Ship of Fools: For disenchanted theists - what would a fresh approach to church look like?

Thread: For disenchanted theists - what would a fresh approach to church look like? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :

I think the Western church (I'm ignorant about other churches) went wrong far back in history. So much focus on the power of clergy, seeking political power and control of state, an emotionally distant God who intends to send lots of people to eternal torment, forced restriction and belittlement of women, requirement to attend a deeply boring weekly ritual that looks backwards instead of seeking what God is doing new today.

I try to think of whole other ways of gathering to enjoy God, but the church model of sit through a boring clergy-focused meeting and avoid any actual thinking, is too strong.

So I ask -

If *you* are not happy with what church typically is and could start from scratch and totally design afresh a "gathering of the church" what would it look/be like?

Posted by scribbler (# 12268) on :

I think the contemplative/meditative side of spirituality should be further promoted. With so many scientifically proven benefits to meditation in our stressed-out age, the Christian community should emphasize this part of the church's heritage. World Community for Christian Meditation is the only organization I am aware of that is pursuing this.

[ 03. March 2015, 02:06: Message edited by: scribbler ]

Posted by Macrina (# 8807) on :

I think a focus on genuine, organic and compassionate communities of people who really want to be there in totality for each other.

I suppose small, married monastic type communities is what I'd be looking at, where the focus is very communal and mutually supportive.

I could probably live with a lot of what the Catholic church has told me it knows best about my inclinations if it offered ANY meaningful community for the people it says can't marry. It doesn't and that to me is a huge, huge failing.

Posted by Thyme (# 12360) on :

quote:
Originally posted by scribbler:
I think the contemplative/meditative side of spirituality should be further promoted. With so many scientifically proven benefits to meditation in our stressed-out age, the Christian community should emphasize this part of the church's heritage. World Community for Christian Meditation is the only organization I am aware of that is pursuing this.

And

The Julian Meetings

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Macrina:
I think a focus on genuine, organic and compassionate communities of people who really want to be there in totality for each other.

I suppose small, married monastic type communities is what I'd be looking at, where the focus is very communal and mutually supportive.

I could probably live with a lot of what the Catholic church has told me it knows best about my inclinations if it offered ANY meaningful community for the people it says can't marry. It doesn't and that to me is a huge, huge failing.

I think the problem with many Christians is that we see 'the Church' on one side, providing a religious product, and ourselves, the laity, on the other, either accepting the product or rejecting it. This isn't how it should be, IMO.

If you're a Catholic and you want 'meaningful community', then you should be free to create it, with other of like mind, within the constraints of the RCC. I believe it has been done before.

With my Nonconformist sensibility I don't believe that the Church belongs to the priestly hierarchy; it belongs to the family of believers. I know that the RCC is an authoritarian, priest-led institution, but it should welcome and encourage this kind of lay proactivity, not least because it has such a shortage of clergy and its elderly priests can hardly be expected to organise everything.

Unfortunately, Western Christians have become discouraged, and instead of trying to create the churches (or small groups or faith communities) we want to see, we complain about how churches have been organised by other people.

[ 04. March 2015, 11:47: Message edited by: SvitlanaV2 ]

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