it's ritual for rituals sake and more for the people who do understand, then the one who the event is being done for.
The experience at First Christ Episcopal Church was good I would say overall. If I had chosen to take the Eucharist I could have. In the program it said, "If you have been baptized in any Christian denomination feel free to partake of the Eucharist." (they even had gluten free wafers) I still went up with arms crossed though to recieve a blessing as I usually do at the Catholic Church that I've attended with my girlfriend.
I don't believe in Christ as Lord and Savior. I believe in an all loving, all good, all powerful, all omnipresent God that resides outside and within all things and is the Good and Virtue. But because I'm not a Christian and don't think I could be. I don't feel right partaking in a ritual that is the defining moment of the Eucharistic Christian Faiths. I'm grateful being a guest, an outsider, and a friend.
The Episcopal Church is what a more liberal version of the Catholic Church would look like. Out of all the Christian sects it's the one I find myself most drawn to for that reason. I see God's love and acceptance lived over dogma and tradition, yet the traditions that add so much mysticism to the experience Catholicism still stay. There is still the liturgy, the Eucharist, baptism, and confirmation to name a few. Now, what was my experience at First Christ Episcopal Church?
My experience was interesting. The day was there a baby was being baptized into the Church. The Church is right across from Mars Hill and while Mars Hill was full of a young energized group and full to the brim, this Church was smaller and had a lot of families and older folks. There was great energy though and the Mother (term for female priest) and Father were good at balancing the message of missionary work and being "Fisher's of Men" (the theme of the service) between the two of them. Because the building was small parts of the service took part at the back or the front of the building. There was an organic feel to it, and the choir was really energized. The baptism itself was the part I had the hardest time understanding though...
I talked to a man afterword who was an ex-evangelical who had come to the Episcopal Church because of how it aligned with what he believed about the Bible and he told me the reason why children are baptized. The reason seems to be that in the older days when an entire family was baptized the children were included as well. I have issue with this still though...how can a child that doesn't even know what sin is, sin? A baby who still needs it's mother for nourishment and can barely speak. The baby could have been no more then 1 or 2 years old and he was already supposed to be a minster of Christ? I guess that's why confirmation exists since that's when the baptism of belief and confession really is. Teenagers are in a better situation to think about what it means to be (enter religion here), babies have no idea, it's out of their experience and language that they know and speak.
I guess in that way it's more for the congregation to support the child in it's development to become more Christlike (which I support), but then it seems baptism is more for traditions sake and serves no real purpose for the child since the meaning of the baptism is beyond it's understanding. I was baptized in the Mormon Church at 8 years old. I still remember it. I know I had no idea of what it meant. I remember saying, "That was fun." After being dunked by my father in the baptismal pool but the meaning of what it means to be baptized I had no comprehension of. I wasn't at the age of true understanding yet. To me it was like swimming, I was dressed in a special white suit and with my family. I knew it meant something to my family, but it meant nothing to me. I did it because it was expected that I would be baptized at that age and I wanted to please my parents.
My experience with baptism articulates why I think it should be at an older age. Events only mean something when we understand the significance behind the events. If not it's ritual for rituals sake and more for the people who do understand, then the one who the event is being done for.
The experience at First Christ Episcopal Church was good I would say overall. If I had chosen to take the Eucharist I could have. In the program it said, "If you have been baptized in any Christian denomination feel free to partake of the Eucharist." (they even had gluten free wafers) I still went up with arms crossed though to recieve a blessing as I usually do at the Catholic Church that I've attended with my girlfriend.
I don't believe in Christ as Lord and Savior. I believe in an all loving, all good, all powerful, all omnipresent God that resides outside and within all things and is the Good and Virtue. But because I'm not a Christian and don't think I could be. I don't feel right partaking in a ritual that is the defining moment of the Eucharistic Christian Faiths. I'm grateful being a guest, an outsider, and a friend.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Conversation with Jonathan (friend and leader of Evegreen Hillel) January 14th 2011
One of the the greatest reasons for creating this blog is the creation and development of friendships. Out of this I have come to make a new friend and also come to know older friends better. This post is the latter.
The discussion happened when I met up with Jonathan who was doing a fundraiser to raise money for Evergreen Hillel that morning. It was originally for the Undergraduate Thesis but the discussion moved beyond the questions as we talked.
Jonathan is one of my friends from my Freshman year of College but who I didn't really talk to in depth until today. In the discussion I found that both of us saw God similarly and I learned what being Jewish means to him. We talked about connection with God through music, nature and community. We also discussed the Reform movement and about it's more universal approach in preaching the Torah by having services be in both English and Hebrew.
Near the end we got on the inclusiveness and exclusiveness of certain religions. Specifically the more Orthodox faiths in any religion who see other interpretations of the religion as not the true interpretations. It's from this mindset that of "the Other" that so much conflict happens in the first place. God's truth becomes something that breaks people apart and causes people to die for reasons that can sometimes mirror nationalism verses the sacrifice and compassion of a loving, just, universal God who speaks in many contexts and brings out virtue in people no matter their cultural practice or experience of the Divine.
It was rich discussion in which I learned so much. I'm excited to visit Temple Beth Hatfiloh the Reform Synagogue in town later this week.
The discussion happened when I met up with Jonathan who was doing a fundraiser to raise money for Evergreen Hillel that morning. It was originally for the Undergraduate Thesis but the discussion moved beyond the questions as we talked.
Jonathan is one of my friends from my Freshman year of College but who I didn't really talk to in depth until today. In the discussion I found that both of us saw God similarly and I learned what being Jewish means to him. We talked about connection with God through music, nature and community. We also discussed the Reform movement and about it's more universal approach in preaching the Torah by having services be in both English and Hebrew.
Near the end we got on the inclusiveness and exclusiveness of certain religions. Specifically the more Orthodox faiths in any religion who see other interpretations of the religion as not the true interpretations. It's from this mindset that of "the Other" that so much conflict happens in the first place. God's truth becomes something that breaks people apart and causes people to die for reasons that can sometimes mirror nationalism verses the sacrifice and compassion of a loving, just, universal God who speaks in many contexts and brings out virtue in people no matter their cultural practice or experience of the Divine.
It was rich discussion in which I learned so much. I'm excited to visit Temple Beth Hatfiloh the Reform Synagogue in town later this week.
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