I love this post, Ali. It brings up so much I want to comment on, but is still unformed in my mind. However, I do want to say that last Sunday I went to a church with a friend who is "church shopping". She's a "progressive" Christian now leaving the church home I left years ago. So I agreed to go visit some churches with her.
Our first stop was a "reconciling" (their label) church with an environmental, progressive focus. They printed "Summer Solstice" on their bulletin, and, as a congregation, called the elements and talked about the importance of the Solstice on the wheel of the year.
My circuits absolutely fried! I was happy, delighted and not a little confused. I'd never seen such intermingling of faiths. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and like it. During worship and singing the congregation danced a little, there were drums and artists. Their conservation seemed real enough: they recycled all their paper, used mugs for coffee, among other things.
But there was never any doubt that I was in a Christian church. That was actually the focus of the sermon: the labeling of 'Christian' and what it means to those who practice justice, peace and reconciliation.
As I talked to my friend afterwards she and I both felt positive about the experience. She liked the church well enough, as did I, but I told her that though I'm looking for a spiritual community home–and though some aspects of Christian community resonate with me more than Pagan ones do–I'm still a Pagan. My ancestry is and was Christian, so there's a blood connection I feel there. But, I don't know if I could join a(nother) Christian community and not feel just…lonely. Even though I feel lonely in Pagan ones, too.
Ah, well. It's a lot to unravel!
Anyway, this comment has run on long enough! Thanks for this post. Definitely fodder for further thought. :)
The Meadowsweet Commons
Topic RSS 
