[The Jaded Fool]

Hey all...

I have posted here a few times and have really enjoyed the conversations here... However... I really wish there was more of it...

I have been posting a bit over on the Comparative Religions website... and although that has been interesting... it is not very edifying... I spend alot of time being called a heretic, and being accused of being a liar, and a wolf in sheeps clothing, and trying to mislead god's elect...

Which is fine... =) I have learned to live with the lables... given to me by people who are alot like I once was...

But all that being said... It would really be nice to have a place to go to hang out with like minded people... Is there any other places that you would suggest hanging out...

The nature of my job keeps me at my desk most of the day... routing issues this way and that... so I have a fair amount of time on my hands as I am waiting for these issues to come in... it would be wonderful to spend some of that time hangin here or somewhere else where Prog's are...

So... if you have any ideas for me... let me know...

Peace & Love

[JosephM]

The Jaded Fool, on May 14 2007, 01:03 PM, said:

Hey all...

I have posted here a few times and have really enjoyed the conversations here... However... I really wish there was more of it...

I have been posting a bit over on the Comparative Religions website... and although that has been interesting... it is not very edifying... I spend alot of time being called a heretic, and being accused of being a liar, and a wolf in sheeps clothing, and trying to mislead god's elect...

Which is fine... =) I have learned to live with the lables... given to me by people who are alot like I once was...

But all that being said... It would really be nice to have a place to go to hang out with like minded people... Is there any other places that you would suggest hanging out...

The nature of my job keeps me at my desk most of the day... routing issues this way and that... so I have a fair amount of time on my hands as I am waiting for these issues to come in... it would be wonderful to spend some of that time hangin here or somewhere else where Prog's are...

So... if you have any ideas for me... let me know...

Peace & Love

Greetings Jaded Fool,

So lets fellowship.

For starters..... Where are you from? What is the exact nature of your job? Tell us about your first conscious encounter with God. How do you see the world? Use this thread or PM if you like.

Love in Christ,
JM

[The Jaded Fool]

JosephM, on May 15 2007, 09:15 AM, said:

Greetings Jaded Fool,

So lets fellowship.

For starters..... Where are you from? What is the exact nature of your job? Tell us about your first conscious encounter with God. How do you see the world? Use this thread or PM if you like.

Love in Christ,
JM

Hello JosephM...

Thanx for the response... =)

I am from wisconsin... However I was born and raised in minnesota... My mom was a hippie and we did a LOT of moving... =) pretty crazy childhood...

I am an ex-minister turn IT Geek... lol I am the Technical Services Manager for a major corp... I kinda serve as a traffic cop for my staff... keeping them going in the right direction... thats when I am not in meetings...

I will post more later... got a meeting to run to...

Peace

[JosephM]

The Jaded Fool, on May 15 2007, 12:18 PM, said:

Hello JosephM...

Thanx for the response... =)

I am from wisconsin... However I was born and raised in minnesota... My mom was a hippie and we did a LOT of moving... =) pretty crazy childhood...

I am an ex-minister turn IT Geek... lol I am the Technical Services Manager for a major corp... I kinda serve as a traffic cop for my staff... keeping them going in the right direction... thats when I am not in meetings...

I will post more later... got a meeting to run to...

Peace

Hello Again,

Wisconsin is a wonderful and beautiful state. Have been as far north as Oshkosh. Love your cheese.

Perhaps your Mom being a free thinker has contributed to you doing the same. Do you think so?

What brought you to question standard church teachings? And what are some of the things you believe you have received directly by revelation on your path?

Love,
JM

[McKenna]

The Jaded Fool, on May 14 2007, 01:03 PM, said:

Hey all...

I have posted here a few times and have really enjoyed the conversations here... However... I really wish there was more of it...

I have been posting a bit over on the Comparative Religions website... and although that has been interesting... it is not very edifying... I spend alot of time being called a heretic, and being accused of being a liar, and a wolf in sheeps clothing, and trying to mislead god's elect...

Which is fine... =) I have learned to live with the lables... given to me by people who are alot like I once was...

But all that being said... It would really be nice to have a place to go to hang out with like minded people... Is there any other places that you would suggest hanging out...

The nature of my job keeps me at my desk most of the day... routing issues this way and that... so I have a fair amount of time on my hands as I am waiting for these issues to come in... it would be wonderful to spend some of that time hangin here or somewhere else where Prog's are...

So... if you have any ideas for me... let me know...

Peace & Love

I agree! I've been craving the fellowship of like-minded Christians myself

I like JM's idea of having fellowship here

But I don't know where to start without sounding nosy!

Your name is...David, right? I apologize if I'm wrong! Hey there, my name is McKenna, as is quite obvious

What do you think is the best part of being a Christian, and, more specifically, a Progressive Christian? What do you think are the drawbacks/disadvantages (if anything)?

[The Jaded Fool]

JosephM, on May 15 2007, 03:49 PM, said:

Hello Again,

Wisconsin is a wonderful and beautiful state. Have been as far north as Oshkosh. Love your cheese.

Perhaps your Mom being a free thinker has contributed to you doing the same. Do you think so?

What brought you to question standard church teachings? And what are some of the things you believe you have received directly by revelation on your path?

Love,
JM

I am farther north then oshkosh =) and yes we have good cheese... =)

I think my mom's ideals had something to do with my current state of mind... although I find myself leading her now... heh... ironic...

What brought me to me questioning... hmmm... well i studied greek and hebrew in bible college... and being a very logical person... i started to see major differences in translation...

things that could have been cultural slang and such that have now become dogma... and i started to ask myself what was jesus really about...

and the more questions i asked the worse it got... the all gave me plastic seminary answers... grrrrrr...

and so I tumbled into hereticalism... lol...

In my heart I just want to find jesus... to find love and peace...

I strive everyday to be a instrument of love and peace... many times I fail... but it is my heart none the less...

Peace and Love to you all....

[The Jaded Fool]

McKenna, on May 15 2007, 08:21 PM, said:

I agree! I've been craving the fellowship of like-minded Christians myself

I like JM's idea of having fellowship here

But I don't know where to start without sounding nosy!

Your name is...David, right? I apologize if I'm wrong! Hey there, my name is McKenna, as is quite obvious

What do you think is the best part of being a Christian, and, more specifically, a Progressive Christian? What do you think are the drawbacks/disadvantages (if anything)?

Hey McKenna....

The best part... easy... unconditional love and peace... that is what I searched for for years... =)

The drawbacks... hmmm... I guess it would be being a heretic... lol

I know so many good people that are bound up in the brainwashing.... thay have so much to share... but they crush... =(

Because god does not speak through the arts and beautiful things... lmao... but only through the law... ack!!!

OK so I am still a little bitter... hehe... but at least i can recognize it... lol...

Peace & Love

[soma]

A progressive Christian will secure his passions in the reflection of Christ rather than avoiding them. Awakening in an ingenious way his consciousness thus the words religious practice or rigorous practice. Inspiring images and sounds, positive perceptions and Christ consciousness invoked and visualized in the contemplation of a progressive Christian helps us to identify with Christ in such a way as to enable us to be released from the limitations of the Christian ego. The soothing feelings felt in progressive meditation helps us to transform the poisons in the mind to wisdom and to give up our attachment and clinging to our ego so we can merge with pure consciousness. Anyone who touches or reflects on Christ’s mind or consciousness will touch pure consciousness or God
because the man without a Christian ego is wholly within God or surrounded by pure consciousness seeing everything and everyone in God the Father. Having given up all that is ego to concentrate on Christ, a progressive Christian gets covered with God as our bodies are covered with clothes so to touch the person one must first touch the clothing. Similarly, when a person drinks, the liquid passes over the tongue and it is tasted, but if the tongue is covered with a sweat coating then everything taste sweet. This is how it is with the person who gives up his ego. He is coated with pure consciousness so nothing touches him without touching God first so everything gets a divine flavor and becomes spiritual. A progressive Christian will not condemn, but inspiror.

The worst thing about Christianity is the Christian ego that judges and condemns without love or with ego love.

[BrotherRog]

IMO, New Age and Christianity Lite are not the same thing as Progressive Christianity.
Moreover, IMO, Progressive Christians should not avoid appropriate discernment and judgment and even condemnation. Jesus is our model and He rightly condemned the unjust collaboration that was going on between the puppet leaders of Israel with the Roman empire. Similarly, Martin Luther King Jr. condemened the unjust status quo of racial segregation in the U.S. And progressive Christians today ought to be condemening preemptive wars and environmental destruction, etc. While we seek to be a big tent and to be as inclusive as possible, we are not to forget our calling to be prophetic - and that involves judgment and even condemnation. Yes, inspiration is the higher calling, but we fail to be Christian (followers of Christ) if we become afraid to call a spade a spade and to tell truth to power.

[JosephM]

The Jaded Fool, on May 15 2007, 11:16 PM, said:

I am farther north then oshkosh =) and yes we have good cheese... =)

I think my mom's ideals had something to do with my current state of mind... although I find myself leading her now... heh... ironic...

What brought me to me questioning... hmmm... well i studied greek and hebrew in bible college... and being a very logical person... i started to see major differences in translation...

things that could have been cultural slang and such that have now become dogma... and i started to ask myself what was jesus really about...

and the more questions i asked the worse it got... the all gave me plastic seminary answers... grrrrrr...

and so I tumbled into hereticalism... lol...

In my heart I just want to find jesus... to find love and peace...

I strive everyday to be a instrument of love and peace... many times I fail... but it is my heart none the less...

Peace and Love to you all....

Greetings again JF,

Your response is very moving to me. Being an ordained Christian minister myself, I can relate to your story. Love and Peace is what seems to me to be the real gospel. Focusing on that one statement is enough to deprogram all the 'brain washing' we received in Bible College. Sure it seems to take time but your goal is sure in my view.

Love and Peace,
JM

[McKenna]

The Jaded Fool, on May 15 2007, 11:24 PM, said:

Hey McKenna....

The best part... easy... unconditional love and peace... that is what I searched for for years... =)

The drawbacks... hmmm... I guess it would be being a heretic... lol

I know so many good people that are bound up in the brainwashing.... thay have so much to share... but they crush... =(

Because god does not speak through the arts and beautiful things... lmao... but only through the law... ack!!!

OK so I am still a little bitter... hehe... but at least i can recognize it... lol...

Peace & Love

I'm glad you've found what you've been searching for

Meh, the word "heretic" is defined by one's point of view. I personally wouldn't label progressive Christians as heretics...I feel we are closer to Jesus' original intent than a lot of the more conservative factions of Christianity...but I suppose I am a bit biased

Are you still in touch with the members of your old congregations? I ask because you say you know a lot of people "bound up in brainwashing." Do you ever argue over spiritual matters, or try to change each other's minds?

While I've never been through the "brainwashing" experience, I can understand why it would make you bitter...

Peace and love indeed,
McKenna

[canajan, eh?]

soma, on May 16 2007, 01:50 AM, said:

Anyone who touches or reflects on Christ’s mind or consciousness will touch pure consciousness or God
because the man without a Christian ego is wholly within God or surrounded by pure consciousness seeing everything and everyone in God the Father. Having given up all that is ego to concentrate on Christ, a progressive Christian gets covered with God as our bodies are covered with clothes so to touch the person one must first touch the clothing. Similarly, when a person drinks, the liquid passes over the tongue and it is tasted, but if the tongue is covered with a sweat coating then everything taste sweet. This is how it is with the person who gives up his ego. He is coated with pure consciousness so nothing touches him without touching God first so everything gets a divine flavor and becomes spiritual.

Have said it before, but feel the need to say it again -- you're such a sweet mystic, Soma!

Love Jen

P.S. I almost don't want to say this, because I just love what you wrote, and I know it's true, because I feel that way in my own life, but (sorry!) I agree with BrotherRog that a Progressive Christian must sometimes condemn. Sorry! The good news is that one can see Jesus' teachings as both inspiration and condemnation at the same time. He condemned the choices that led people away from being their best selves because he believed in them. He believed in their awesome potential as souls to change and grow and attain wisdom. He set the bar high because he was inspired by others's true nature, and because he wanted to them to be inspired by their own true potential as angels-in-human-form (a.k.a. Christs). So he condemned what hurt their ability to grow closer to God (stubborness, laziness, selfishness, asceticism, blind adherence to the law), and he inspired them to work towards loving fellowship, healing, and forgiveness -- the sweet flavour you've spoken of. Take care!

[canajan, eh?]

Thank you, all, for this lovely thread. It's an inspiring way to start the day.

Love Jen

[soma]

I don't see you guys or Jesus condemning, we all prod and position, but in the end we follow our Lord. During the day we certainly encounter problems, but we are not going to thrive by dwelling on these negatives either. Mentally or physically such self-indulgence only brings on headaches, heartaches and trouble. We just seem to become stronger and overcome the obstacles at hand and direct our thoughts to happiness rather than unhappiness by looking at the whole picture. I don't think the solution is to condemn one negative over another; each is necessary and a vital force for all the possibilities of the macrocosm to become actualized. In the absence of these opposites, the positive and negative, the universe could not hold together and would cease to exist. To go beyond these polarities is to realize Christ consciousness. He rose above the disconnected, the dissociated and became unified with the whole. He came into duality and ressurected to sit with the Father in unity. I also love this thread.

[The Jaded Fool]

Hello All,

I was out of town for a few days... but I am back... I am happy to see a little bit more posting going on... =) Woot...

Thank you all for your comments and posts...

Peace and Love

David

[October's Autumn]

Jaded,

I came here with the need for "fellowhship." The posting is very slow and can be frustrating. I so get some of what I need in my UCC but even there people are extremely busy with their lives and come from many different places.

Keep posting and I'll keep checking back. We may have a thread of two, but that is how it all starts!

[October's Autumn]

BrotherRog, on May 16 2007, 10:01 AM, said:

IMO, New Age and Christianity Lite are not the same thing as Progressive Christianity.

I agree. While I have a "live and let live" atitttude towards religions (to a point) I do think it is important to under stand that New Age and Xianity lite are not the same thing as Progressive Christianity. In fact, my experience with New Age is that there is nothing particularly progressive about it. Some of it has the same drawbacks as fundamentalism and conservativism as it requires one to turn of their brain in order to accept it.

Quote

Moreover, IMO, Progressive Christians should not avoid appropriate discernment and judgment and even condemnation. Jesus is our model and He rightly condemned the unjust collaboration that was going on between the puppet leaders of Israel with the Roman empire. Similarly, Martin Luther King Jr. condemened the unjust status quo of racial segregation in the U.S. And progressive Christians today ought to be condemening preemptive wars and environmental destruction, etc. While we seek to be a big tent and to be as inclusive as possible, we are not to forget our calling to be prophetic - and that involves judgment and even condemnation. Yes, inspiration is the higher calling, but we fail to be Christian (followers of Christ) if we become afraid to call a spade a spade and to tell truth to power.

Once again, I agree enthusiastically.

[JosephM]

October, on May 19 2007, 05:47 PM, said:

(snip)

Quote

Moreover, IMO, Progressive Christians should not avoid appropriate discernment and judgment and even condemnation. Jesus is our model and He rightly condemned the unjust collaboration that was going on between the puppet leaders of Israel with the Roman empire. Similarly, Martin Luther King Jr. condemened the unjust status quo of racial segregation in the U.S. And progressive Christians today ought to be condemening preemptive wars and environmental destruction, etc. While we seek to be a big tent and to be as inclusive as possible, we are not to forget our calling to be prophetic - and that involves judgment and even condemnation. Yes, inspiration is the higher calling, but we fail to be Christian (followers of Christ) if we become afraid to call a spade a spade and to tell truth to power.

Once again, I agree enthusiastically.

Hello All,

Just to share a different perspective here, I must admit that in my view there is no room in Christ for condemnation and yes I know that it is implied in the NT that Jesus condemned but if he did it is in my view a contradiction to his refusal to condemn the woman caught in the very act of adultery. He made no bones that she had sinned and violated a law but Jesus refused to condemn her. So personally I will leave judgement and condemnation to those of you who believe it is appropriate in certain cases. Perhaps to me, regardless of NT writings, it seems inappropriate in all cases to that which I have tasted of Christ. Just an alternative view to consider with no animosity to those who view it differently.

Love and Peace,
JM

[McKenna]

BrotherRog, on May 16 2007, 11:01 AM, said:

IMO, New Age and Christianity Lite are not the same thing as Progressive Christianity.

I'm probably the only one ( ), but I'm not sure exactly what you mean by the first two terms. What do you see as the difference?

What is our role in the world, as Progressive Christians? Now that's something to ponder...

BrotherRog, on May 16 2007, 11:01 AM, said:

Moreover, IMO, Progressive Christians should not avoid appropriate discernment and judgment and even condemnation. Jesus is our model and He rightly condemned the unjust collaboration that was going on between the puppet leaders of Israel with the Roman empire. Similarly, Martin Luther King Jr. condemened the unjust status quo of racial segregation in the U.S. And progressive Christians today ought to be condemening preemptive wars and environmental destruction, etc. While we seek to be a big tent and to be as inclusive as possible, we are not to forget our calling to be prophetic - and that involves judgment and even condemnation. Yes, inspiration is the higher calling, but we fail to be Christian (followers of Christ) if we become afraid to call a spade a spade and to tell truth to power.

Hm, I guess I agree with you. I guess the word "condemn" just turns me off a bit, but I know what you're saying. While I have been trying to feel some level of sympathy for the shooter at VA Tech, for example, I cannot not condemn his actions. It's a balancing act, trying to keep the both the perspectives of compassion and of justice in sight.

Maybe that is our role. Or maybe I'm just rambling

[soma]

Like different fruits on the same tree, some tender, some ripe, some green or immature so also men are considered dissimilar in their different stages of development. The evolution of an individual is noticed according to the actions and character of the person concerned. In the end when all the different fruits ripen, they become sweet and taste the same because they all develop from the same tree. Earrings, necklaces and wedding rings appear dissimilar until inquiry reveals that they are all basically made from gold. God the Father is also in many forms so we see many things, but it is God that is in everything because He is, was and always will be. In the higher realms of existence one has true discrimination because one sees what is eternal and everlasting, and what is momentary and transient. If New Age Christianity, Progressive Christianity or Fundamentalism helps one see the everlasting and evolve, change, and move forward toward God the Father, more power to them, but when fear is used to manipulate and limit one's spiritual experience than discrimination is imortant to free the shackles.