Yvonne

At the tender age of 50-something, I am applying for seminary. I still cannot believe I'm doing this!

Ooo, I second Paul's choice - Jean Auel's Earth's Children series is pretty good. I also like Diana Gabaldon's Outlander. Depending on how much time you want to spend in fun reading, it could take up your full vacation!

Hello, I would have to echo what Joseph said - I consider prayer to be a connection to God at all times. However, I do set aside time to become consciously aware of the Divine Presence. Sometimes its wordless communcation, but sometimes, if I'm distracted by life, I turn to some of my favorite Psalms or to words of my favorites prayers to gett my rhoughts headed in the right direction.

I was looking for progressive prayers and decided to try my hand at writing one. I'm not a poet, and I've never written anything like this before, but here's my first try. There is a Presence, right here, right now, immediate, intimate a Presence I name God. God – present and active from the beginning of time through the evolution of life, thought, and awareness to the future, full of hope and promise and to me, in this place, at this time God – Source and Ground of all being in a universe abounding in extravagant generosity in life swelling with potential in a heart teeming with love and conviction God – fully engaged in my life in the darkness and sorrow in the light and joy in the “every day-ness” of life I bring my awareness to this Presence in Whom all that exists has being... and through Whom I am connected to all that is... (silent reflection)

I started reading the online version, and Mike, you are correct, its not over my head, but its kind of "heavy" for me. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue reading. Maybe I'm lazy!

I agree.

Definitely - I always wanted to read Tillich but was worried it would be way over my head!

OMgee - I love that!

I'm snowed in - yes! This is Iowa, its winter, I'm supposed to be snowed in. I'm revelling (sp?) in it. Anybody want to make a snow critter with me?

Phil, I can't say who took over, because I don't thing Progressive Christianity is necessary one organization. However, if you want to read another PC author, I recommend Marcus Borg.

I hadn't realized how completely dependent upon this forum I was until it wasn't there. Now that I got my fix, I'm fine.

My sister invited me to attend my hometown church with her and her boyfriend on Christmas, so I thought I would look in on the church bulletin as I haven't attended that church in quite some time. I tried hard not to judge what I found: 6 pages of information, pages of financial reports, pages on doctrine and "rules", committee meeting minutes (mostly to do with finances), and less than 1/4 page on faith. This bulletin accurately reflects the community culture, and it is not atypical for churches in this area. Is it any wonder I can't find community here?

Not sure when this will add to the conversation, but here goes... Being a long-time science fiction/fantasy fan, I, too, am a Trekkie. Two things to note about SF/fantasy as a genre: 1. Jung said that dreaming of "aliens" is a reflection of our need to become acquianted with the "foreign" parts of ourselves so we can integrate them. Often in SF, the alien, whether a good or evil, reflects either the shadow or the anima of the herio. 2. Fantasy quite often has a religious undertones, sometimes quite overt. I read a lot of sf/fantasy and find myself actually looking for the themes of redemption, salvation, resurrection, healing, prophecy, etc. Once in a while, a particularly good author can actually trigger a religious "aha" moment for me. I know, I'm weird, but that's okay with me!

I had to chuckle when I saw this surfing the Web this morning. The forum is called "Freedom in Christ". I think its a step towards PC, but here is one of its rules. "Please do not promote atheism, New Age, mysticism, or any hedonistic or false religion" (The emphasis is mine) Not passing a value judgement, just passing it on.

I am deeply humbled - what a beautiful way to tell, what could have been, a tragic story. Your journey touched me deeply. Although the details are different of course, your journey mirrors my own. I hope you use this in your book. Thank you so much for sharing.

True, and this is something I've been discussing with my "spirit partner" (a good friend who is also PC). I do not say that my path is only right path. I have borrowed a bit from other religions (particularly Budhism and Jewish mystics) I cannot say, however, that all religions are equally valid. Does that make me less of a PC? Pluralism at its best is inclusive, it challenges us, it helps us learn and grow. Yet I cannot help but go back to my previous sentiment - pluralism, if that's the right word for it, at its worst, can cause entropy. Yes?

Just to clarify - I have nothing but respect for other religions - and when I was married to a Muslim, we celebrated our commonalities.

I respectfully must disagree - and perhaps "watered down" was a poor choice of words. I am tolerant. I have very dear friends who worship as Muslims, Budhists, and Hindi. I am NOT saying my brand of Christianity is has the exclusive truth. What I am saying is that I do not feel that I should have to eleminate the terms God, Trinity, or Christ in my worship because I DO believe in God, Trinity and Christ. I think when our worship becomes too ecumenical (is that a better word than watered down?) we lose some of our identity. That is has happened to me. I listened to so many voices, I lost my own. I am not being exclusive or elitist. I am being me.

I have some questions: Is pluralism a positive thing? What if pluralism (in religion) results in a watered-down religion? I'm thinking of a Universalist "church" not too far away. It seems, in an effort not to offend anyone in the congregation, the Sunday service was really bland to me. I am not - definitely not - one who thinks my religion is the only right one. However, I don't think I should water down my beliefs in order to make someone else comfortable in my church. Am I missing something here?

I'm glad this came up, and I like your definitions. My favorite aspect of Progressive Christianity is the acceptance that others' truths are as true for them as mine is for me. I like the respect given to various rites and understandings of the divine. What I dislike is the feeling - whether or not I am the only one to feel it, of relativism (i.e. "no ground rules"). I was getting the idea that all the traditional beliefs of Christianity were thrown out the window - trinity, resurrection, Jesus as the Christ, the efficacy of prayer, etc. I have a great deal of respect for the forum, but I gotta say, I'm not quite as comfortable here as I one was. I've had to take a step back and re-assess my own beliefs and priorities.

I attended yet another funeral today - the 5th member of my extended family, including my own mother, to die within 15 months. This is getting old - and depressing. But something happened to me today. As I sat at mass, I really paid attention to the words - not that I didn't before, but I was really listening this time. Two things struck me: 1) I certainly can no longer claim to be Catholic if that means subscribing to Catholic doctrine. 2) There were an awful lot of PC moments in that mass. Huh. I was surprised and comforted.

Grinnell is about a 2 hour drive from here - that's how we measure distance in Iowa.

Sure has been quiet on here lately - unless I missed some hot conversation. I've been feeling kind of lonely lately, what with being practically being home-bound and all. Our conversations help to fill my day.

First of all, thank you for starting this thread. If nothing else, it is a reminder for me to consciously think of others when I am in the conscious awareness of divine presence in and with all. I'm only just beginning to sort of, kind of, a little bit, wrap myself around the whole prayer of intercession/petition thing. As some of you know, my health and disability has put severe limitations on my life. My prayer request is for some help in day-to-day living and companionship.

Thank you to both for your comments. I was lucky in my relations with people of other faiths - both Christian non-Catholic and outside the Christian faith. I have wonderful friends who are of the Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim faiths, as well as other religions. I think sharing my faith with them has allowed me to ask the tough questions, be a progressive, and deepen my own spirituality.