Hi all...
I've been poking around a bit (still have a lot of reading to do), and I figured I should join and introduce myself before chiming in and contributing to a discussion I found interesting in another folder.
My name is Stephanie, and I live in Austin, TX. I grew up evangelical fundamentalist (Southern Baptist), and was extremely enthusiastic about my faith well into my twenties. My BA is in religion with an emphasis in youth and children's ministry (about all women could do in Southern Baptist churches at that time), and I completed a year of study at a very conservative evangelical seminary. I felt called to ministry throughout my teen years and well into my twenties, so I assumed I would meet and marry a minister or missionary and be his "helpmate," since that was how women ministered in those circles. Happily, that was not to be the case.
I went through a long and traumatic process of losing my faith in my mid-twenties. My faith had been such a huge part of my life that it left a gaping hole -- and I soon began learning about other religions and spiritual practices. Learning about the various branches of Paganism helped me to be more connected to nature and to my power as a woman, learning about Buddhism helped me to understand more about the relationship between my attachments and suffering as well as compassion and social justice, and exploring Sufi poetry helped me to fall in love with God again.....allbeit a God who looked very different from the one I grew up worshipping.
In my late twenties I stumbled upon a New Thought community (part of the Centers for Spiritual Living movement). I was immediately drawn to the idea that all paths were leading to the same destination, the belief that the only separation we can have from God and each other is the illusory one that we believe exists, and the belief that it is important to examine one's personal beliefs and thoughts and release that which is no longer helpful. I am still part of a CSL community, although less actively than before. The teaching that consciousness is cause, and that our physical experiences are simply an outpicturing of our own consciousness doesn't resonate for me as much as it used to.
A few months ago, my husband and I started attending a universally-minded Episcopal community here, and we started doing some reading about progressive Christianity (i.e. Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault), and we enjoy the people in that community very much. I also really enjoy the ritual aspect of the liturgy, even though I don't resonate with all of the content. We're currently in the process of feeling out how involved we want to be where, and how we want to focus our energy on spiritual pursuits.
So, that was longer than I intended it to be....I promise not to always be so wordy. :-) I look forward to getting to know y'all and having many stimulating and thought-provoking exchanges.
Stephanie