Introduce Yourself!

[Kaonashi]

I thought this would be a good idea for us Liberals to get to know each other better.
My name is Brandon Cole and I am from Pinson, Alabama. I am a relatively new convert to Liberal Christianity and am loving it every step of the way. Conservatives do not know what they are missing really. Turtle Tracks is the best ice cream ever!!:clap:

[seebs]

I'm seebs. That's not the name on the taxes, but it's what everyone (including my wife and most of my friends) calls me. I'm from Saint Paul, MN.

Ice cream? There was a very interesting ice cream with chocolate chunks with caramel in them, swirled with toffee, but I've never found it since. I'm also fond of green tea ice cream.

Been "liberal" for a very long time; underneath it all, I have plenty of faith in God, but very little in Man; I will not believe something just 'cuz some guy who says he knows what God wants tells me it's so.

[Im_A]

my name is Joe. i live in Leipsic, Ohio right now. i don't know if i am quo say a liberal or not. i sometimes wonder if i am a moderate, or almost middle of the road. for example, to conservatives, i may be a liberal, but to liberals, i may be a conservative. to some my name on here doesn't show myself as a conservative, but that is assumptions, assumptions that i don't know if they are correct or not. in the end, i am a Christian. the one thing i love about this thread is i can pose a question and not be deemed as a heretic, or someone on their way out.

i used to be very conservative. never questioned anything, and just lived like that, but for myself, it failed on me, and my faith had to survive, so wherever i am at now is by the grace of God, and i'll leave the classifcations to human imagination.

[CaDan]

CaDan is ... well ... CaDan!

My given name is Steve. "CaDan" is a private joke with seebs--I don't know how long I will keep it, but I haven't thought of anything better.

I was baptized Presbyterian. I was confirmed Lutheran (old ALC, now ELCA).

My child's faith did not survive adolesence, although I never had a "deconversion" moment. It just kind of drifted away. I became a "Youth Group" christian. That did not survive my freshman year of college when I was separated from the church youth group.

Fast forward to second year law school. I got a job as a law clerk at a white collar criminal defense firm. Our big pro bono project was working on the trial of Fr. Roy Bourgeois, who was being prosecuted from "crossing the line" at the School of the Americas as Ft. Benning. When I told my then-girlfriend (now wife) about it, she decided to go to his church over in Minneapolis.

After a few months, on Easter, she said, "You can either come to church with me or lie to your mother when she asks you whether you went to church." I went to church.

Little did I know that I was falling into the hands of extremely liberal Catholic troublemakers. The faith just kind of rebuilt from that, although it wasn't much.

After a few years, during our pre-marital counseling, our priest gave me a copy of "Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography" by John Dominic Crossan. Finally! Someone asking the sort of questions I asked inside without hostility! Cool! I was soon off devouring all the text and source criticism I could find.

I have been able to put together a faith based on reading the Bible as a collection of writings by people JUST LIKE ME who have experienced something wonderful and are doing the best they can to explain it.

[Gwynne]

Hi! I'm Gwynne and I'm a liberal Christian :D Boy that can be a dirty word sometimes huh?

My childhood was nominally Christian, and I left the faith entirely at 13. Spent the next several years elsewhere and then fell back into it through a fundamentalist/evangelical church. They didn't like me, I questioned things to much. End up leaving again and coming back a couple of years later, this time to a charismatic church. When I was told that I wasn't saved unless I spoke in tongues, I left. Believe in it if you want, but I've read the Bible and I can't personally find support for what charismatics call speaking in tongues. I'm now in the United Methodist church and couldn't be happier. I can believe in Christ, believe what I want about the Bible, ask all the questions I want and no one will tell me I'm going to Hell for it!

Hmmm... ok for the get to know me stuff.... I'm a mom, and a wife. My son is almost 7, I've been married for almost 3 years.

And I'm an odd kind of Protestant... love a lot about the Catholic church, but not enough to become Catholic. I'm the editor of the Prayer Beads and Rosaries topic at Suite101.com and I'm writing a book about Prayer. Frustrated me that the only books I could find on prayer were by conservative Christians, as if the rest of us don't ever pray!

[McCravey]

I call myself McCravey (my wife warns me about putting too much personal information on the net) It is the ancient name of my ancestors (being Scotch Irish and all).

I was a fundy, raised fundy, talked fundy, never knew anything but fundy. I was so fundy and somewhat illogical, that God brought me out through a different process than most of you (dreams and visions).

I was attending a pentecostal church and was frustrated that God would not give me the gift of tounges. As I was reading my Bible I came accross the verse where God offers the gift of Wisdom to any who ask, so I asked.....and the process began.

In the beginning I was very resistant to the process. Everything that was revealed to me I fought against...holding onto what I already knew. I wanted God to add to what I already knew...He didn't, first He tore everything down...then He built.

One dream I had illustrated the process to me. I dreamed that I woke up and stared at the light on the ceiling above my bed, it was off. Suddenly it exploded so brightly that it hurt my head...I said "ouch, don't do that anymore." Then I woke up. As I woke up this verse came to me..."He will destroy His enemies by the brightness of His coming."

My mind was, and had been, His enemy.

I have been looking for the past 4 years for others. I think you guys may be it.

[Toney]

And I'm an odd kind of Protestant... love a lot about the Catholic church, but not enough to become Catholic. I'm the editor of the Prayer Beads and Rosaries topic at Suite101.com and I'm writing a book about Prayer. Frustrated me that the only books I could find on prayer were by conservative Christians, as if the rest of us don't ever pray!

Gwynne, you would enjoy reading Weeds Among the Wheat: Where Prayer and Action Meet (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0877933189/102-8052080-6393736?v=glance) by Fr Thomas Green, SJ.

I loved enough about the Catholic church to become Catholic in 1988 following a profound conversion experience (metanoia (http://www.stjosephdg.org/parish/about/metanoia.html)) while on pilgrimage at a Marian apparition site. Interestingly, I did not go along, at least did not think I went along, to find anything. So for me it was a Road to Damascus. At the time, I was just tagging along with a documentary film crew 'cause I had nothing better to do.

I was brought up Anglican and that was close enough to Catholic for me. After the prilgrimage, I switched and did not miss weekly Mass for over 10 years. I was a 'good' Catholic for a while.

In 1999, I had another conversion experience of a gentler kind: I read Karen Armstrong's History of God, and then I returned to Europe (England) to re-salvage values. I decided the Catholic yoke was too heavy and too legalistic. Phariseeism had, IMO, come full circle in 2,000 years and was beguiling the faithful; a type of prelest, a Russian word for something like spiritual delusion, had replaced agape. Today, I am a non-practicing Catholic who does not want a man-made institution "binding and loosening" my relationship with God. I resist the concept of a deified church.

Anyway that's my Road up to Jerusalem, full of detour and distraction, noisy at times with small self-righteous voices that cause me to mind my step, but usually quiet and pastoral like my favourite flowered lane in the English countryside (see picture).

[WiredSpirit]

...and I would be James.

I came out of a really large, conservative church and I've questioned their "Christian" principals since high school. I haven't joined the church yet, but I attend a mid-size United Methodist Church that is not totally liberal or conservative, but they don't mind listening to new ideas.

[apenman]

Hi Everyone! I'm Alexander.

At age 18 I was working in a bar, the drinking age was 21 at the time, but no one knew how old I was, and I became a Christian while reading "The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey. I was reading the part about the rapture, when I simply believed, and opened my heart. The spirit of God hit me like a lightning bolt, and for years it was like I was pluged straight into heaven.

That was over 24 years ago now, and today I'm pretty much the same rebel that I've always been, my dogs name is even rebel.

Over the years I've attended open brethren churches, and four square, and pentecoastal, but in the end I fugured out that it isn't just about "believing", which is religion.

Just over 10 years ago I met my wife, or I should say, re-met my wife. We had known each other years earlier in a youth group, she had remained a Christian, while I had wandered (God had me on a long leash for a number of years).

So, if we were going to get married, it was an issue of getting back to the Lord, so one day I sat on my bed, looked up at heaven, and said, "I can't follow you again unless I really understand how all of this works." What happened next I didn't expect, it was as if God answered me directly, now there was no audible voice, but there was a communication. It was as if he said, "get back in that Bible and look a little harder this time."

So I did. I discovered the law of Christ, got married, and wrote a book.

[Gwynne]

Gwynne, you would enjoy reading Weeds Among the Wheat: Where Prayer and Action Meet by Fr Thomas Green, SJ.

I loved enough about the Catholic church to become Catholic in 1988 following a profound conversion experience (metanoia) while on pilgrimage at a Marian apparition site. Interestingly, I did not go along, at least did not think I went along, to find anything. So for me it was a Road to Damascus. At the time, I was just tagging along with a documentary film crew 'cause I had nothing better to do.

I was brought up Anglican and that was close enough to Catholic for me. After the prilgrimage, I switched and did not miss weekly Mass for over 10 years. I was a 'good' Catholic for a while.

In 1999, I had another conversion experience of a gentler kind: I read Karen Armstrong's History of God, and then I returned to Europe (England) to re-salvage values. I decided the Catholic yoke was too heavy and too legalistic. Phariseeism had, IMO, come full circle in 2,000 years and was beguiling the faithful; a type of prelest, a Russian word for something like spiritual delusion, had replaced agape. Today, I am a non-practicing Catholic who does not want a man-made institution "binding and loosening" my relationship with God. I resist the concept of a deified church.

Anyway that's my Road up to Jerusalem, full of detour and distraction, noisy at times with small self-righteous voices that cause me to mind my step, but usually quiet and pastoral like my favourite flowered lane in the English countryside (see picture).

That's exactly why I won't join the Catholic church! I see the legalism all too often and all I can think of is Jesus and the Pharisees! But I do love the beauty and the symbolism!

...and I would be James.

I came out of a really large, conservative church and I've questioned their "Christian" principals since high school. I haven't joined the church yet, but I attend a mid-size United Methodist Church that is not totally liberal or conservative, but they don't mind listening to new ideas.

That's what I love about the UMC. You can be as conservative or liberal as you want and still have a church home. They won't give you dirty looks for asking questions and they just love to have an extra person bringing a dish to pass for potlucks!

[Arikereba]

Hello.

If the large Classical Japanese word is too much (I don't know what I was thinking!) then I go by Em.

Chunky Monkey rocks the house.

Ahem. I was raised by nontheists and attended church twice before I was eighteen: the United Church of Canada church (more on them shortly) that my best friend attended, and a Catholic church affiliated with a school I attended very briefly when I lived in France. I have been liberal since I could have political opinions; I became a CNN junkie at fourteen.

Having moved to North Carolina from a very liberal part of Canada at the same time as I became a disaffected teenager, it was natural that I should have that reactionary part to myself. ;) The televangelists were scary, man, and scared me away from religion in general. Christians, to me, were people who didn't like gays or women very much, and wouldn't let you put evolution in textbooks. I was badly educated, and I admit that, but I wish so many people hadn't given me the wrong impression.

The first thing I remember about NC politics was Jesse Helms saying that you shouldn't give money to AIDS research because they brought it on themselves. This was at a time when half my school thought I was a lesbian.

And then there was a guy who I knew only from an internet Sailor Moon message board, of all places. He was religious, and conservative, but at the same time he articulated his beliefs in such a way that I could actually respect them. Much later, after a period of lost contact, we started dating, and I had a reason to find out for myself whether or not this God stuff made any sense. And it did, once I found out that you could be a pinko commie pro-gay-rights freak and still be a Christian. ;) It literally stunned me to discover how simple the Nicene Creed was, and stunned me any more when--later--I realized that I believed it.

My church home is the United Church of Canada. The nearest one is about 2000 miles away now that I am back in NC. This is a problem. I think, as soon as I can get the bus schedules figured out, * I will visit the local Episcopal church. A number of very smart people are/were Episcopalian or Anglican; CS Lewis had a great impact on my theological thoughts; and the more I think about it, the more I develop a sacramental theology.

*digression: why don't they bother to build cities so that things are in walking distance? There are two churches in walking distance if you use a generous definition of walking distance, an independent fundamentalist Baptist church where the women don't wear pants, and a Methodist church that's just too conservative for me. Or, come on people, have buses that run on Sundays! At least it's better than at my parents' house where there are no buses at all...

[Gwynne]

Is the Methodist church a United Methodist church or another of the Methodist denominations? Because while Methodist churches can seem conservative and very laid-back, they are often very open-minded.

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Hello, I am Bizzlebin Imperatoris, formally Imperator Bizzlebin Primvs Antarcticae.

I try to study scripture and early writings to come to the truth. Denomination? I don't really have one. I'm a liberal fundamental anabaptistic charismatic orthodoxal episcopal wesleyan Christian, if that makes any sense.

I was always somewhat fundamental, but I always question things, and no one seems to have the answers. So, I guess I've been liberal all of my life.

[GreenPartyVoter]

I'm Jen. I'm a wife, a mom, a book reviewer, free-lance editor, and most recently a middle school cheerleading coach.

I don't attend a liberal church but make do in a fairly conservative evangelical one that my husband insists on attending. But I keep my mind open and sane by working on my "Would Jesus Love a Liberal?" site and coming here. (Although the notes from people trying to "save" me from my "false faith" are a bit annoying.)

[meebs]

Hi, my name is Louise. I live in the uk. i am a student studying environmental science. im also attempting to join TA next week. (territorial army - a part time section of the main army) i originally wanted to be called jellybean, but its always seems that name is taken so...... :D

i guess im liberal because i beleive in the freedom to choose. I always say, i may not agree with something, but that doesnt mean i should impose my beleifs on someone. I also beleive in doing, not saying. I just need to find a way to help people.

I also beleive the bible was written by people, not God. i think he inspired them, but they put there own opinions in, or words were changed. mistakes were made etc... But it is full of good things too.

I fully beleive in Jesus and what he did though, and try to keep focused on him rather than people ^_^

12:07:2007 EDIT:

Goodness me! I never thought i'd see an old post of mine. I erm... since have deconverted... :sorry:

[Kaonashi]

Jen, excellent website you have there by the way, keep up the good work.

[tulc]

Hi I'm tulc and I'm a spamaholic. No wait that's not this thread! :sorry:
I'm tulc or as my Dad used to call me "Hey freak, get out of my house!" I'm a Jesus Freak, been one since '74. I live in a commune in Chicago, called Jesus People USA. I stopped eating ice cream in 2001.
tulc(doesn't miss ice cream but does miss potato chips :( )

[WiredSpirit]

Is the Methodist church a United Methodist church or another of the Methodist denominations? Because while Methodist churches can seem conservative and very laid-back, they are often very open-minded.
The church I go to is United Methodist and we are an official welcoming congregation as well as a member of Affirmation (http://umaffirm.org).

[Arikereba]

Is the Methodist church a United Methodist church or another of the Methodist denominations? Because while Methodist churches can seem conservative and very laid-back, they are often very open-minded.

One complimentary mention of Focus on the Family is enough for me. ;)

No, seriously, I will go if I can't arrange for transportation elsewhere, but these are a couple factors playing into my decision:

-Churchmanship. My old church was quite similar in some ways to a methodist church, but more formal and "high-church," I'd think, than you'd expect to see in a methodist church. And even then I was wondering if I wouldn't find a better fit with the Anglicans--I've been joking for a long time that I'd become Anglican before long. The methodist church here is quite the opposite.

-Companionship. The people are very nice, but nearly all at least thirty years older than I am, and I'm really hoping to find friends. Not saying that you can't be friends with people thirty years older than me, but they're not likely to share many of my interests. ;) The nearby Episcopal church is close to the college campus where I go to school, and has an active college program.

-Getting lost. Even though this collides entirely with my last paragraph. I can get so shy and anxious sometimes that I wouldn't mind a congregation large enough that I can, if need be, avoid getting assaulted with friendliness. Perhaps that's impossible in the South?

Anyway. On the one hand I feel as if I shouldn't be so picky. But on the other, I'm working crazy hours, and I'd like my Sundays to refresh me rather than coming as an obligation.

I will have to do something soon. I've been to church exactly once in the last four or five month--scheduling difficulties and moving. :(
I expect that things'll look up soon.

[McCravey]

[QUOTE=GreenPartyVoter]a middle school cheerleading coach.

QUOTE] :clap:

:wave: Hi Jen... I am a high school teacher (can't deal with middle school kids...too much energy)

[WiredSpirit]

One complimentary mention of Focus on the Family is enough for me. ;)

No, seriously, I will go if I can't arrange for transportation elsewhere, but these are a couple factors playing into my decision:

-Churchmanship. My old church was quite similar in some ways to a methodist church, but more formal and "high-church," I'd think, than you'd expect to see in a methodist church. And even then I was wondering if I wouldn't find a better fit with the Anglicans--I've been joking for a long time that I'd become Anglican before long. The methodist church here is quite the opposite.

-Companionship. The people are very nice, but nearly all at least thirty years older than I am, and I'm really hoping to find friends. Not saying that you can't be friends with people thirty years older than me, but they're not likely to share many of my interests. ;) The nearby Episcopal church is close to the college campus where I go to school, and has an active college program.

-Getting lost. Even though this collides entirely with my last paragraph. I can get so shy and anxious sometimes that I wouldn't mind a congregation large enough that I can, if need be, avoid getting assaulted with friendliness. Perhaps that's impossible in the South?

Anyway. On the one hand I feel as if I shouldn't be so picky. But on the other, I'm working crazy hours, and I'd like my Sundays to refresh me rather than coming as an obligation.

I will have to do something soon. I've been to church exactly once in the last four or five month--scheduling difficulties and moving. :(
I expect that things'll look up soon.
Our church is a lot different from what you're describing probably because the congregation is mainly college students and young adults. It is located right across from a college campus. Our pastor is in his late 20s. We are quite contemporary but still very liberal compared to most churches in the area.

[Reader Nilus]

I am Orthodox and I am a radical and pacifist. The most life changing book I read was Quotations of Chairman Jesus. It made me a radical. The Gospels are a subversive document and the status quo does what it can to delute them. Other influences are William Stringfellow, Jacques Ellul, John Howard Yoder, Met. ANTHONY (Bloom) of blessed memory, St Nilus of Sora, among others.
I love ice cream, and it is one of my down falls during the fasts.
Jeff the Finn

[GreenPartyVoter]

I'm Jen, mother, wife, book reviewer, and website creator -Dangerously Curvy Novels and It's Time for a Change!-. (Although I admit I don't design them well, I am better at coming up with the content. *l*)

My mother is, at best, a liberal Christian.. barely just this side of agnostic these days. My dad is a secualre humanist, but I think he believes in some sort of universal positive power.

Oddly though, my childhood experience with church was in:

revised Latter Day Saints, strict, Baptist, Advent Christian, and Nazarene congregations, so I have oftern found myself gritting my teeth during various sermons. Still do, as hubby can't bring himself to leave the Nazarene church. He refuses to attend one that isn't a conservative evangelical Protestant denom.

[McCravey]

I'm Jen, mother, wife, book reviewer, and website creator -Dangerously Curvy Novels and It's Time for a Change!-. (Although I admit I don't design them well, I am better at coming up with the content. *l*)

My mother is, at best, a liberal Christian.. barely just this side of agnostic these days. My dad is a secualre humanist, but I think he believes in some sort of universal positive power.

Oddly though, my childhood experience with church was in:

revised Latter Day Saints, strict, Baptist, Advent Christian, and Nazarene congregations, so I have oftern found myself gritting my teeth during various sermons. Still do, as hubby can't bring himself to leave the Nazarene church. He refuses to attend one that isn't a conservative evangelical Protestant denom.

I've been to some real dooosies (too embarassed to mention) :D

[Rev. Smith]

I'm Mark Smith, an Old Catholic priest (bi-vocational since O.C. Priest pays very poorly (works out to about $0.01/hr) - so I have a mediation practice as well.

Mint chocolate chip is the official ice cream of St. Fechin's Old Catholic Church ((being Rector has made me mad with power)

Like a lot of folks coming from a Roman Catholic and Buddhist background (^_^ ) I'm very liberal in social justice issues, and middling liberal in matters of personal morality and probity. For example, while a lot of the debates on this board and some discussions I have with my confessor have got me re-thinking the morality of some gay relationships, it appears to me now that the scriptures proscribe such conduct. Despite this conviction (however soft) I favor gay rights, why? because sin that causes no harm to others, is, and remains between man and God. Since God has promised us that there is only one sin that will not be forgiven, I can't see that it is our place to restrict the lives of people in a society for doing things that have no effect on society.

Likewise I am oposed to both abortion except in the most narrow of cases and the death penalty, sins that effect the soul of the killer and the lives of the victim.

Mostly I value the members of this Liberal churches for their ability to talk too each other rather than at each other.

[CaDan]

I gotta ask: What is an Old Catholic Church?

[tulc]

I gotta ask: What is an Old Catholic Church? Something along these lines?
http://www.americancatholicchurch.net/default.asp
tulc(who is just plain old! :doh: )

[Rev. Smith]

I gotta ask: What is an Old Catholic Church?
The Old Catholic Church began in Utrecht in 1871, after the close of the first Vatican Council. A numhber of Dutch, German and English bishops were locked out of the council when it became known that they would vote against ratification of the doctrine of Papal infalability. There are three distinct O.C. Churches operating in the USA. We are in communion with the Anglican Church, and for the most part are Anglican's who use the Catholic liturgy.

[freespirit2001]

Hey! I'm on the Chesapeake Bay!

I used to live my previous life on the Atlantic coast in central New Jersey.

I'm the only one in my family in the blue collar county we came from, who read the bible every night before I went to bed. My grandparents had some conflicts in their beliefs---my grandmother had a close cousin who was a catholic monk, my grandfather had italian catholic ancestry---but my grandmother wanted everyone to go to St.Pauls Episcopal. My father was a Catholic, but lost his faith in his second marriage to my mother. We became Methodist because a Methodist minister came to the door and asked that we become baptized.

I had gone to the Methodist church as a child---then after my father died, I went to various other central NJ churches that got my Mom upset ( fundies and sicilian pentacosts at the owners of a local meat packing plant) but found a dearly loved bible study where I wanted to get baptized again. I often read the bible outdoors in nature.

.....Now I'm a liberal, out in the country attending the Wesley Methodist Church, or listening to Father Joe Branigan on Sundays---The Country Road Ministries or visiting St.Paul's Episcopal Church, once of the earliest churches established in the state of Maryland.

[BearJim]

Hello all! My name is Jim amd I'm a enigma. By that I mean that I am fundamental when it comes to the core beliefs of Christianity, but I am also a social liberal on many issues. Adding to this is that I am also gay.
Like an earlier poster, I was born again after reading The Late Great Planet Earth. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit a year later. Two years after that I had "those" feelings and began an eight year "struggle" with homosexuality.
I finally figured that, if God wasn't going to cure me like my pastor and others told me He would, then I had no use for Him. Well, He wasn't done with me yet (thankfully).
I discovered a group of independent evangelical gay and lesbian believers and, after awhile, pastored a church for sexual minorities for about five years.
So, here I am- a multifaceted believer. And Moose Tracks is my ice cream of choice!

[CaDan]

Welcome aboard!

CaDan (Ha! beat tulc to it! :))

current music: Thomas Dolby - One of Our Submarines.

[freespirit2001]

( hmmm...just a quiet thought) Is that, (excuse me.....so sorry...CaDan...I hope you won't take offence at me asking here)--Is that "The Whole of the Moon" and nothing but the moon, in your sig???

[apenman]

Hello all! My name is Jim amd I'm a enigma. By that I mean that I am fundamental when it comes to the core beliefs of Christianity, but I am also a social liberal on many issues. Adding to this is that I am also gay.
Like an earlier poster, I was born again after reading The Late Great Planet Earth. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit a year later. Two years after that I had "those" feelings and began an eight year "struggle" with homosexuality.
I finally figured that, if God wasn't going to cure me like my pastor and others told me He would, then I had no use for Him. Well, He wasn't done with me yet (thankfully).
I discovered a group of independent evangelical gay and lesbian believers and, after awhile, pastored a church for sexual minorities for about five years.
So, here I am- a multifaceted believer. And Moose Tracks is my ice cream of choice!I too was saved reading "the late great planet earth". OR, at least, that's when God became extremely real to me. I realize that it's me your referring to above, but it's still nice to say hi.

[CaDan]

( hmmm...just a quiet thought) Is that, (excuse me.....so sorry...CaDan...I hope you won't take offence at me asking here)--Is that "The Whole of the Moon" and nothing but the moon, in your sig???

It's the name of my favorite Waterboys song:


THE WHOLE OF THE MOON

I pictured a rainbow
you held it in your hands
I had flashes
but you saw the plan
I wandered out in the world for years
you just stayed in your room
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon...

You were there in the turnstiles
with the wind at your heels
you stretched for the stars
and you know how it feels
to reach too high, too far, too soon
You saw the whole of the moon

I was grounded
while you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truth
you cut through lies
I saw the lone empty valley
you saw Brigadoon
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon

I spoke about wings
you just flew
I wondered I guessed and I tried
you just knew
I sighed
but you swooned
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon...

With a torch in your pocket
and the wind at your heels
you climbed on the ladder
and you know how it feels
to get too high, too far, too soon
You saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon...

Unicorns and cannonballs, palaces and piers,
trumpets, towers and tenements
wide oceans full of tears
flags, rags, ferryboats, scimitars and scarves
every precious dream and vision underneath the stars
You climbed on the ladder
with the wind in your sails
you came like a comet
blazing your trail
too high, too far, too soon
You saw the whole of the moon !

New York January 1985 / London Feb 1985

On "This Is The Sea", "Best Of", "Live Adventures" and "The Whole Of The Moon"

[Bowling Pin]

hi all!
I feel as though maybe I should duck for fear of being struck by lightening for introducing myself in a forum with "L-word" in the title! Ha!

I was raised in a super fundy church and attended a strict Christian college and never thought to questions all the legalism and judgementalism I found there. But being an adult on my own in the real world disturbed me and made me so frustrated I departed ways with church/God for about 3 years. Then my boyfriend (now fiance, husband in 73 days) took me to his church with him 2 years ago this month--an Episcopal church with a very liberal view on social issues and a very traditional church service style. I fell in love with God again on my knees during those services and my church is my church home and I'm so happy there! I have joined the church, and am the jr. high youth leader and participate in a great discussion group. I see now that you can be a Christian and not be so concerned with fundy views on social living--I get more and more feminist as the years roll by, and I'm sickened by the way the fundy church treats females and the way that the anti-premarital sex movement demeans women in many cases (don't get me started on Dobson). I also have gay friends now, and realize that not everyone is the same but they can still have Jesus in their hearts and thankfully, Jesus loves us in a way humans can't.

I am still a rock-ribbed Republican, and that ain't changing, but I do have a more open mind and find life much more relaxing now that I don't have to be busy judging others and feeling attacked if I disagree or don't fall into line perfectly with some church doctrine.

So yeah, I'm a liberal Christian--my walk with Jesus is better than it has ever been in my entire life and I'm also *gasp* moving in with my fiance this month 2 whole months before the wedding, go to church with a lesbian couple with a baby, and am friends with democrats!:) heehee I think God is bigger than we are, and that is something that is forgotten in the more fundy churches.

[wandering_paladin]

Greetings and blessings to all!

I just recently stumbled upon this site and found this section, I figured it suits the way i fell about things best, so I guess I'll introduce myself. My name is Mike, I'm a college student from California. I was raised an the Episcopal (Anglican) Church, but my family left it due to some unsettling issues with the Church's governing body. Ever since then, I drifted somewhat, tried the whole fundamentalist thing (which didn't work too well) and since then, my walk with God has so far been entirely my own, without a Church or Pastor to speak of. In my home town, you HAD to be a fundamentalist, no matter what. I never could fit in with them, so I never could find a chuch i could comfortably go to. I guess you could say i follow Christian Mysticism, not allowing the established church tell me what to do and how to believe. Still, there are many things I still do myself which are Church related to honor my family. I am a very spiritually sensitive person and have a passion for learning the beliefs and philosophies of other cultures (currently reading Lao Tzu and The Koran). I follow the core beliefs, but I worship God first, not the book, though it is a powerful guide and weapon against the adversary. Well, I guess I've rambled on enough, but I'll definately be a regular poster here.

May the Heavenly Host bless and keep you all

[apenman]

hi all!
I feel as though maybe I should duck for fear of being struck by lightening for introducing myself in a forum with "L-word" in the title! Ha!

I was raised in a super fundy church and attended a strict Christian college and never thought to questions all the legalism and judgementalism I found there. But being an adult on my own in the real world disturbed me and made me so frustrated I departed ways with church/God for about 3 years. Then my boyfriend (now fiance, husband in 73 days) took me to his church with him 2 years ago this month--an Episcopal church with a very liberal view on social issues and a very traditional church service style. I fell in love with God again on my knees during those services and my church is my church home and I'm so happy there! I have joined the church, and am the jr. high youth leader and participate in a great discussion group. I see now that you can be a Christian and not be so concerned with fundy views on social living--I get more and more feminist as the years roll by, and I'm sickened by the way the fundy church treats females and the way that the anti-premarital sex movement demeans women in many cases (don't get me started on Dobson). I also have gay friends now, and realize that not everyone is the same but they can still have Jesus in their hearts and thankfully, Jesus loves us in a way humans can't.

I am still a rock-ribbed Republican, and that ain't changing, but I do have a more open mind and find life much more relaxing now that I don't have to be busy judging others and feeling attacked if I disagree or don't fall into line perfectly with some church doctrine.

So yeah, I'm a liberal Christian--my walk with Jesus is better than it has ever been in my entire life and I'm also *gasp* moving in with my fiance this month 2 whole months before the wedding, go to church with a lesbian couple with a baby, and am friends with democrats!:) heehee I think God is bigger than we are, and that is something that is forgotten in the more fundy churches.

:amen:

[freespirit2001]

It's the name of my favorite Waterboys song:


THE WHOLE OF THE MOON

I pictured a rainbow
you held it in your hands
I had flashes
but you saw the plan
I wandered out in the world for years
you just stayed in your room
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon...

You were there in the turnstiles
with the wind at your heels
you stretched for the stars
and you know how it feels
to reach too high, too far, too soon
You saw the whole of the moon

I was grounded
while you filled the skies
I was dumbfounded by truth
you cut through lies
I saw the lone empty valley
you saw Brigadoon
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon

I spoke about wings
you just flew
I wondered I guessed and I tried
you just knew
I sighed
but you swooned
I saw the crescent
You saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon...

With a torch in your pocket
and the wind at your heels
you climbed on the ladder
and you know how it feels
to get too high, too far, too soon
You saw the whole of the moon
The whole of the moon...

Unicorns and cannonballs, palaces and piers,
trumpets, towers and tenements
wide oceans full of tears
flags, rags, ferryboats, scimitars and scarves
every precious dream and vision underneath the stars
You climbed on the ladder
with the wind in your sails
you came like a comet
blazing your trail
too high, too far, too soon
You saw the whole of the moon !

New York January 1985 / London Feb 1985

On "This Is The Sea", "Best Of", "Live Adventures" and "The Whole Of The Moon"
XOXLOL!!! I really love all your knowledge and cultural finesse, CaDan!!!This is really the best!

[freespirit2001]

...Sometimes we are in danger of losing the stars in our grasp by reaching for the Moon...



I can't mention somethings about music myself....or waking up on the wrong side of scriptures being liberals....or being conservative in disguise as liberals in liberal sheep clothing...just plotting to rabble rouse when the right moment comes....



I hope to be worthy....

[CaDan]

Mike Scott mixes so much imagery in that song, it can speak to you in just about any mood. I like that.

[Nienor]

I'm Megan Peterson, I'm 16 and live in Utah. I've always been fairly Liberal here, I drink caffiene and bad stuff like that.=] But I've been looking at Politics a lot lately and I think that I am a Liberal.

I like any ice cream as long as it doesn't have peanut butter. The wierdest I have ever had was white licorice.

[BeanMak]

Just dropping in to say howdy. I am Michelle from the north suburbs of Chicago. Baptised and confirmed Lutheran, LCMS. Attended an ELCA church as a young adult. Fell into the Church of Michelle in my thirties and thankfully my Lord called me back to him in my 40's. I attend an Evangelical Free church at the moment, but I miss the liturgy. I am orthodox in my major doctrine, open in my minor doctrine, and drive my right wing friends crazy :)

[Rev. Smith]

Just dropping in to say howdy. I am Michelle from the north suburbs of Chicago. Baptised and confirmed Lutheran, LCMS. Attended an ELCA church as a young adult. Fell into the Church of Michelle in my thirties and thankfully my Lord called me back to him in my 40's. I attend an Evangelical Free church at the moment, but I miss the liturgy. I am orthodox in my major doctrine, open in my minor doctrine, and drive my right wing friends crazy :)
I know a lot of folks in your shoes, returned to the Lord throug the outreach of an evangelical or non-denominational Church, but miss the liturgy and sacraments. The advise I give is the same, stay in your Church home but give a few Sundays every year to a Church that keeps the sacraments, there are pleanty of Episcopal, Anglican, Old Catholic and Lutherin churches out there that will welcome and embrace bi-worshiping congregants. The Church of Antioch has a chapel in Ill. and is very liberal, and very welcoming of part time members, and holds an open communion! (So do we, but it would be a LONG commute).

[BeanMak]

Rev Smith, is that the St. George Antiochian Orthodox church in Cicero, IL?

[Mustaphile]

I've tried to start writing a reply to this thread 3 times now, and I can't for the life of me write anything that I think encapsulates who I am. So I'll just say HI! My name is Chris.

[Kaonashi]

I figured I would bump this since there are bound to be loads of new people coming in for ice cream.

[paxi1334]

Now that CF seems to be making some much needed changes, I've decided to officially return

[Gukkor]

I am Gukkor on here, but in real life I go by Sam, and I live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth region of Texas. I like martial arts, learning foreign languages, and playing video games. I've been what I would classify as a liberal Christian for many years now, though I was much less so earlier on (I was baptized about 10 years ago now). Hiya!

[Tenebrae]

Megan, almost completed a Ba in social policy, one more paper to go.
And today just got accepted to do a Bachelor of Nursing.

Favorite ice cream, would be hokey pokey

[TheManeki]

Hi, everybody. My name is Phil. I come from a Southern Baptist background, and attended a private church school up until I was 13 (sometime I'll tell you about the YEC section in science class). I was quite the fundamentalist then, living in my little bubble.

Fortunately, things changed once I got out into the real world. I met some wonderful people from many different faiths and orientations. I started studying for a scientific career, and began to notice that other fundamentalists started looking at me as a potential Fifth Columnist for it. I nearly went all the way into atheism, but then found out that fundamentalists only are part of the Church (down here in Georgia, it seems that all the churches are fundamentalist), and now I'm a liberal Christian.

I haven't "come out" to my parents about my religious convictions (or political ones, for that matter) yet. I'm reading up on things and trying out some arguments on the forums here in preparation, though. I don't want to be dismissed easily, along the lines of "Of course you're a liberal right now -- you're young and think you know everything! When you get older and mature, you'll come back to common sense."

[Izdaari]

Hmm. I've been here a while, but never seen this thread before. Thanks for bumping it. :)

I'm Izzy (a real life nickname as well as short for my screen name) and I'm a... what?

I'm single, married once long ago, no kids. Probably just as well: I'm used to doing things my own way, and taking care of pets is as much responsibility for someone else's life as I want. I'm bisexual, and most of my friends are men due to shared interests, but I tend to date women more.

Chunky Monkey is my favorite ice cream, and this time of year my favorite beer is a New Belgium white ale called Mothership Wit. I'm a lover of science-fiction and fantasy, and a gamer mostly into roleplaying. I used to be a combat pistol competitor, but that got way too expensive. And I'm a martial artist -- I was inactive for a long time, but I'm starting to get back into it.

I suppose I'm a liberal Christian, sorta kinda. That is, though I'm conservative on the Nicene Creed and I tend charismatic, I'm a theistic evolutionist and I'm pretty liberal on stuff like personal morality and methods of biblical interpretation. I'm a huge C.S. Lewis fan, and theologically I'd probably be a moderate Lutheran or Anglican with a bit of Zen and Taoist influence and a fondness for the "Emerging Church" thing, but oddly enough I attend an Assembly of God church. I was out church shopping, and this one just works for me. I go to a "come as you are" evening youth service with rock P&W music. The people are very friendly and loving, and the pastor is a terrific teacher, and not at all a legalist, so I'm very happy here for new.

I've been a member of the Libertarian Party since they were first on the ballot in 1972, and I still agree with most of their platform except for foreign policy. On that issue, and especially in a post-9/11 world, I think they're too dovish and isolationist.

Oh, and I just want to say all you WWMC folks are wonderful! :hug:

[Rochir]

Hi, I'm a liberal Unitarian Christian from Germany :wave:

[Diane_Windsor]

My name is Diane :wave:

I'm so glad that I can post in here again! I too am originally from DFW, but now I am a Montanan. For a little background I will refer you to the following thread: I might have my icon changed (http://www.christianforums.com/t3737829-i-might-have-my-icon-changed.html)

My parents still don't know that I don't consider myself a "orthodox" Christian (and I'm not planning on telling them anytime soon). I actually consider myself a Southern Baptist (cradle SBC here-hence always will be SBC), Roman Catholic, United Methodist, Anglican, Buddhist, and above all, an Agnostic seeker (whew!).

I recently read and now am re-reading John Spong's book Jesus For the Non-Religious and thought it was fantastic! :thumbsup: I don't neccessarily agree with all of what Spong has written, but I like his style and his openess!

I also recently got married to a fellow Texan (YAY!!!!!!), and we are planning to start a family next year! In Feburary we will be taking our "Majormoon", and taking a cruise around the Hawiian islands!!!! I can't wait---I am sooooooooooo excited!!! I am going to Paradise!!!!!! :clap: :clap:

[Pogue]

:wave: I'm little Pogue, and I'm an endangered species: yes, a liberal Catholic.
I don't have an exciting story to share about the liberalness. It's probably just a combination of factors, including being European (we're all liberal here :P ) and having a non-religious father, but a very Catholic mother, and working out that actually, it can be possible that Christians can get along with, and even marry, non-Christians. Plus the fact that 'ethical' issues, like abortion, homosexuality, divorce and so on weren't discussed much at church. Instead we had, and still do have, much more of a focus on private spirituality and personal conscience.
My hobbies include archery, languages, coffee (NEVER decaff. I'm a bit of a fundamentalist when it comes to decaff :mad: ) and listening to bands which very few people have heard of.
And I love you all! :kiss:

[Gukkor]

Hi, everybody. My name is Phil. I come from a Southern Baptist background, and attended a private church school up until I was 13 (sometime I'll tell you about the YEC section in science class). I was quite the fundamentalist then, living in my little bubble.

Fortunately, things changed once I got out into the real world. I met some wonderful people from many different faiths and orientations. I started studying for a scientific career, and began to notice that other fundamentalists started looking at me as a potential Fifth Columnist for it. I nearly went all the way into atheism, but then found out that fundamentalists only are part of the Church (down here in Georgia, it seems that all the churches are fundamentalist), and now I'm a liberal Christian.

I haven't "come out" to my parents about my religious convictions (or political ones, for that matter) yet. I'm reading up on things and trying out some arguments on the forums here in preparation, though. I don't want to be dismissed easily, along the lines of "Of course you're a liberal right now -- you're young and think you know everything! When you get older and mature, you'll come back to common sense."

Ugh, I know how that feels. Really, though, no matter what arguments you put forth, the only real way to show them that it is not just some whim of youth is to hold true to your beliefs even into later life.

[Domenico]

Pogue, deont worry, Im a liberal Catholic too.

Im Domenico, Im 20, and I live in a freezng cold house in Dunedin, New Zealand, with my younger brother ans sister. I study psychology and English, and when I grow up I want to be a dragon. Then I could go around setting fire to stuff and getting a pile of gold and other shiny things. I play rugby and cricket, and am interested in all sports that arent golf.

And I like triple-chocolate icecream.

[meebs]

Well... I've been on these boards for nearly 3 years now. Had no idea that would happen.

Thought i'd repost in here and say hello. Things have clearly changed since I posted here long ago (http://www.christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=9467206&postcount=15)

Somehow drawn back here to my old haunts since this area of the forums re-opened :P

^_^

[OceanAngel]

Hi, my name is Louise. I live in the uk. i am a student studying environmental science. im also attempting to join TA next week. (territorial army - a part time section of the main army) i originally wanted to be called jellybean, but its always seems that name is taken so...... :D

i guess im liberal because i beleive in the freedom to choose. I always say, i may not agree with something, but that doesnt mean i should impose my beleifs on someone. I also beleive in doing, not saying. I just need to find a way to help people.

I also beleive the bible was written by people, not God. i think he inspired them, but they put there own opinions in, or words were changed. mistakes were made etc... But it is full of good things too.

I fully beleive in Jesus and what he did though, and try to keep focused on him rather than people ^_^

12:07:2007 EDIT:

Goodness me! I never thought i'd see an old post of mine. I erm... since have deconverted... :sorry:




where it all go wrong? :P :P :P :P

*hides*

[meebs]

where it all go wrong? :P :P :P :P

*hides*

Things change :P

[OceanAngel]

Hi.

My name is Ashley, I'm from Jolly Olde England.

I'm quite liberal and Christian, I enjoy helping others.

my hobbies include: Music, chatting and being random

Oh, and I'm running for mod and I;ve been here for years on and off.

[OceanAngel]

Things change :P

And sometimes for the better.


but sadly in this case...............................:P :P :P :P :P

[DailyBlessings]

Things change :PAnd we must change with them! But, don't be hasty to discard the past, especially your own. Everything that happens to us becomes a part of us.

[meebs]

And we must change with them! But, don't be hasty to discard the past, especially your own. Everything that happens to us becomes a part of us.

Yeah im learning that :)

Thanks :)

[Teshi]

Hiya, I'm Teshi. Not my given name, but it is a real-life nickname. I was raised Catholic and I still am one. Never really fell away from it, although my participation level has waxed and waned. Waxing now...I'm a full-time volunteer with some friars; they provide room and board, and send me off on do-gooding assignments. It's been an extremely enriching spiritual experience.

Politically I'm a raginging leftist and I suppose I'd be considered a liberal Catholic too, but it's more of a Maryknoll kind of liberalism than a Danube Seven kind of liberalism. Doctrinally orthodox but liberal in application of the doctrine, I guess you'd say.

[Cosmic Charlie]

My handle is cosmic charlie, my name is none of your business.

(I've had trouble in the past on the internet including having my ID ripped before it was even a crime)

I'm a deadhead.

(I put myself through college following the boys around for a couple of summers selling silked screeen T-shirts)

I teach.

I'm an independent employee running an incorported consulting practice.

I'm a liberal because nothing nothing any conservative I ever heard, met, read or was friends with ever made any spiritual sense to me.

(I'm a screaming liberal because it annoy conservatives when liberals don't defend their veiws but attack with them)

My favorate quote:

The most frightening thing to a conservative is a liberal with a gun. Not because a gun is a deadly weapon but because a liberal with gun runs agaisnt the assumptions of the conservative's world view. If a liberal hasa a gun then maybe everything the know is wrong.


I said that.

[CaDan]

Hey man.

[Izdaari]

Good to meet you, Cosmic Charlie. Welcome! :hug:


My favorate quote:

The most frightening thing to a conservative is a liberal with a gun. Not because a gun is a deadly weapon but because a liberal with gun runs agaisnt the assumptions of the conservative's world view. If a liberal hasa a gun then maybe everything the know is wrong.


I said that.I'm not exactly a conservative (neolibertarian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolibertarianism) would be the accurate label), but I often ally with conservatives and I'm a gun rights activist (full time once, very part time now). Personally, I always think it's great when liberals embrace gun ownership. I'll always take yes for an answer, especially on Bill of Rights stuff.

[Joykins]

I'm Joy.

Like some of you, I was raised in the US in the conservative evangelical tradition. As I grew older I found a lot of the faith of my childhood didn't add up with reality as I knew it, and as I poked more I found a lot of the time it didn't even add up with the Bible as I studied it, and as I poked more, I found it didn't always line up with what my true belief of THE GOOD was.

Liberal/postmodern theology (as popularized by those like Borg and Maclaren) seemed a lot closer...not perfect, but closer. However, outside WWMC I have not really participated in a liberal faith community.

I still attend a conservative evangelical church. I am slow to make changes. I am ecumenically minded--I see a lot to admire in most of the Christian traditions, even the conservative evangelical one. My husband is still a conservative evangelical and I worship with him out of conviction that a family ought to worship together. It is hard to talk to him about my beliefs because I am skeered.

[Aquamarine81]

Hi all. :wave:
Although I'm not new here -- I registered here over a year ago -- I've been gone for a while and just came back several days ago. I'm not really liberal politically, among Christians I would be considered quite liberal spiritually.
Speaking of which -- I'm not even sure what I believe now. I was raised in a Baptist home and still a member of a Baptist church, but don't believe much of their doctrine. About 8 or 9 months ago I started reexamining my faith and decided I'm not really sure what to believe. I would still consider myself to be a Christian, but not really sure. Hence the "Seeker" icon. :)
Just wanted to stop in and say hi! Hope to be stopping by more often!

[Cosmic Charlie]

Good to meet you, Cosmic Charlie. Welcome! :hug:

I'm not exactly a conservative (neolibertarian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolibertarianism) would be the accurate label), but I often ally with conservatives and I'm a gun rights activist (full time once, very part time now). Personally, I always think it's great when liberals embrace gun ownership. I'll always take yes for an answer, especially on Bill of Rights stuff.
Forgive me, but in my experience a Libertrain (Neo or not) is just a conseravtive who want to do drugs and have illicit sex.

And I know, deep down, you get the twinge when you visualize a tiedyed wearing deadhead with a .380 auto

[Gukkor]

Hi all. :wave:
Although I'm not new here -- I registered here over a year ago -- I've been gone for a while and just came back several days ago. I'm not really liberal politically, among Christians I would be considered quite liberal spiritually.
Speaking of which -- I'm not even sure what I believe now. I was raised in a Baptist home and still a member of a Baptist church, but don't believe much of their doctrine. About 8 or 9 months ago I started reexamining my faith and decided I'm not really sure what to believe. I would still consider myself to be a Christian, but not really sure. Hence the "Seeker" icon. :)
Just wanted to stop in and say hi! Hope to be stopping by more often!

You're honesty with yourself and with us about your beliefs is a sign of great spiritual strength, in my mind. A great many people in your situation would deceive themselves into thinking they believe one thing or another when they know in their heart that they aren't as sure as they let on. You aren't, which I respect. So yeah, welcome back.:thumbsup:

[Izdaari]

Forgive me, but in my experience a Libertrain (Neo or not) is just a conseravtive who want to do drugs and have illicit sex.

And I know, deep down, you get the twinge when you visualize a tiedyed wearing deadhead with a .380 auto
Then I guess your experience is limited. :D

Culturally, I fit into the tiedyed deadhead demographic myself. But I think big government liberalism is false liberalism, that it's not about liberation, but about controlling people for the benefit of a smug, self-appointed, self-righteous elite. That's true of some kinds of conservatism too of course. But IMO classical liberalism is the only true liberalism.

[meebs]

Hello people! :wave:

[Izdaari]

Hi Amoeba! :hug:

[Martin^^]

Yo Amoeba!
And hi everyone else!
Just noticed they have opened the doors to the non-Christian-icon-wearers here, I'm very glad to see that and I hope it doesn't spoil the experience for those who were used to the old CF.

[The Julikenz]

I'm Juleigh, I live in Sydney, Australia, and have been on here for three years. :wave: In that time I went from being a conservative fundamentalist to liberal agnostic. I have a great boyfriend who's into design, music and electronics, trying to convince him atm to get me a puppy. ;) I'm currently finishing performing arts school and will probably do a BA/Sc next year and see if I can make the transition from arts into medicine.

[meebs]

Hi there Julez, Martin and Izdaari :hug:

[Catherineanne]

Hiya everyone. :wave:

It is very difficult to know what to say when introducing myself. There is the bare minimum version, which is I am a single mum with a 14 year old d, who I am home educating. Her dad is elsewhere, and is very seriously ill with various effects of alcoholism.

Then there is the religious bit, which is that I was baptised into the Anglican Church, went to Sunday School, later went to an Evangelical Church, then a Baptist one, then was confirmed at an Anglican one, and finally found my spiritual home in the liberal Anglo Catholic side of Anglicanism. In all this time I don't think my spirituality actually changed, rather that I kept seeking until I found where I belonged. When I finally found a priest who thought in a similar way to myself, it was such a comfortable feeling; a real blessing not to be the only one.

Then there is the less good bit, which is that I am unwell with post traumatic stress disorder, and have not worked for 7 years, and cannot attend church at all at present, so it is a bit academic what kind of church I feel myself to belong to. The good part of being unwell is that the more isolated I am from my fellow men and women, the closer I feel to God. The bad part is that the closer I feel to God, the more lonely and isolated I become.

I live in the UK, which in terms of mental health provision is the equivalent of living on the moon. It is two years since I last had any help, and meanwhile the local health authority is arguing about money, and doesn't look like stopping any time soon. Sometimes I think I am ok, and can get better on my own. Sometimes (like today) I have very bad days and think I can't manage, and come close to breakdown. However, being a Brit, a nice hot cup of tea soon helps me pull out of that kind of thinking.

So,for light relief from all that I hang around here and peddle my own lunatic intuitive fringe theology, and wind up those who disagree with me something terrible. My favourite way of doing this is to challenge fundamentalist claims and ask for them to be backed up by Scripture. It is fun to point out to them how much of what they have been told is Scriptural is actually complete fantasy. I think my posts sometimes sound a bit earnest, but usually I am just here to have fun.

Then I have to go and say 100 Hail Mary's.:crossrc:

[Lilium]

Starelda here :wave: Been on CF for around 3 years now, had just converted to Christianity when I joined and was quite conservative. Then I found myself becoming more liberal as I examined my beliefs more closely. Eventually, I lost faith altogether and since then I have yo-yo'd between belief and disbelief a few times. Right now, I'd describe myself as someone who doesn't really know what I believe, if I can believe Christianity (or anything else) again, but I feel pulled in this direction again and so I feel I must follow that.

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

I'm a single dad of 4, a samurai, graphic designer/artist/performer.

Church is best lived, rather than "gone to", just like God.

Here's to life being lived, rather than fretted over and philosphised about.

[meebs]

I'm a single dad of 4, a samurai, graphic designer/artist/performer.

Church is best lived, rather than "gone to", just like God.

Here's to life being lived, rather than fretted over and philosphised about.

I can half agree with that except i have a sort of philosophical mind. :)

I like thinking about stuff, so that to me is living my life ^_^

[tashiseisei]

It is hard to talk to him about my beliefs because I am skeered.


I was afraid, too. I still don't really talk about my beliefs, but she encourages me to go to church (she is completely non-Christian, unlike my syncretic faith) and things seem to be fine.


Then there is the less good bit, which is that I am unwell with post traumatic stress disorder, and have not worked for 7 years, and cannot attend church at all at present, so it is a bit academic what kind of church I feel myself to belong to. The good part of being unwell is that the more isolated I am from my fellow men and women, the closer I feel to God. The bad part is that the closer I feel to God, the more lonely and isolated I become.

I live in the UK, which in terms of mental health provision is the equivalent of living on the moon. It is two years since I last had any help, and meanwhile the local health authority is arguing about money, and doesn't look like stopping any time soon. Sometimes I think I am ok, and can get better on my own. Sometimes (like today) I have very bad days and think I can't manage, and come close to breakdown. However, being a Brit, a nice hot cup of tea soon helps me pull out of that kind of thinking.

I'm sorry you're dealing with all of that.

I have a handful of anxiety disorders (including PTSD, with flashbacks and all the rest of that mess) and associating with other humans face to face is often more than I can stand. I feel relatively safe at my church, because I've been going there for nine months and it's become familiar, but I have a lot of trouble going out shopping, anywhere unfamiliar, or doing anything that involves associating with people with authority, because I can't seem to convince myself that they are not going to use said authority to strip me of my rights or my dignity.


You may be amused by this icon:

http://userpic.livejournal.com/32210619/2468424

[OceanAngel]

I'm a single dad of 4, a samurai, graphic designer/artist/performer.

Church is best lived, rather than "gone to", just like God.

Here's to life being lived, rather than fretted over and philosphised about.

You have the best screen name ever.

[meebs]

You have the best screen name ever.

One of the best names ever i agree :D

[Aquamarine81]

You have the best screen name ever.

Yes, I agree. :)
The Simpsons rock! :thumbsup:

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

I can half agree with that except i have a sort of philosophical mind. :)

I like thinking about stuff, so that to me is living my life ^_^

I am a philosopher by default, which is why I said it ;)

You have the best screen name ever.

Ah thank you. I'll sell it to you for 3 gazillion dollars!

[PaladinGirl]

Hi everyone. :wave: Not sure if I've done this before so I'll do it now. My name is Holly. I'm 24 years old and I'm a liberal Catholic. Mainly I think that sex before marriage, masturbation, artificial birth control, women priests, and married priests are all just fine and dandy. I honestly don't care if the Catholic Church changes to suit my positions or not. I am not much on gay marriage though I honestly don't care if a gay couple considers themselves married or not. If that's what they want to do then I have no problem with it.

I really like computers. I also like cats, educational television such as: History Channel, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, and the Weather Channel. I love the outdoors and enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, walking, biking, and stargazing.

Lets see, what else can I say about me. Well, I change a lot and have tried just about every denomination there is from Mormon to United Methodist to Episcopalian. My favorite food is steak.

[Catherineanne]

I have a handful of anxiety disorders (including PTSD, with flashbacks and all the rest of that mess) and associating with other humans face to face is often more than I can stand. I feel relatively safe at my church, because I've been going there for nine months and it's become familiar, but I have a lot of trouble going out shopping, anywhere unfamiliar, or doing anything that involves associating with people with authority, because I can't seem to convince myself that they are not going to use said authority to strip me of my rights or my dignity.

Thanks for understanding, tashiseisie. It is good not to be the only one. I know what you mean about authority figures. I am worst of all with doctors, for obvious reasons, and have to see my GP tomorrow, and I am already getting very anxious about it.

I am trying to get to a new church, but it is not easy. I have chosen which one it is, and checked out the times, but it is difficult to actually go.



You may be amused by this icon:

http://userpic.livejournal.com/32210619/2468424

I loooove that picture!!! Going to print that out for my kitchen!! :D

[Catherineanne]

Mainly I think that sex before marriage, masturbation, artificial birth control, women priests, and married priests are all just fine and dandy.


That sounds like one hell of a party. Can I bring along a couple of gay priests as well? :D

[meebs]

Lets see, what else can I say about me. Well, I change a lot and have tried just about every denomination there is from Mormon to United Methodist to Episcopalian. My favorite food is steak.

I love the way you closed that...

"my favorite food is steak"

:D

[meebs]

I am a philosopher by default, which is why I said it ;)



I am confuzzled!

But it's ok :P

[Rebekka]

Should probably introduce myself here as well, it's about time.

I'm Rebekka from the Netherlands, married, no kids, three cats, student of Dutch literature (finishing my thesis). I'm not sure that I'm liberal (I consider myself moderate), although I don't take all of the Bible literally (I don't know how the fundamentalists solve the problem of Jesus talking in parables - you can't take everything 100% literally) - but the catholic church doesn't, either. I believe in theistic evolution - that's not enough to make me a liberal catholic, though. I believe all catholic dogma and most doctrine.

Politically I'm not liberal but a leftie (environmentalist, moderately socialist, animal rights defender, but not an activist at all) - liberal means "right wing" over here, LOL. Religiously I'm only a liberal because I don't believe contraception is intrinsically evil and because I don't believe that homosexuality is evil (although I think premarital sex is - which is why I am for gay marriage, because it's better to marry than to burn :D ). And I'm a feminist - but I'm very much pro-life - I'm sick and tired of people who equate feminism with abortion and vice versa. :yawn:

I feel at home with liberals and atheists and agnostics online because they are more similar to my friends and family than conservative christians are - I don't know that many christians in real life, actually. Also, I used to be agnostic for years.

My hobbies are reading literary fiction, cooking and baking, wine tasting (including the swallowing! :P ), cuddling the cats (I'm CRAZY about cats, love all felines to bits, as well as most other animals), talking, walking, going to the opera.

[Loki]

I think this might be the first time I've been legally allowed to post here. When WWMC opened, I was sporting a non-christian icon, but now that the wall has come tumbling down, there are heathens in the midst.

Actually, I'm probably not a heathen. I'm on a particularly curvy part of the journey of my life, and could probably be called a really bad Catholic at this point.

And a good chocolate ice cream, where it's almost a little bitter, trumps all of this Ben & Jerry's "creativity." :P

[Catherineanne]

I'm on a particularly curvy part of the journey of my life, and could probably be called a really bad Catholic at this point.



Is there any other kind? :cool:

<Runs and hides from Catholics>>>>>>>>>

[Rebekka]

Hm, I'm a bad catholic too, because I contracept. :sorry:

[Pogue]

Is there any other kind? :cool:

<Runs and hides from Catholics>>>>>>>>>

Hm, I'm a bad catholic too, because I contracept. :sorry:

Never fear, for I am also a Bad Catholic (support of gay rights amongst other things)

[Rebekka]

Never fear, for I am also a Bad Catholic (support of gay rights amongst other things)
:hug: Yeah, that too. :D

[Loki]

Eh, my biggest issue is shaky faith in, y'know, the existence of God.

Funny thing is that I have little problem with things like a God-man, triune God, transubstantiation, saints, sacraments...

I'm fairly progressive on many things sexual, too, in that contraception I think is a moral choice in may cases, I support gay marriage, and remarriage.

[meebs]

And a good chocolate ice cream, where it's almost a little bitter, trumps all of this Ben & Jerry's "creativity." :P

:eek:

But i wuv Ben and Jerrys