We are off and running with our book discussion. We had a couple of great comments/contributions last week. Thanks to Sharon and Robin. How about just checking in and letting us know what you're thinking too? There is no trick to it. Just click on comments below If you don't have a google ID, just use the anonymous option and end your comment with your name. Thanks! --Kurt and Jeff
This week's discussion starters:
Diana presents statistics suggesting that, as she says, “American beliefs about the Bible, the book from which many people draw their conceptions of God, faith, and salvation, have changed considerably in recent decades.” (p.51)
Have you experienced in your
congregation, any impact from religious pluralism and diversity among people
and their understanding of Scripture, religion, and spirituality? If so, perhaps you could share and experience
or two.
Pastor Paul expressed his discontent as he reported that he had left the church. (p. 76) Does anything in his statement resonant with you?
Diana describes 2000 to 2010 as “the horrible decade.” She describes five major events, which “revealed the ugly side of organized religion.” How did you react to her assessment? See pages 76 to 83.
Have you observed in your congregation the tension between “religion” and “spirituality” as describe by Diana? If so, how has it manifested itself?
Pastor Paul expressed his discontent as he reported that he had left the church. (p. 76) Does anything in his statement resonant with you?
Diana describes 2000 to 2010 as “the horrible decade.” She describes five major events, which “revealed the ugly side of organized religion.” How did you react to her assessment? See pages 76 to 83.
Have you observed in your congregation the tension between “religion” and “spirituality” as describe by Diana? If so, how has it manifested itself?
http://www.wbez.org/blogs/bez/2012-05/branding-church-does-religious-service-need-be-hip-be-relevant-99652
ReplyDeleteThe interview linked above was recorded on Chicago Public Radio's Eighty Forty Eight broadcast this morning and seems to resonate with the book. Pastor Tim Brown was a seminary classmate of mine and he currently serves the congregation where I was a Ministry in Context student.
I can understand 'Paul's decision top leave the church because (among other things) of the 'bickering over garbage and discussing the replacement of the roof' than focus on mission and ministry. That kind of lack of focus seems to be rampant within congregations these days. It does not take long to become disillusioned. How long can one continue to believe that the glass is half full when the people around us think otherwise?
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago my congregation participated in the Natural Church Development process, and identified 'spirituality' as the main thing that was lacking. Unfortunately their response to that was to offer more social activities that no one attended. Eventually it all fell apart.
Last year the congregation was lead through a visioning process but was unable to see that just adding more to the 'to do' list was not the point. Adding a focus on 'spirituality/prayer' was finally added as an afterthought.
On a positive note, some of the participants of the weekly Bible Study have come to view the Bible in less fundamental/literal terms. While they still hold on to some belief in 'yes this truly happened', they are also able to see the 'truth' without insisting on the history. Using the Book of Faith initiative was a huge help in helping them develop a better understanding of scripture.