Ecumenical Explosion

Just a quick follow up, in the spirit of Aaron Bon...

2010-02-18T07:52:12.938-08:00

Just a quick follow up, in the spirit of Aaron Bonham, fresh from the Stuff Christian Culture Likes Blog: http://blog.beliefnet.com/stuffchristianculturelikes/2010/02/not-observing-lent.html

I suppose it all depends on how you define the ter...

2010-02-14T10:31:18.937-08:00

I suppose it all depends on how you define the terms, which was in fact my point. If you adopt the use of 'agnostic' that the article I link to describes, then it's entirely fitting that a person refer to themselves as Christian while also acknowledging the fact that we honestly can never know for certain. Of course, if you're making the claim that Christians, atheists, or any other sort of claim about unmeasurable objects can't (or shouldn't) categorize themselves as such unless they know for certain (rather than simply claiming to know for certain), then I would question the validity of that claim (as I believe I do in my post).

I'm not sure that a Christian can be an agnost...

2010-02-14T10:14:52.847-08:00

I'm not sure that a Christian can be an agnostic about the religion, and at the same time refer to themselves as being a christian. What you are referring to would simply be an agnostic that wishes God was real. Many agnostics/atheists wish it was real, and observe the holidays. What you are referring to is called a 'cultural christian' (I think).

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The Atheist Perspective

He absolved us of our obligation and asked us to t...

2010-01-11T04:32:45.112-08:00

He absolved us of our obligation and asked us to take time to pray at home. Can't remember that actually happening before. I do know Archbishop Patrick to speak to and he has always struck me as a thoroughly nice, caring person...he had a very tough act to follow because his predecessor, Archbishop Warlock, is a legend in Liverpool and did a lot of ecumenical work along with his Anglican countrpart Bishop Shepherd.

I have the feeling that people within the Christia...

2010-01-10T10:02:00.799-08:00

I have the feeling that people within the Christian Right have a fear that if some legislation is passed permitting homosexuals, or transgendered persons civil acknowledgement and workplace equality that those rights will then be forced upon the church. As if the government would then force Big Gay Al upon an unwilling congregation as their new pastor.
Then again, there are those who are plain old fashioned biggots. It's hard to distinguish between the two sometimes.

I share those same childhood experiences. Those tr...

2010-01-10T09:57:49.029-08:00

I share those same childhood experiences.
Those tracts, and comments made from both laity and from the pulpit is what drove me to the RCIA program, and confirmation. You have to really dig yourself out of the ignorance fostered by morons with their "hearts in the right place".

How does that whole process work? If it is a sin ...

2010-01-10T07:03:03.520-08:00

How does that whole process work? If it is a sin to miss mass, is the Bishop giving absolution for the sin commited by not attending mass this Sunday, or is he saying that for this particular Sunday it is not a sin?

That blog cracks me up everytime I check it out. ...

2010-01-05T17:02:24.753-08:00

That blog cracks me up everytime I check it out. It's about as funny as stuff white people like...ha ha.

I agree with you. I guess my take on it is growing...

2010-01-03T14:52:25.406-08:00

I agree with you.
I guess my take on it is growing up in churches that are so inwardly focused they believe they are reaching the community by holding service 3 times a week. It's that whole, "They know where we are" sort of attitude.
I too, am not always a fan of the often overly liberal, or maybe complacent with being overly neutral Archbishop. Lately, however, he's said a few things that have made me reconsider my thoughts about him. I used to not care for him at all.

haven't watched the video cuz it's taking ...

2010-01-03T12:24:06.255-08:00

haven't watched the video cuz it's taking forever to load on this slow internet. i'm not a huge fan of crazy eyebrows, though i'm sure he occassionally has something good to say. i agree that sometimes it's more effective to be light in the world than to just project sermons, but i don't think that 45 minute services are for evangelizing, but feeding. i think some churches overly aim to be seeker friendly, leaving the believers lacking in spiritual enrichment. then, those believers get discouraged and break away from traditional church structure to just go out and "be" or start a home group of like-minded friends that won't refine each other. we need a balance. we need fellowship and support of the church to build us up, generate unity, and then we need to extend the love of Christ's community in caring acts like what you're talking about.