Cynthia

Wikipedia: Orthopraxy is a term derived from Greek meaning "correct practice". It refers to accepted religious practices and may include both ritual practices as well as interpersonal acts. Some religions, notably Judaism and Islam, are more concerned with orthopraxy than orthodoxy (though the latter may also be considered important). Thus some argue that equating the term "faith" with "religion" presents a Christian-biased notion of what the primary characteristic of religion is. An example of primacy of orthopraxy in Islam: Of the Five Pillars of Islam fundamental to Sunnis only Shahadah (profession of faith) deals with belief, the four others deal with practice. Of course I also found this: Or·tho·prax·y n. (Med.) The treatment of deformities in the human body by mechanical appliances. But I'm thinking she meant the first one!!!

Most excellent Mystic! Thanks for putting concepts into such clear words... very helpful - thank you for sharing!

What's left after fundamentalism???? Gosh - all the good stuff. For many people, fundamentalism is all about rules and figuring out how to make yourself acceptable to God when you fundamentally are not.... PUNT. What are you left with? GRACE, God's unconditional love and desire for you, freedom to find Him every/anywhere. The freedom to learn about other paths/religions - not necessarily to change paths, but to learn about God from a different angle. You get to move from a selfish idea of salvation - it's all about whether I'm in the book to a salvation that comes through you to change the world by touching everyone you touch. You lose the need to force others into your viewpoint so that they don't go to Hell. You can just show God's love, no strings attached. For many people, leaving a fundamentalist background, it is hard to stay in christianity at first. Many explore other paths and then return to christianity. God is everywhere; so's Jesus. Learning more about Him will probably strengthen your faith. I'd try Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Phillip Yancey, Brian McLaren (His first 3 books are loosely fictional about a conservative pastor who becomes more progressive and how he deals with that with his church, friends, family, etc. A Generous Orthodoxy gives you a new framework). It's early, hope I'm not babbling too much, but your question really struck me. The good stuff is left. Really. Godspeed Jerry - I really enjoy our conversations here.

"I am about ready to borrow someone's quote,"We're mad as hell...and we're not going to take it anymore" Wish I could remember who said that" Twisted Sister????

Awww, come on flow - - - "innocent old days that I remember"????? You're not THAT old... reading the OT makes me realize that many of the issues then - deceiptful people who spout theology, politicians, bad people prospering while good seemingly don't - are all the same. I think it is a developmental stage - 40-60ish to see the world as going to hell in a handbasket. We have to take ourselves with a grain of salt just like we take teenagers, 2 y/os, etc. Example, I agree, is the only way. Having a teenager sure keeps you honest!!!! They (along with their pre-adolescent siblings) are quick to gleefully point out ANY discrepancy between what you say and do. It does help the mindfulness.

GELF! GELF! GELF! Sounds great - reading it made me enthusiastic about the possibilities! Most excellent!

I did some reading on Rick Warren recently, he's actually an honorable guy. I think it was on beliefnet. Worth reading... he gave all the money the church ever paid him back, tithes 90%, lives on 10%, involved in poverty/HIV in Africa - his wife first, then him too - touching story about meeting a lay pastor who walked a couple of hours/wk to a post office to read his sermons on the internet - the only teaching he'd ever had - then came back to his village to relaty the message on Sunday. Warren said it made him cry. Anyway, I didn't like the book, and expected to be distainful... ended up impressed. Kinda nice.

I agree with both of you. As for class differences, I don't think it endorses them, but recognizes them. It is not human to not judge/categorize others... this reminds us to be aware of it and to take it into account (call ourselves on our biases) IMO.

1. God is. 2. God is love. 3. God is infinite love. 4. God is infinite forgiving love.

Wow - welcome to the board! I'd recommend the book, "The Heart of Christianity" by Marcus Borg for you and, if he will, your boyfriend. You can listen to his talk about this book on www.explorefaith.org - it was March, 2004 at Idlewild Presbyterian church in Memphis, TN. It's about 30 minutes and may be something you can listen to together easily. There are lots of resources on www.beliefnet.com. Feel free to come here and discuss your ideas and questions - that's what we all love. As for your relationship.... non-grasping.... it's nice to have someone to walk with, but ultimately we all walk alone with God... unequally yoked is a problematic concept... you may find it more so as you expand your beliefs in a less limited God and build a relationshipwith Him. Good luck!!!!!!!

I see ego as sense of self - not pride - first of all. God clearly gets angry and irritated with people in the OT. That isn't possible without a separate sense of self. To both, worship is an act of love and also, esp. in bad times, an act of trust. "Give thanks in all circumstances" - "I have plans to prosper you not to harm you"

If you look to the bible, both the old and new testaments show a God with an ego. Especially the old. . I think that exemplifies the human experience of God. If seems to me that He wants us, or wouldn't have bothered (and probably sometimes wishes he hadn't) - but I don't think He needs our worship. It says more about our state of being than His, and that is likely to be pleasing to Him.

I recommend Scott Peck's, "People of the Lie" - very scary and I finally figured out why I see it that way. It reframes what I think of as fairly typical, if disappointing, human behavior such as selfishness and an unwillingness to consider the perspective of others as a form of evil. On a continum, of course. Anyway - great book. Anybody read anything that really struck them lately????

How about - stupid is unable to learn. Willful ignorance - is the refusal/unwillingness to learn. Rampant today!!!

LOL meek!

Good point Oct. The current breakdown is that the government is those who are powerful. sigh.

Agreed - it doesn't have to be.... sadly, it just is. The W. VA miners were the perfect example. One of the 12 had reported explosive gases in the mine the week before according to his gf. I can't (thank God) imagine feeling that I had to go into a mine knowing that it was unsafe. The tragedy that continues for mining families, Wal-mart employees, etc, etc, etc doesn't get much press. "Nickeled and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich is an excellent book about this. I wish I could see a light at the end of the tunnel. But, at this point, I'm focused on living up to my beliefs in regards to the individuals I come in contact with... learned helplessness has set in on a larger scale although I continue to volunteer and contribute. I'm trying to learn detachment and trust

I generally understand spiritual, not religious to mean focused on God, on a relationship with the divine without getting caught up in the theology and legalism - without letting people define how you can meet God. Just my take on it.

Many bibles have a schedule in the back that gives you OT and NT passages each day. Also, many websites have plans - some will even read aloud to you! Try google for 1 year bible reading - 25 Million results!!!

I believe the correct answer about dogs having Buddha nature is: "Mu" which means Yes or No or Maybe/Maybe not. Can't be too sure about these things!! Actually, I think Mu is the answer to a question based on false assumptions. The modern version is often: Have you stopped beating your wife? Yes - admits you once did No - you currently beat your wife. Mu - never did, still don't - can't answer the question with a yes or no. It actually fits many situations... if you're around people who get it!

New book??? Working title??? Old book???? You're holding out on us!

it sounds better as "moo" or mu with a long u - but apparently it is correctly pronounced with a short u. Not nearly as satisfying to the western tongue!!! check out www.nozen.com - lots of wu wei

QUOTE(des @ Jan 23 2006, 10:35 PM) Hey just curious, but does a dog have Buddha nature? :-) --des We've done this before!!! The well-established answer is "mu"

"In many parts of the world "Christianity" will always be suspect, for good reasons. I want to explore how we can dismantle its use and start afresh with Christ alone." I see your dilemna! I think there have been many attempts to do this - Church of Christ; Church of God; Church of God in Christ; Church of God and Christ, et. al !!!! Unfortunately, all have been thwarted to some degree by allowing humans to participate. The people who have gone on to guarantee "purity" of some sort seem to end up with eugenics or kool-aid. I'd love to find a way around all that too!!!!

Perhaps a religion OF Jesus vs. the current religion ABOUT Jesus? Sounds interesting, but perhaps mislabeled... tell us more!