Progressive: Too Christian for Atheists, not Christian enough for Christians

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Farmgirlerin

Member
So, as a progressive Christian in a small rural area, life can get a little... lonely? Infuriating? I am surrounded by good people, loving people, on very different spots of their faith journey than I. I love these people as part of my community, my neighbours, friends, even family. But I often feel too Christian for atheists and not Christian enough for Christians. Anyone who can relate? Words of wisdom or advice?
 
Farmgirlerin said:
So, as a progressive Christian in a small rural area, life can get a little... lonely? Infuriating? I am surrounded by good people, loving people, on very different spots of their faith journey than I. I love these people as part of my community, my neighbours, friends, even family. But I often feel too Christian for atheists and not Christian enough for Christians. Anyone who can relate? Words of wisdom or advice?
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Welcome Farmgirlerin.

Life as you describe it sounds lonely. I feel we all want to be around like-minded people.

Have you tried your local UCCanada? There's likely to be other progressive Christians there.
 
Lol, I have been a member of UCCan since confirmation at 12. I LOVE the UCCan. But surely people out there can relate to the idea that just because an organization feels one way doesn't mean that all it's pew sitters are on board quite yet...... we're not ready to accept that the Internet is part of our lives yet, asking them to consider the Bible isn't literal is pretty touch and go.
 
Farmgirlerin said:
Lol, I have been a member of UCCan since confirmation at 12. I LOVE the UCCan. But surely people out there can relate to the idea that just because an organization feels one way doesn't mean that all it's pew sitters are on board quite yet...... we're not ready to accept that the Internet is part of our lives yet, asking them to consider the Bible isn't literal is pretty touch and go.
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They're taking the Bible too literally - in your UCCanada congregation? Wow Farmgirlerin, you really are in a small, rural area.

Yes, I can relate to not seeing eye-to-eye with everyone in my congregation. I feel it's okay if different people in a church believe somewhat differently - so long as everyone is respecting each other and trying to get along.
 
My father, thankfully. I've met a minister or two willing to really go into it. But thus far that covers my extent of it. I try to soak up enough liberalism at Conference Annual Meeting each year to tide me over. This year's going to be tough, lol
 
Farmgirlerin,
Welcome to the paradigm we call life where all people are at peace ... or not ... if they'd rather fight ...

Fighting appears to be a norm although some of us make a farce of it ...
 
Luce NDs said:
Farmgirlerin,
Welcome to the paradigm we call life where all people are at peace ... or not ... if they'd rather fight ...

Fighting appears to be a norm although some of us make a farce of it ...
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While I appreciate the comment, I'm not sure what your point is? That we should never discuss things that bother us? Important ideas we have? That nothing should be shared communally, or that we should have no compassion for each other? Because this comment basically says "there's nothing to be done for it, Life is as it is, we should strive for nothing more"
 
Farmgirlerin said:
While I appreciate the comment, I'm not sure what your point is? That we should never discuss things that bother us? Important ideas we have? That nothing should be shared communally, or that we should have no compassion for each other? Because this comment basically says "there's nothing to be done for it, Life is as it is, we should strive for nothing more"
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On the plus side, it was the most clearly-written post of Luce's I've ever seen. He's a word artist, as it were. You'll see what I mean.
 
Pr. Jae said:
On the plus side, it was the most clearly-written post of Luce's I've ever seen. He's a word artist, as it were. You'll see what I mean.
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Thanks! It's exciting to have your eyes opened to new ways of thinking, new ideas, new... church. That doesn't mean it's always easy or enjoyable. being sloughed off as "just life" is not necessarily enough, you know?
 
Pr. Jae said:
On the plus side, it was the most clearly-written post of Luce's I've ever seen. He's a word artist, as it were. You'll see what I mean.
Click to expand...

Thanks! It's exciting to have your eyes opened to new ways of thinking, new ideas, new... church. That doesn't mean it's always easy or enjoyable. being sloughed off as "just life" is not necessarily enough, you know?
 
Farmgirlerin said:
So, as a progressive Christian in a small rural area, life can get a little... lonely? Infuriating? I am surrounded by good people, loving people, on very different spots of their faith journey than I. I love these people as part of my community, my neighbours, friends, even family. But I often feel too Christian for atheists and not Christian enough for Christians. Anyone who can relate? Words of wisdom or advice?
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I live in a major city and I sometimes feel that way. I'm a pantheist for the most part, leaning more to the "theist" part than some do. My UU fellowship leans rather humanist though is getting more diverse while even the progressive Christian churches around here are a bit too Bible and Jesus focussed for me. I have found spiritual wisdom in a number of paths and sources (Epicureanism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity) and focussing narrowly on just one misses out on too much for me.

UU congregations are pretty variable and some might strike the balance you seek. Alas, you're in a rural area and we tend to be a fairly urban/suburban church so it is probably not an option:(. Still, check out the CUC website and see if there is one close by.

There is also the Church of the Larger Fellowship, an outreach church that links UUs in areas without congregations. They have online services, post sermons and meditations, and generally work to keep isolated UUs and UU-inclined folks connected to the broader movement. They have also been known to help small local groups get started. I personally don't like the idea of "going to church" online but as a way of supplementing your church with some more liberal discussion and ideas, it might help.

I know @Hermann was involved in the UCCan in a small town even though he is really more of a UU at heart. He might have some thoughts or advice.
 
Mendalla said:
I live in a major city and I sometimes feel that way. I'm a pantheist for the most part, leaning more to the "theist" part than some do. My UU fellowship leans rather humanist though is getting more diverse while even the progressive Christian churches around here are a bit too Bible and Jesus focussed for me. I have found spiritual wisdom in a number of paths and sources (Epicureanism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity) and focussing narrowly on just one misses out on too much for me.

UU congregations are pretty variable and some might strike the balance you seek. Alas, you're in a rural area and we tend to be a fairly urban/suburban church so it is probably not an option:(. Still, check out the CUC website and see if there is one close by.

There is also the Church of the Larger Fellowship, an outreach church that links UUs in areas without congregations. They have online services, post sermons and meditations, and generally work to keep isolated UUs and UU-inclined folks connected to the broader movement. They have also been known to help small local groups get started. I personally don't like the idea of "going to church" online but as a way of supplementing your church with some more liberal discussion and ideas, it might help.

I know @Hermann was involved in the UCCan in a small town even though he is really more of a UU at heart. He might have some thoughts or advice.
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Thank you so much for all that advice! I'm really very comfortable in the UCCan, at least as a whole. My congregation is not particularly "up" on the UCCan approach to things yet. That's just geography mostly.
 
Farmgirlerin said:
My father, thankfully. I've met a minister or two willing to really go into it. But thus far that covers my extent of it. I try to soak up enough liberalism at Conference Annual Meeting each year to tide me over. This year's going to be tough, lol
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I can relate to the"soaking up" idea. I soak up missional thinking at seminary to sustain me in my extremely conservative, evangelical fellowship.
 
Walter Brugghemein (soooooo the wrong spelling) has a theory about Sabbath being a time to "re Be" in preparation for the week. His concept is in reference to fighting mainstream society all week. But sometimes I feel like I have to "re Be" before going into the church I love to fight for something new and exciting, you know?
 
Hi Farmgirlerin--You of course are welcome here. Take your time to know others . Keep your Guard up, most here are not bad an should give you a chance to get to know how it works.airclean33
 
Absolutely get it, Farmgirlerin. I'm very lucky in that I've found myself in possibly one of the more liberal congregations outside of Toronto. And even we, and my role, have evolved.

I grew up in a Lutheran church, and always, growing up, had questions, which ultimately, they couldn't answer to my satisfaction. (The one about the probably spiritual destination of my beloved atheist father was, in the end, the clincher.) So when I re-walked into church, the UCC, all angry and defensive and atheist and divorced, with my two kids in tow, I wasn't interested in any BS, just a place to give my kids a stepping stone to some sort of spiritual awareness. I still can't identify as a theist, and identify very much with Gretta Vosper and her position, although I've personally gone down a more Matthew Fox/Ecospirituality/Gaia as Christ path.

I don't know when someone asked me if I'd lead a class or two on progressive Christian beliefs, but it's been a long time. The Tuesday Night Progressive Christianity group at my church, which has never managed a more sexy name than that, meets Tuesdays in our small meeting room (June, July & August excepted). We mainly use LivingTheQuestions material as a core, but we're pretty up to date on their stuff, so I'm leading 3 or 4 weeks on Reza Aslan's The Zealot this fall, and may also spend a week or two on the Non-Violent Communications movement as well. It's a bit flexible, cause I'm a bit that way.

But, the first time I proposed to our Worship Team that we experiment with different versions of the Lord's Prayer, you'd have thought I'd asked them to play rock music as the offering was collected. We've come a fair long way since then; now everyone knows that the Cotter translation that begins "Eternal Spirit, Earth Maker, Pain Bearer, Life Giver" (VU, p. 916) is one of Bette's favs, and many of them know it by heart.

Maybe you'll find the discussions here will feed your soul while you try to move your new congregation. Good Luck! (My first nickname at my beloved home congregation was The Resident Heretic.)
 
BetteTheRed said:
Absolutely get it, Farmgirlerin. I'm very lucky in that I've found myself in possibly one of the more liberal congregations outside of Toronto. And even we, and my role, have evolved.

I grew up in a Lutheran church, and always, growing up, had questions, which ultimately, they couldn't answer to my satisfaction. (The one about the probably spiritual destination of my beloved atheist father was, in the end, the clincher.) So when I re-walked into church, the UCC, all angry and defensive and atheist and divorced, with my two kids in tow, I wasn't interested in any BS, just a place to give my kids a stepping stone to some sort of spiritual awareness. I still can't identify as a theist, and identify very much with Gretta Vosper and her position, although I've personally gone down a more Matthew Fox/Ecospirituality/Gaia as Christ path.

I don't know when someone asked me if I'd lead a class or two on progressive Christian beliefs, but it's been a long time. The Tuesday Night Progressive Christianity group at my church, which has never managed a more sexy name than that, meets Tuesdays in our small meeting room (June, July & August excepted). We mainly use LivingTheQuestions material as a core, but we're pretty up to date on their stuff, so I'm leading 3 or 4 weeks on Reza Aslan's The Zealot this fall, and may also spend a week or two on the Non-Violent Communications movement as well. It's a bit flexible, cause I'm a bit that way.

But, the first time I proposed to our Worship Team that we experiment with different versions of the Lord's Prayer, you'd have thought I'd asked them to play rock music as the offering was collected. We've come a fair long way since then; now everyone knows that the Cotter translation that begins "Eternal Spirit, Earth Maker, Pain Bearer, Life Giver" (VU, p. 916) is one of Bette's favs, and many of them know it by heart.

Maybe you'll find the discussions here will feed your soul while you try to move your new congregation. Good Luck! (My first nickname at my beloved home congregation was The Resident Heretic.)
Click to expand...


Thank you so much. Yes, I'm already feeling better having heard and read some experiences here.
Side note: love living the questions
 
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