JosephM

It does seem to me that the term God has indeed been overused in Christianity. It has been used to conjure up images which to me seem to limit understanding to the traits of men rather than more abstract words that point to that which is beyond such. I prefer words used by Christians that echo even other religions such as "ground of being", "the uncreated", "the unborn", "the nameless" , "absolute reality" , "the One", "the unconditioned", "the great I am", "the Sacred", "the Unity of all Life", "Creator", "Source", "Love", etc. What these things have in common is that they are more or less abstract terms that point but seek no finite definition and are less likely for us to make an idol of. Fundamental Buddhist teachings (the Pauli Cannon) do not mention the word God and many would assume they are atheist yet words like the uncreated, the unborn, etc are part of those fundamental teachings. Christianity also speaks of God as unborn and uncreated. It seems to me that religion unfortunately is largely quarrelsome over the details for which no certainty exists or as Alan watts has said.. "Religions are divisive and quarrelsome. They are a form of one-upmanship because they depend upon separating the “saved” from the “damned,” the true believers from the heretics, the in-group from the out-group. . . . All belief is fervent hope, and thus a cover-up for doubt and uncertainty. Perhaps not all belief but dogma and what is referred to as blind faith based on someone elses word/s seems to me a coverup for some uncertainty which we all must live with. Joseph

Steve, I have read the same conclusions from other writers. I do find personally that focusing on 'no sound' or silence does seem to draw ones attention to the present moment where consciousness exists without thought. Joseph

Hi Deva, Good to hear from you again. There are quite a few threads that try to reconcile Buddhism with tenants of Christian teachings. Myself, i find the language different but the similarity of deep teachings with much in common. Here is one such thread and another and Christianity and Taoism and a long study thread on Taoism as relates to Christianity. I have found that studies of Buddhism and Taoism , Hinduism and other religions have served me well in helping me to grasp some deep common aspects of Christianity that are covered up by the Christian church system but revealed in contemplation of many Christian texts. People like Thomas Merton and other Christian mystics seem to me to come to the same conclusion. I think your time in study of Buddhism will be of benefit to your Christian walk. Joseph

Overcast, It seems to me sometimes ignorance is bliss so to speak. I don't worry about reducing other peoples risk. If and when they are ready the truth will surface and yes it can be painful. After all it is a hard thing to admit that one has been duped all their life. Until then, why not let them believe as long as they do no harm to others. People will not change beliefs until they are ready. You were ready, the pain is now history and a new day dawns for you. In my experience, one cannot come to truth unless one is open, ready and drawn by that which is beyond thought. Who can say why one is drawn and another content to live with blinders on? Joseph

Info from UU on the web indicates..... Although some churches are still liberal Christian, today only about 20 percent of UUs would call themselves Christian. Thus Unitarian Universalism cannot be considereda totally Christian religion. I guess it might be easier to just google "Progressive Church" and add your state or hometown name. If you use the link i gave you fill in state box with state such as "Florida" and User type with the option "Church" then click "search now" For me that resulted in 30 churches registered for Florida. Click on view for any of the names listed below on that page for more detailed data. Hope that helps, Joseph

Overcast, While there are progressive Christian churches with group activity and their own congregations which can be found through searches on our main site HERE ...... I think you will find as Mike, one of our members has said "Progressive Christianity is a path that embraces pluralism and gets away from systematized, exclusive absolutes, and where intellectual honesty is much more likely to be valued." I think for the most part, it is more an individual journey because it seems to me church organizations find it difficult to stay away from systematized exclusive absolutes. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of fine organized Progressive churches that do wonderful group things but i think you will also find a lot of progressive Christians that are not tied to a local congregation and yet do many of the works and follow the recorded teachings attributed to Jesus . Joseph

1. No particular denomination. Attend a Baptist church when my grandkids are performing. No regular attendance but will attend any when the option is presented and convenient. Find most church attendance make me cringe when listening to sermons. 2. volunteer, financial support to orphans , needy .and aging, meditation and consider all of life a prayer including breathing. 3. mostly private unless asked with the exception of this forum.

Overcast, I try not to entertain hypothetical s like if i could go back in time, what would i do... etc To me hypothetical s has no existence in reality. As a progressive Christian , i do not accept everything that is written , whether in the Bible or elsewhere. I take what makes sense to me and and let experience show me the way. If a tenant is conducive to peace and love, i will test it . I find that much of what Jesus is recorded saying has deep meaning for me and has proved to benefit my life by bringing in peace, joy and occasionally some wisdom.. Progressive Christianity is a personal journey. Here is a thread that details what Progressive Christianity means to others here. You might find some of the responses interesting and an answer to some of your questions. I can only speak for myself. Joseph

Rom, It seems to me that while it is true that in reality there is really nothing that requires forgiveness the fact remains that not everyone has yet reached that understanding. The minds conditioned entanglement with 'sins' and and as Soma said, its projection of 'right and wrong' seems to me to hold one in a type of bondage with the resulting guilt and destructive tendencies that are also in my view, self inflicted. Forgiveness of others and self is .... then a most valuable step on ones journey to freedom. I see this step as opening one up to a greater understanding that .... yes in reality, there is nothing to forgive and that understanding if understood correctly can stops the continual cycle of projected sin and the need for forgiveness in ones life. In my own life, i essentially have forgiven others and myself prior to any 'perceived need' and therefor 'so to speak' walk in a continual spirit of forgiveness . (except when i go unconscious back into past conditioning ) Joseph

Welcome to the forum overcast, I agree with Soma's post above . I hope you will feel welcome here. We don't restrict membership here and share many commonalities that also make sense in other religions. I respect your call to be whatever label you wish to tag yourself with including atheist. Perhaps the word "God" has been overused and cornered or coined into a very narrow understanding that makes no sense to you or many of us here. Most here are open to more abstract words that are less limiting and more open to a glimpse into that which is beyond narrow definitions or words. Again welcome, Joseph

Welcome Bobbie, Glad you found us and hoping to hear more from you. Joseph

Welcome Ella Jay, Glad to hear you are enjoying exploring this site. There have been a lot of thought provoking posts over the years. I think most all here have had struggles with rigid mainstream theology in the past . I am most happy now not to struggle with rigid views that others have chosen to cling to. Being blind myself i can relate to such a condition and who can say why one is able to have their own eyes opened while another's is still shut and when that moment comes for each of us?. Again welcome and looking forward to your posts. Joseph

Hello Lucas and welcome. I also see Buddhism in general to be quite complimentaryat least to progressive Christianity though of course the language is quite different. It seems to me there is much wisdom in other traditions if we study them with an open mind. The lack of the use of the word God doesn't to me really subtract anything since that word has baggage attached that seems to point more to an image in fundamentalism than the real thing. Oneness, connective-ness, ground of being , etc seem to me to be more abstract but more accurate when pointing to that which is beyond mere definition. I hope you enjoy your experience here. Joseph

Paul, I would agree that we don't need saving from anything ...... except perhaps our self . True salvation, i think is a state of freedom from a perceived state of lack and insufficiency to use the words of another writer. A freedom from all wanting, needing , grasping, and clinging. Freedom from compulsive thinking and negativity and most important from past and future as a psychological need. Being saved "from a life of hardship" to some may be their definition but to me doesn't offer salvation in the context of my definition above. Many who seem to have it made the most with the least hardship are in no way guaranteed the freedoms i have mentioned. On the contrary, in my experience when i had everything going for me, i was the least satisfied with life. Of course that is just me but i think there are numerous examples of such that we find among the very rich and famous to support my own experience. Joseph

What does the word 'salvation' mean to you if anything?

I don't think the farmer knew the end results at any time but accepted uncertainty as a given because he knew our view was as Paul said limited. The moral of the story seems to me not to prejudge any event as good or bad without knowing the 'big picture'. Living in the present as i believe the farmer was doing doesn't dwell in the future and judge without knowledge, Therefor, for the most part, the only logical response seems to me as concerns the future is "perhaps". Joseph

Hi quest4peace, Perhaps there is nothing to mesh or reconcile. Unless of course one buys "the presentation of the world that evangelical Christianity promotes". Personally i don't buy it. To me, the world is not broken. It is as it is ...... balanced with both light and darkness. Paranoia is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Fear is in my view an emotion induced by a perceived threat. I'm not talking about the fear that is more of an instinctive shrinking back from danger but rather the psychological condition of fear which is divorced from any concrete or immediate danger. It is always of something that MIGHT happen rather than that which is happening at the moment. We cannot cope with something that is only a mind projection. It seems to me, as long as one identifies with with these projected thoughts that are future rather than NOW, fear and anxiety will reign in your body. Perhaps the short solution is to watch your mind...or to dis-identify with it as your true 'self' and perhaps identify more with the watcher of its thoughts.. In essence bring your thoughts to the light.of consciousness. In the words of one teacher.. the goal of most all religions is to 'die before you die'. In doing so, where is fear , anxiety or paranoia. Just some related thoughts on your post. Joseph

Welcome zzmel, I am not unfamiliar with your plight. When we are grouped together whether it is Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism or even a so called cult we have a sense of belonging and there is a certain satisfaction and good feelings that it encompasses. However, feelings and camaraderie doesn't necessarily and most often in my experience equal truth. As Rom indicated , i think few here pay attention to dogmatic definitions. I answer as a Christian but not in the normally understood sense among Christian fundamentalists. Labels just aren't all that important to me. So personally i would not question any label you wish to be known by. I am also a senior in age and although my life is relatively free from pain and i still retain a passion for certain things in life, i am of the persuasion that death has no stronghold or power over me. I seem to have a sense of existence that while i am subject to physical death, I remain. As a human i was accepted coming into the world and i have trust that i will likewise be accepted in whatever form upon leaving. Uncertainty to me is of the thinking mind and i have a choice to live with it and not to entertain such thoughts. Living in the Now allows me to accept that which is. Stay or leave, while one may be preferred, both are acceptable. May you be blessed, if desired, with an equal outlook or persuasion. Joseph

Welcome Firedragon, I would ditto Paul's remarks. PC is not about dogma or rituals though we are each at different points in the journey so i do not take offence of anyone clinging to a particular dogma as long as they are not disrespectful of one who might hold views that differ. Joseph

Interesting question Mow. Personally i don't but would also be interested in the responses of others. Joseph

Barb, You can certainly be a Christian in the eyes of Progressive Christianity. Some fundamentalist would certainly beg to differ but it seems to me that the word Christian first coined in Antioch didn't have all the baggage dogma that sects of the Christian faith have put on it today. It seemed to me it originally just meant follower of Christ. Christ meaning the annointing of God (as to be smeared together with God) which is not a single person in my view. Even Jesus is recorded saying in a prayer to the Father I pray "that they may be one even as one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:" Welcome to the forum and feel free to make a formal introduction with whatever you wish to share about your background in the introductions area. Joseph

That particular feed didn't work for me either. I had our hosting check it out and theresponse was "Thanks. The RSS feed that you mentioned is for the Downloads add-on which is not being used on your community. That's why it's not showing any recent entries in that feed. I have disabled the Downloads RSS feed for you so that it doesn't show on the page any more." Sorry we don't have the add-on and you are the first to ever try to use it. Most here just subscribe to threads or use the view new content function. We are a little behind times here. Joseph

Testing for submissions.

I am in the process of testing RSS here using the google chrome reader tool add-on. I will see if works with Chrome. Joseph

Well i guess it is working as expected now. The response i got was "This is normal, it's just your web browser warning you that this is an XML file rather than an HTML web page. When using a RSS reader tool or software to view the RSS feed it won't show that warning. Try it now Angel as i no longer get your original Rss Absent In Main Website, error Joseph