Waxing Theologic

Okay, I can't figure out how else to phrase this...I was born again in 1976.

I feel like everyone should shout out, "Hi, Cheryl!"

I attended fundamentalist, evangelical Christian churches, read the bible (my red leather Scofield Red-Letter Edition with Concordance...I still have it, in its original box) on a regular basis and felt "moved by" the Holy Spirit when I hung out in a small congregation at an Assembly of God (or Pentecostal) church in Salem County, New Jersey. I think it was in Fairton. They were good folks there, they really were. That truly was a "community."

Through a news feed (I think that's the terminology) for the progressive online journal, Alternet, I stumbled upon this article, Why We let an Atheist Join our Church. If that topic interests you enough to go check it out, I'd recommend reading the following article first. Mr. Jensen, an athiest and professor at a Texas university, decided to become a member of the local Presbyterian church. I found the commentary on the article by Pastor Rigby particularly compelling.

I can see both sides of the issue of fundamental Christianity because it spoke so loudly to me at one point and is still a constant, more soft-spoken companion today. It's not "new-agey," my spirituality. It's firmly rooted in Christian philosophy, principles and tradition. It is certainly no longer "fundy!" The fundamentalist church and I parted ways a long time ago, when I was about 25 and could no longer reconcile my identity and world-view with the very narrow definitions prescribed by the rising fundamentalist Christian power, aka The Religious Right. The advent of the mega-churches was my big, flashing red neon exit sign.

It's interesting that something that directly impacted my life; as in attending services, dedicated prayer, scripture study; for such a relatively brief moment in time (less than 1/8 of my years on earth), should have such a lasting impact on my personality and morality. Since I "accepted Christ," I have never lost sight of that. But now I see it through a lens my lovely, fundamentalist Christian in-laws would probably not understand.

It doesn't matter if God is an omnipotent, omniscient being who resides in the firmament, sitting on a gilded throne or if God is the commonality of all creatures on this planet and beyond . It doesn't matter if Jesus Christ really existed as the physical manifestation of God on earth who suffered on the cross in sacrifice for us and rose from the dead 3 days later or if Jesus is merely that kernel inside me that allows me to feel my connection to all life (yes, even as I enjoy my cheeseburger ; ) and allows me to feel the beauty of a sunset or a birth or a tear.

What really matters is the way I treat others and the world we share. What's important is that we learn to share this world we have somehow come to inhabit. What matters is that we appreciate and care for each other and the world around us. And that's not a matter of believing in deeds ("works") over faith. I remember the hypocrisy of organized, fundamentalist religion and choose to live my life in a far more Christ-like manner.

There...another closet door swings wide open!

It's been heartening to me to hear more voices of progressive Christians raised in recent years. Let it be known far and wide that GWB and his cronies do not represent a lot of people who identify as Christian and enjoy the presence of God in their lives. George, Dick and Donald are about as far removed from my idea of the teachings of Christ as possible. Gee, the same kind of goes for "American," too, dontcha think? Why do I have a feeling this is one I'm going to delete in the morning? ; )

If you have an interest in progressive Christianity, you might also enjoy Sojourners.