The other posts on his blog have also made for some interesting reading, so I suggest you check it out and do some pondering yourself!
Good luck!
-Andy J. Graves
Andy Graves
December 2nd, 2012 at 2:31 pm
I can “resonate” (for a lack of a better term) with this
conundrum, but from a little different angle. I have been considered a
Christian, by myself and others, since I started walking the path of
Faith. Started in middle school, now in my mid-twenties, I have started
taking a closer look at the beliefs of the people who claim to walk
beside me and have noticed that they differ drastically. I have made
attempts at finding people who believe the same things as I, but like
has been described there really isn’t a group. I believe in a
manifestation of the Judeo-Christian deity, however it’s the details and
the dogmas that throw me for a loop. So, I realize I haven’t really
added anything meaningful to this conversation, but it’s a weird place
to be. Where you like the tenants of a system, but the system itself
doesn’t work–what then? I suppose then, I have a bit of a humanism
flavor in there as well, but I don’t really know what it all means… so I
just keep walking the path that I see fit and hope it makes a
difference!
Reply
Drew Jacob
December 3rd, 2012 at 11:14 am
Andy, this is really helpful to me. Maybe it puts my problem in
perspective by knowing it’s not only the little, marginalized religion I
come out of but also the major world religions that have this
difficulty. Of course, on some level I knew that but it helps to hear it
directly from a fellow seeker.
I’d love to hear about your own Christianity sometime. Feel free to reply here or email me at drew@roguepriest.net if you want to chat.
Thank you for posting.
I’d love to hear about your own Christianity sometime. Feel free to reply here or email me at drew@roguepriest.net if you want to chat.
Thank you for posting.
Andy Graves
December 9th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Hey Drew. Thanks for affirming my journey, it’s hard to keep
going when you don’t really fit in. However, I have come up against a
rock of sorts, in that I’m not sure how to describe “my Christianity.”
At the core of my thoughts/beliefs is the words of the Bible are true as far as operating as a guidepost for life in a general sense.I have found that people take the 2000+ year old words as truth beyond time and place, when that doesn’t make any sense! I feel as if the authors of the writings had a particular place and time that they were speaking to, but there is a common thread that is woven in throughout the entirety of the book itself–probably by design of the men who put them together in the order that they did. It’s a message of humanity, we are “called” to take care of each other rather than be divided over the meaning of words and thoughts of what the deity meant for us to do.
With that being said, I feel like I am more of a deist, where there is a god out there who set things in motion, and is waiting for us to figure it out, while still interacting with creation. There are messages everywhere, hinting that we got it wrong, and we need to do better! I read through the bible and long for a more natural reading, which is where the lack of community comes from. People read it in a similar way, but there is no application of the reading. I would much rather put my life into a realm of service and help, rather than get caught up in the bickering and in fighting about what XYZ means or whatever! I know that doesn’t really explain anything, but it’s hard to put into words what I feel about the faith tradition that has brought me up.
At the core of my thoughts/beliefs is the words of the Bible are true as far as operating as a guidepost for life in a general sense.I have found that people take the 2000+ year old words as truth beyond time and place, when that doesn’t make any sense! I feel as if the authors of the writings had a particular place and time that they were speaking to, but there is a common thread that is woven in throughout the entirety of the book itself–probably by design of the men who put them together in the order that they did. It’s a message of humanity, we are “called” to take care of each other rather than be divided over the meaning of words and thoughts of what the deity meant for us to do.
With that being said, I feel like I am more of a deist, where there is a god out there who set things in motion, and is waiting for us to figure it out, while still interacting with creation. There are messages everywhere, hinting that we got it wrong, and we need to do better! I read through the bible and long for a more natural reading, which is where the lack of community comes from. People read it in a similar way, but there is no application of the reading. I would much rather put my life into a realm of service and help, rather than get caught up in the bickering and in fighting about what XYZ means or whatever! I know that doesn’t really explain anything, but it’s hard to put into words what I feel about the faith tradition that has brought me up.
Drew Jacob
December 9th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
I agree with your reading of the Bible, Andy.
However, I come at it from a different perspective, because I have little use for the Bible as a guidepost. I may read a few parts of it because they’re pretty poetry (Psalms) or a reader suggested them (Gospels), but I get my life guidance elsewhere.
Which brings me to a question for you. Given your view on the Bible, why don’t you take guidance from other scriptures?
However, I come at it from a different perspective, because I have little use for the Bible as a guidepost. I may read a few parts of it because they’re pretty poetry (Psalms) or a reader suggested them (Gospels), but I get my life guidance elsewhere.
Which brings me to a question for you. Given your view on the Bible, why don’t you take guidance from other scriptures?
Andy Graves
December 10th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Interestingly enough, I have wondered that same thing. Just this
past weekend I was searching for information on the Samurai, and their
code–it works too! I think, that for me it’s a social construct that I’m
trying to break free of. Kind of like your conversation about the term
“pagan,” denoting certain things, and the inability to shed that skin of
meaning is often hard to do. Being “brainwashed,” if you will, into the
Christian mindset is hard to overcome, however I feel that I am pulling
away, or at least pulling up towards something else. It’s just a matter
of working on it, and not allowing for social cues to dictate motion!
Drew Jacob
December 10th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
That makes really good sense to me. I find the samurai code very
interesting, though not as universal as the great scriptures. The
Hagakure, for example, often presents parables that end with sickening
morals and commends behavior that is, at best, antisocial. It was
certainly framed for a privileged and honor-bound caste of people who
answer to honor and duty before compassion and kindness.
Although it also contains many impressive lessons about dignity, fortitude and inner peace. I find myself in awe of it when I read it, I’ll admit.
I find it interesting that as a practicing Christian (of sorts) you are trying to break free of the Christian mindset. But I understand where you’re coming from. I really admire your personal journey, Andy.
Although it also contains many impressive lessons about dignity, fortitude and inner peace. I find myself in awe of it when I read it, I’ll admit.
I find it interesting that as a practicing Christian (of sorts) you are trying to break free of the Christian mindset. But I understand where you’re coming from. I really admire your personal journey, Andy.
