tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post1319539043635634109..comments2024-03-28T00:58:29.445-04:00Comments on Ponderings on a Faith Journey: A Good Enough Theology: Can We Learn from the Fundamentalists (Bruce Epperly)Robert Cornwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581876323110725024noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-66990925397418937472010-09-08T18:03:14.310-04:002010-09-08T18:03:14.310-04:00Brian,
I see. But I disagree - passion is the so...Brian,<br /><br />I see. But I disagree - passion is the source of much that is good (and much that is bad) and all that is really beautiful.<br /><br />God is not dispassionate, and Jesus was not dispassionate, and we as disciples need not be dispassionate. I think you confuse criminality and delusion with passion and thus do a dis-service to the very blessed passions which God has infused into humanity.<br /><br />JohnJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06245470576919732592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-8575640562327002682010-09-08T09:12:26.733-04:002010-09-08T09:12:26.733-04:00David,
I will step out on a limb. I don't be...David,<br /><br />I will step out on a limb. I don't believe any reader here will be offended by that quote. It has no vulgar language or violence. <br /><br />So, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you, a zinger by the Mighty Prophet Carl Sagan:<br /><br />"A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism." <br />Carl Sagan <br /><br />It is at this point that I feel led by the Spirit to type this: lolBrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396901667077846319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-60080295204552055972010-09-08T09:04:56.832-04:002010-09-08T09:04:56.832-04:00John,
It's not an attack on either of you. (...John,<br /><br />It's not an attack on either of you. (At least that's not the intention.) I'm just passionate about being dispassionate.....hehehe....irony.<br /><br />You and Gary are very different theologically. In the context of this discussion, however, you were on the same page with him about passion. That's a good thing, not a bad thing. I just have a different perspective with passion.<br /><br />For instance, Kendra Kreasy Dean (sp?) recently wrote something about the importance of parents role-modeling "radical" Christianity. I watch the news. I see the word "radical" and how it is used against Muslims. Let's not encourage such nonsense. I am confident that most non-religious people (the folks I mostly choose to hang out with) see "radical Christianity" and think about the idiot who's burning Korans on 9/11. <br /><br />I ask myself, "what does this world need right now?". The answer is never more passion and radicalism. The answer, in my humbly correct opinion, is skepticism, critical thinking, and clearly communicating what we believe to be most accurate. Truly, this will end up being experienced as "being radical". <br /><br />In other words, passion and radicalness are not helpful goals. Passion and radicalness may, however, blossom through the disciplined planting and caring for seeds of critical thinking with an eye for the poorest and most vulnerable of all of Creation. <br /><br />I guess one could say, this issue has long been a bee in my bonnet.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396901667077846319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-67102679974734569482010-09-08T08:39:12.038-04:002010-09-08T08:39:12.038-04:00Brian,
Hmm, I don't think I ever imagined tha...Brian,<br /><br />Hmm, I don't think I ever imagined that I would be lumped together with Gary. I don't quite know how to respond. <br /><br />I wonder if because of my openness to Gary as a person you presume we share a theology? That's OK, I'll stand by Gary. <br /><br />I think I'm flattered. <br /><br />JohnJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06245470576919732592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-62227758308897913932010-09-08T07:42:00.178-04:002010-09-08T07:42:00.178-04:00Just like you to quote an atheist pot-head Brian.....Just like you to quote an atheist pot-head Brian..;) I love Carl. He still lives through his science, art of presentation and tender heart. <br /><br />"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love."<br />Carl Sagan <br /><br />Check out the first quote here (I don't want to offend anyone) http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/carl_sagan.html<br /><br />Why do the good often die too young?David Mcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-33323737294932705962010-09-08T06:58:57.524-04:002010-09-08T06:58:57.524-04:00My faith is in line with David's. My faith is...My faith is in line with David's. My faith is intentionally very different from that of Gary's and John's. The word "intentionally" is extremely important in this case. <br /><br /> I'm cool with people who convince themselves that they are being faithful by attaching personal feelings to truth claims. BUT, I think they are mistaken. What makes me feel angry is when people claim that not convincing one's-self that attaching ego/personal emotion to truth claims makes one "luke warm". I think it makes one wise. Hey, that's just me. Knock yourself out comrades. <br /><br />Below are two quotes that guide my journey with Jesus every day. <br /><br />"Where we have strong emotions, we're liable to fool ourselves."<br />Carl Sagan<br /><br /><br /><br />"Do not seek the truth; only cease to cherish opinions". (Zen Proverb)Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396901667077846319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-74636480351418214802010-09-08T01:11:59.724-04:002010-09-08T01:11:59.724-04:00Gary,
I was looking forward to this installment f...Gary,<br /><br />I was looking forward to this installment from Bruce, to see what he had to write and how you would respond. I was disappointed in both. I think that Bruce touched on what I would lift up in fundamentalists but only lightly. <br /><br />What I respect in fundamentalists, such as you Gary, is the strength of your convictions, based on what you perceive as clear truths. The truths you and I perceive may be different, but your conviction I take as a model. It is important to know what we believe and that we are ready to articulate it, so that others can learn, and hopefully hear in our words truths that God has planted there. Without strength, we become silent.<br /><br />I also take as constructive your explicit reliance on Scripture for your theological principles, and though we draw different lessons, I think the seriousness of our mutual regard for Scripture is important.<br /><br />But mostly, I lift up the passion with which you engage your faith; you are not lukewarm where the Lord is involved. It is that passion I covet. I have passion, and I am learning from my fundamentalist friends to embrace and share my passion with enthusiasm and joy.<br /><br />What disappointed me about your response Gary, is that you failed to lift up what you most value in your theological tradition. Why are you a fundamentalist - and don't tell me that it is because it is true; tell me why you cannot be a Presbyterian or a Methodist. Tell me what you are proud of, and what it is about your beliefs which helps get you through days and nights when meaning seems so hard to come by. Tell me how your faith tradition helps you survive when bad things happen to good people in your life, when bad things happen to you.<br /><br />These are the things I want to know about fundamentalists. <br /><br />JohnJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06245470576919732592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-22643929919259660522010-09-07T22:41:01.422-04:002010-09-07T22:41:01.422-04:00I'm fundamentally progressive. I have very sim...I'm fundamentally progressive. I have very simple-minded views of religion. Thanksgiving and openness to what creation might reveal through study and accidental observation. I'm also intrigued by concepts and feelings such as empathy and love. <br /><br />To believe all the scriptures would be personal heresy. I'm an extremely poor liar, so I can never claim I do. I'm somewhat uncomfortable as it is. <br /><br />Yeah, I'm a pretty poor excuse for a disciple to many. But I have faith in much of what Jesus was credited with as well as much of the biblical wisdom.David Mcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-81611941517922949792010-09-07T11:33:49.037-04:002010-09-07T11:33:49.037-04:00Fundamentalists and "Progressives" are a...Fundamentalists and "Progressives" are all committed to their beliefs. The difference is, they believe different things. They disagree on what is true and false, and agree on very little. The disagreements are so "fundamental" that, in my opinion, their religions are different. They both call themselves Christians, but I don't think the definition of "Christianity" is elastic enough to cover the range of beliefs. There really is such a thing as heresy.Garynoreply@blogger.com