Progressive Christianity, moral values, and where I stand before God

[frandroid]

`We are a space-age people. We know if Jesus went straight up, he didn't go to heaven. He went into orbit.' --John Shelby Spong, former Episcopal bishop
hee hee. Seriously, it's a good article on Christianity and refocussing of values.

I want to read Tom Harpur's The Pagan Christ. Seems interesting in light of what some of the Dead Sea Scrolls had to say.

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I have pondered a few times about converting to a religion or two, and after much thought I have turned back unto myself and decided that if I was ever to convert to another religion, I should first look at why I rejected Catholicism. I should justify my rejection of Christianity as a person of European descent and culture, and justify why I want to adopt a religion that belongs to another culture.

In another frame of mind, after been thrown a curve ball by a Christian philosophy teacher in cégep, I have decided to firmly come back into the atheist camp (from agnostic). That should not be seen as incompatible with the previous paragraph. missnegativity recently described herself as an "atheist, observant jew", if my memory serves me well, and I find the label attractive, although suffering from the simultaneous possession and consumption of one's cake.

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Final note: According to Alberuni, a scholar in the employ of Persian Muslim rulers in India (Mahmud al-Ghazni or one of his descendents...) in the 11th century, Buddhism was widespread across the Middle East before Zoroastrianism came and conquered, before itself being almost anihilated by Islam. Witness:
"In former times, Khurâsâm, Persis, 'Irâk, Mosul, the country up to the frontier of Syria, was Buddhistic, but then Zarathustra went forth from Âdharbaijân and preached Magism in Balkh (Baktra). His doctrine came ino favour with King Gushtasp, and his son Isfendiyâd spread the new faith both in the east and west, both by force and by treaties. He founded fire=temples through his whole empire, from the frontiers of China to those of the Greek empire. The succeeding kings made their religion (i.e. Zoroastrianism) the obligatory state-religion for Persis and 'Irâk. In consequence, the Buddhists were banished from those countries, and had to migrate to the countries east of Balkh. There are some Magians up to the present time in India, where they are called Maga. (I don't know if he's talking about the Zoroastrians that fled Persia, landed in Gujurat and ended being known as Parsis... I can't remember which century that was.)

seaya, you oh learned one, do you have any familiarity with such history?

Comments

[fromaway.livejournal.com]

I have pondered a few times about converting to a religion or two, and after much thought I have turned back unto myself and decided that if I was ever to convert to another religion, I should first look at why I rejected Catholicism. I should justify my rejection of Christianity as a person of European descent and culture, and justify why I want to adopt a religion that belongs to another culture.

I think I know what you mean. My heritage and culture are all United Church (Methodist/Presbyterian), but I was raised as an atheist (really as an agnostic, since my parents never discussed God with me at all and I only became aware of their atheism recently). So really, belonging to any organized religion would require conversion for me, although being United Church (or some variety of mainline Protestant, at least) would probably be more familiar to me and cause a lot less upheaval in my family.

I think about converting to other religions sometimes, but I am never sure I could make a deep commitment to a religious faith when my personal and family orientation is so secular. And I don't think it would be respectful for me to offer anything less.

curious.

[estrellada.livejournal.com]

Hey, in your examination of "my rejection of Christianity as a person of European descent and culture", are you going to look at the various Protestant/Orthodox sects?

I'm saying this b/c I grok that you've rejected Catholicism, but is your rejection based on issues of 'general Christian doctrine' or things specific to Catholocism?

Re: curious.

[frandroid.livejournal.com]

I grew up with non-observant Catholic parents, (I think my father felt some guilt for not going regularly going to church, when we'd go to the Christmas mass, he'd give out tons of money.) who were telling me how horrible the Church was, for example telling women to keep having children, even when the doctor was warning that the next pregnancy would be fatal, etc etc. For some theologians, French Canadians (the word Québécois didn't exist back then, that appeared in the 60s) were the chosen people, the Tribe of Israel (!) and they were to be lead to salvation or something. The nationalist movement in Québec has religious roots, and it's not a coincidence that the province's flag bears a cross front an center, which no one seems to protest very much even in the very atheistic contemporary context.

So anyway, I grew up being told that the Church was evil, and that's what I "rejected", the institution as it was in Québec, more of a kneejerk than anything else. I've gone to Church twice in the last 4 years (once to bury my father) and it creeped the hell out of me both times.

As for protestants, the United Church interests me in particular because the NDP is so drenched in it. :] I don't know its specifics though. And, Bill Blaikie, blech.

And then there's UU, but that looks more like a spirituality club. Not that it isn't attractive either.

I think I'll re-read the new testament some time soon, and the Avestas (Zoroastrianism) too if I can find a copy.

[(Anonymous)]

I've known a number of people who've rejected Catholocism. I recently asked a 14 year old boy why he didn't want to go to a Catholic school that mailed him. He didn't want to wear a suit or travel 20 minutes away. No rules or extra trouble, no interest on his part.