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

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Hi Farmgirlerin - so glad to have your voice joining the chorus here! Aside - just curious ... how did you find your way here?

I'm learning how very diverse our UCCan is - I'm heading out to GC42 tomorrow - my first time to such a gathering, and it's a bit daunting but exciting too. As I've been doing all the prep reading, I've been struck by how much is going on in the church that I've never heard a peep about in my own church - or even in my Presbytery. And the diversity is quite striking too - I'm sure that will come more to light for me as I meet more people from across the country in days to come & listen to their perspectives and experiences.

I too encounter moments of frustration in my home church ... things that inspire me sometimes seem of little interest to others. But I've gradually come to just get involved doing stuff that I want to ... and sure enough there are folks who show up! I hope you will find a way forward to balance your lovely existing community & your desire for more.

P.S. - just following up on your comment re Walter Brugerman (or whatsisname!) a few of moderator candidate mentioned him as a favourite author too!
 
Carolla said:
Hi Farmgirlerin - so glad to have your voice joining the chorus here! Aside - just curious ... how did you find your way here?

I'm learning how very diverse our UCCan is - I'm heading out to GC42 tomorrow - my first time to such a gathering, and it's a bit daunting but exciting too. As I've been doing all the prep reading, I've been struck by how much is going on in the church that I've never heard a peep about in my own church - or even in my Presbytery. And the diversity is quite striking too - I'm sure that will come more to light for me as I meet more people from across the country in days to come & listen to their perspectives and experiences.

I too encounter moments of frustration in my home church ... things that inspire me sometimes seem of little interest to others. But I've gradually come to just get involved doing stuff that I want to ... and sure enough there are folks who show up! I hope you will find a way forward to balance your lovely existing community & your desire for more.

P.S. - just following up on your comment re Walter Brugerman (or whatsisname!) a few of moderator candidate mentioned him as a favourite author too!
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Thank you so much! Yes, I generally feel ... Inspired and energized to do things in my church community. And everyone here has been really helpful!! I first heard of wondercafe back when it was a ucc project. In university I was a semi regular visitor. Today, feeling frustrated, I searched it out again, having heard it had become independent.

GC42! Wow! I attend conference annual meetings each year, and get so excited by all the information I want to bring back!
 
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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Or bear with it ... and learn something to pass on ... thus the future is in your hands ... even if you can't do anything at present ... due to confinement and constrictions ...
 
Farmgirlerin said:
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?
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You know life is tough ... to follow the axiom that learning is hell, or a pain in the ass is ...
 
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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Hi Farmgirlerin, welcome to wondercafe!

I am a farmboy, and was a member of a small rural UCC congregation for a few years and know what you are talking about. I also felt and still feel too Christian for atheists and not Christian enough for Christians. But my unorthodox views were always met with respect by my fellow Christians. I even led a total of eleven lay services while I was a member of that rural congregation.

One reason for their acceptance was that most of them were fellow farmers, friends, neighbours, and villagers who had personally known me for decades. I think rural people who have been friends or good neighbours for decades have learned to respect each other despite differing believes and opinions. Also, I have trained myself to express my unorthodox views in terms that are not offensive to my more orthodox fellow Christians.

My faith is experiential. When one speaks form one's spiritual experience rather than doctrinal belief, one is and sounds genuine, and can't really be faulted. I think mystics speak a spiritual language that is universal and transcends doctrine.

Isn't God supposed to be transcendental?;)
 
Hermann said:
Hi Farmgirlerin, welcome to wondercafe!

I am a farmboy, and was a member of a small rural UCC congregation for a few years and know what you are talking about. I also felt and still feel too Christian for atheists and not Christian enough for Christians. But my unorthodox views were always met with respect by my fellow Christians. I even led a total of eleven lay services while I was a member of that rural congregation.

One reason for their acceptance was that most of them were fellow farmers, friends, neighbours, and villagers who had personally known me for decades. I think rural people who have been friends or good neighbours for decades have learned to respect each other despite differing believes and opinions. Also, I have trained myself to express my unorthodox views in terms that are not offensive to my more orthodox fellow Christians.

My faith is experiential. When one speaks form one's spiritual experience rather than doctrinal belief, one is and sounds genuine, and can't really be faulted. I think mystics speak a spiritual language that is universal and transcends doctrine.

Isn't God supposed to be transcendental?;)
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Thank you so much. Everything you say definitely resonnates with my experience and viewpoints. It was a rough day in my faith journey, but it's nice to know that others have such a similar, yet unique position
 
Hi Farmgirlerin ---

Welcome to Wonder Café 2 ---- Your Quote -----But I often feel too Christian for atheists and not Christian enough for Christians. Anyone who can relate? Words of wisdom or advice ----

For me personally I find the statement a little confusing and unclear as to the meaning -----What makes you feel that you are too Christian for unbelieves and not Christian enough for Christians -----are you nervous to talk about your Faith in front of unbelievers fearing rejection ? Do you have low confidence about your Christianity around others Christians ? Can you explain what you mean here to make it a little clearer to understand ----maybe I'm the only one who is confused or unclear by your statement ------but I don't want to post my thoughts until I get a clear view on your statement ----
 
Lol wow, thank you for such thoughtfulness. The phrase is probably a little overdramatic. I simply mean that being an extremely .... Non traditional Christian..... No literalism, big opinions on change in the church etc etc.... Most conservative or even centred church goers find it hard to relate. Similarly, most atheists would like to engage long enough to prove me wrong and get bored or agitated when I find their view valid, but not for me
 
Farmgirlerin

Thanks for your reply ------Your Quote ----I simply mean that being an extremely .... Non traditional Christian. -----what does non traditional Christian believe and follow -----I am asking because I am a Christian who follows Jesus Christ and His word ----so by a Non traditional Christian do you mean that you follow the ways and beliefs of Jesus but not all the traditions of the Church ----for instance different Christian Religions Churches follow different rules and regulations in the workings of their Church that you believe are to rigid and strict and therefore don't participate -----or does it include God--His Word and the Church

Hope you don't mind sharing your thoughts on this ------
 
unsafe, possibly to your distress, I'd guess that farmergirl's beliefs would be along the same lines as mine, Hermann's, Mandella's, etc. (Panentheistic tendencies, generally progressive and enviro-focussed.)
 
Thanks for your reply -----this clears up for me where you stand in your Non traditional Christian walk -----
 
BetteTheRed -----your quote ----unsafe, possibly to your distress,

Sorry to disappoint you but ---I don't have any distress over what others believe -----all are welcome to believe what they want in my view -----in that we have free choice ----it doesn't affect my belief in the least -----God Loves all His human creation no matter what our believe -----It is us humans who don't love God ----God never abandons us ---it is us who abandons God -----

Have a great evening -----
 
And soem use the abandonment of god as a weapon instead of a point of learning ... of course learning is an uncomfortable experience that we are supposed to not talk about ... when people don't like to hear anything but good Nous ...
 
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 feel for you. I am a very liberal progressive Christian who was raised Southern Baptist and live in a small town in Tennessee. I know EXACTLY where you're coming from. Hopefully you can find at least one church nearby that is a home for you, even if it's more the exception in your area. Also, my baby sister (soon 34, but still) is named Erin. How cool.
 
Farmgirlerin said:
:) my church is a loving place. They accept me, if not prepared to engage me in theological dialogue. But they're good people
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It's good to hear you speak well of them Farmgirlerin. Still, I find it sad that they won't engage in dialogue with you. I feel that such dialogue is a part of healthy church life.
 
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