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ComradeInChrist

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  1. This calls into question God's perfection. Why did he put American oil under everyone else's land?
  2. I belong to a denomination (United Church of Canada) which is a "large tent" denomination. We have members that range from very traditional to very progressive. I think that as long as you are respectful of other's beliefs you shouldn't have a problem. In our denomination the clergy is often more progressive than many of the congregation. Marcus Borg may be a better model than Bishop Spong. IMHO Borg can look at traditional Christianity and see the symbolism behind the traditional beliefs. I really like his concept of "postcritical naivity.
  3. I have seen God's spirit at work in conservative Christians, liberal Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, even atheiests. Love is what joins us, hate is what divides us. If someone has love then they are a true child of God no matter what doctrine they follow.
  4. IIRC, one of the aspects of God talked about in the Bible is Sophia (Wisdom). That would seem to me to be a feminine aspect.
  5. Right! Christianity isn't like sex OR politics ... it's like sex AND politics. What I mean is (agreeing with you) that our relationship with God is deeply personal ... and the depth to which that relationship touches our hearts moves us to share all that we've experienced with others, who may then want to join us in fellowship (church). In most churches however, individuals in that fellowship tend to have the attitude of "Jesus is my PERSONAL savior." From that viewpoint, a congregation isn't so much a covenental community as much as it is a group of like minded individuals who are all in it for themselves. Like the quote from the first post: <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's my take on things as well. If we have a relationship with God, it can't help but change us. My politics is what it is because of who I am. Who I am is caused by my relationship with God. So it's not either/or, it's both.
  6. Well, in addition to his size, he was also posterior, i.e. head down, but face forward. If you've ever heard of "back labor," that's it, and it's really painful. She labored as long as she could without any drugs or medical intervention, but ultimately had to be C-sectioned. As much as we advocate and were prepared to go the natural route, we do realize there are times when modern technology does have something valuable to offer! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Amen Fred! Our first was born naturally after an great struggle, our second was born by C section after a great struggle. Without the technology neither of our children would be alive and neither would my wife. Natural is good if it is backed up by the appropriate technology. You are entering into the most wonderful, rewarding and frustrating time of your life. I salute you!
  7. This is my experience of God. Every day is a new salvation. My faith in God is a relationship which grows every day. I sometimes think that those who talk about a "personal" relationship with God do not have such. However that is me being bitchy, and it is not my place to judge anyone's relation with God.
  8. Congratulations Fred!
  9. Thanks for reminding me of that Fred. I just got tears in my eyes again.
  10. I assume that there are those in South Carolina who would oppose them. Is it the camps or gas chambers for them? Maybe just expropriation of their property and forced emigration.
  11. My political involvement is not overtly religious. However my faith defines how I view our relationships with the world and each other, and so influences my politics. I am a social democrat because I believe social democracy is the best way to build a society based on justice and compassion, which are the core values of my faith. So the way I see it, the religious left is politcally active, just not in an overt way.
  12. Anyone who lives with a cat knows you don't own a cat. Cats will choose to live with you or not.
  13. I've just started his new book, "Collapse, How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed". It looks very interesting. I loved "Guns, Germs and Steel". I will definitely check the listing for the special.
  14. I think part of the reason we tend to label people is we live in a culture of brands and labels. Almost any character in a television show or movie is a stereotype. Most of the news programs give us 10 second sound bites, and never spend more than a minite or two on a story. Most of talk radio spews nothing but stereotypes. It takes conscious effort to break the conditioning and think about ideas without falling into the old habits.
  15. Well, not force; that's part of the mode of religious-right style politics that we reject. But I would try to argue strongly for my social and political beliefs from the angle of faith. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> As a progressive Christian and a social democrat I can not separate politics from my faith. My spiritual experience makes me the person I am and so has to inform the view I have of the society I would like to see us create. Micah 6:8 says it best to me: What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? To me, justice means economic and social justice (you can't have the legal kind without them), and we are called to DO justices which implies action. To love kindness means to treat others with love and respect. To walk humbly with God means to understand that God may manifest himself to each of us in a different way, and it is not my place to judge someone else's spiritual experience. I believe God calls us to make a difference in this world. I believe the only way we will see the "New Jerusalem" is to build it ourselves with God's help.
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