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Why Are You Here?


BillM

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No, not on planet Earth, but on this forum? :)

 

In light of a few recent conversations here, I wondered if we would like to share why we are, individually, on this forum?

 

What do you seek here? Are you looking for some answers? Or are you seeking to share your journey and what you've learned along the way? Are you here because you are interested in "Progressive Christianity" and how it is similar to or different from traditional Christianity or other religions? Are you here because you have friends here? Are you here just to explore? Are you here to, perhaps, convert others to your point of view?

 

I'm here primarily because I'm curious about how the Christian religion is changing and might progress in the future. I'm curious about what things it might hold to and what things it might let go of. And I have a few friends here.

 

How about you? Wanna share why you're here?

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Hi Bill,

 

I am here because it seems to me i was placed here, I am here to experience this forum, and for that matter to experience wherever i am, with all that being where i am entails. I am not consciously seeking anything but i will share my experience with anyone that will listen and will also listen to the experiences of others and consider what is shared by them..

 

I am no longer looking for answers which indeed are fine and seem to give some satisfaction and peace. Rather i am playing the part that is given 'me' in this drama we call life with peace, acceptance, and a spirit of gratitude to the creator of this player called Joseph.

 

To me, Christianity is just a word associated with the recorded teachings of Jesus which have been instrumental in placing me where 'i' am now. Progressive Christianity is also just a word, howbeit one that is more dynamic and associated with a process that ensues from those teachings rather than a fixed dogma or doctrine.

 

That's about it for me, I would also be interested in reading why others are here,

Joseph

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God is speaking to me through everyone on this forum and it is nice that He doesn't tell me what to do or how to do it. I don't want to withdraw from the world and I enjoy the people here who are living and enjoying it fully. People just being human letting the Divinity within shine through as it does in all things. Christian or not, I enjoy reading the post and the different directions that the ideas take.

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I came here initially because I was learning about a new approach to Jesus & the Bible that fundamentalism hadn't ever indicated existed. To me this was truly astounding and an approach that I could understand and even accept to some degree.

 

I seeks answers but not answers that I need to take on for myself, but answers that help me understand why some people think some things. I find it all very interesting. Food for thought you may say as I continue to live, evolve, and develop as a person.

 

I have stayed here because I enjoy the courtesy usually extended to and by everyone, regardless of their 'position' or beliefs, and I continue to learn about what makes others tick in regards to God, religion, agnosticism, and atheism.

 

I welcome the diverse points of view and find they all enrich my understanding of 'us'.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I too welcome diversity and seek truth (as in what resonates within me) from where ever it comes from. I believe that there is that of God in all and all can teach one something. I guess I am here because I have spent a lifetime trying be a part of Christianity but never quite fitting in with the creeds and teaching of many established denominations as I always had questions. Questions that were not welcomed in some bodies. Here I can seek my own path and and learn from the personal paths of others. Here I can feel I fit in without an the expectation of conformity and restraint against my own questioning and seeking nature. Here I can grasp for the mystery of God and acknowledge that there is so much I may never know in this life and not be forced into adopting the authorization of opinion of others in power. Here I can just be one with God and say hello to other travelers on their journeys. Here I can witness the work of God in the hearts of others and although God full nature is still my mystery to me it is a view of God I can relate to. What I think I know to day may be seen as foolishness when viewed from the future or it may not but I thank organisations like this forum for allowing me to make that journey regardless of my seeking and learning. Progressive/Liberal Christianity appears to be something I can feel I belong and still seek further understandings that I personally can own and allow others to do the same.

I think that this forum is important as I feel that there may be many like me who just cannot get along with unquestionable dogma and dictates of so called Orthodox views which are really the expected view and opinion of a denomination rather than an actual openness to seeking the truth. Progressive/Liberal Christianity is a place I can feel at home and grow with.

I can look at other groups who struggle with issues of equality, sexual discrimination, hierarchies, creeds and the like and feel I do not have to be a part of it. That I am very grateful for.

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I am here because I am a seeker. I no longer can "conform" to traditional Christianity. I see that this has been evolving in my life's journey for quite some time, but am now able to securely say it out loud. Bishop Spong has become, for me, a mentor - albeit, he has no clue! He, Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Amy Jill Levine, my wife, and a host of other progressive thinkers have helped shape me into who I am today. I once joined the Gideons. I now look back at that and wonder why. I now see that is simply where I was at that time in my life's journey. Recently, on Facebook, I have been confronted with "Priests" of my own tradition - the Episcopal Church - for thinking outside the rigid box of doctrine, dogma, and certainty. I embrace uncertainty with all of my being. I can no longer validate doctrine or dogma simply because it was written in a particular time and space that would relegate it to being ultimate truth for all time. Christianity, nor the Christian tradition does not hold a monopoly on truth. I am here because I want to learn, grow, stretch my boundaries, be compassionate to others and to read the stories of any who seek to articulate their life's journey into words as best they can. I am here because I desire to continue learning to "Love my neighbor as myself."

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Mepkin, Salutations to the Divinity within you. I respect you and your journey. The spirit does not judge or condemn it inspires and I see it is guiding you. I respect your courage to follow. Thank you for the words of enlightenment.

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Soma, thank you for your kind and sincere comments. It is refreshing not to be judged. I look forward to reading more of your posts. Now, how can I upload a photo of myself so others can see my real face?!

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  • 2 weeks later...

PC for me is a welcoming community of free thinkers with whom I can work through my own philosophical, spiritual wanderings and not experience the harsh judgment I encounter in other "Christian" forums.

 

While I no longer identify as Christian myself (I am more closely aligned with Judaism), I come from a Christian background, so I have a tendency to view the world through the lens of my early indoctrination. No matter how far afield from traditional Christianity I veer, I will always come back to those wonderful parables I memorized in Sunday School class.

 

NORM

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Greetings! I am here because I was searching high and low for a forum of Christians that aren't all fundamentalists. I've joined several message boards lately only to be mocked for beliefs that I thought were fairly moderate, but evidently are very liberal to some people. One example is whether a woman can be a minister. To me, all the arguments have been made over and over. I just want to start on a level that doesn't require me to justify my very existence as someone that is allowed to speak because of my anatomy. I know I'm sounding sarcastic, but it is truly mind-boggling. I was very glad to find this forum. :)

 

Jaia

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Just because I no longer believed all the RCC teaching (one for over 55 years) anymore and I could not believe how fundamentalist are so cut and dry , and just tired of them telling me I never was a Christian and I'm going to hell, yes they tell me that, and my RC family doesn't question anything or read the Bible ( like I use to be as well ) , and I love talking and discussing God and the Bible with open minded people. I'm glad I found this forum and Bishop Spong and others of like mind as I felt for a few years here something was wrong with me and I was going to burn eternally in hell along with my husband.

Edited by Luvtosew
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  • 1 month later...

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