tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428685.post115671245862709609..comments2023-09-19T07:50:13.308-07:00Comments on Feminary: happy bloggerStasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10864458542635159512noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8428685.post-1156960998780117592006-08-30T11:03:00.000-07:002006-08-30T11:03:00.000-07:00Feminary (someday hope to address you beyond your ...Feminary (someday hope to address you beyond your user-id),<BR/><BR/>Thanks for taking the time with the book - especially during your busy class schedule. I am sorry I gave the impression that I am at odds with the Church. I know it is subtitle but I try to differentiate between the "institution" of church and The Church her self. It is my love of Church, the gathering of other children of God and the rituals of that community that I hope to unleash from the "institution". We may be saying the same thing but with different words and context.<BR/><BR/>I hope I am calling us to look beyond the old ways of categorizing each other and try to find new ways of being the Church in our world. I use the metaphor of "Email" and "Postal" as a way of looking at the church from two different perspectives. I don't believe one is better than the other but I do think the future is opening up communications with "email" church. So I am not trying to be hateful or destroy the "postal" church, I think this side of the church will continue even as the "email" church evolves (maybe we will even find ways of creating NetFlix opportunities).<BR/><BR/>My critique of where we have been and where we might be now as the church, is only to ask the question are we satisfied with the results OR can we look to the future and see possibilities for Grace beyond our present circumstances. I have been posting something that might help...<BR/>________________________________<BR/><BR/>I liken it to other industries in transition. <BR/>*The music industry sold vinyl and plastic but that is not MUSIC. <BR/>*The movie industry sold tickets but those are not MOVIES. <BR/>*The church industry counts weekly event attendance but that is not the CHURCH. <BR/><BR/>The record companies told us MUSIC would die if the ALBUM died, but they were wrong MUSIC is strong than ever (from .99 downloads to ring tones). The movie industry told us if the theaters went empty MOVIES would lose their funding, but they were wrong MOVIES are stronger than ever (from netflix to youTube). The institutional church says if we propose CHURCH as "Jesus beyond Christianity" or "Grace Beyond Religion" then the CHURCH will cease, but will it be stronger or weaker...<BR/><BR/>"A Heretic's Guide To Eternity" is a survey of spirituality today and a proposal for a bold new way of approaching the future as the Church. <BR/>_________________________________<BR/><BR/>I hope this isn't Hateful but rather seen as Hopeful. It is my love of the Church, Scriptures and Jesus that motivates me.<BR/><BR/>I do believe rites and rituals are central to the community, but they are not the only goal - they are part of the whole and I think we both are looking for the balance.<BR/><BR/>It would be great to touch base personally, please send me an email.spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16806646921755534782noreply@blogger.com