tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941566034196038608.post7292728877919639295..comments2024-01-22T00:22:46.724-08:00Comments on Bishop Dan's Blog: THE CHURCH'S SUICIDE RECONSIDEREDBishop Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00677552161067636954noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941566034196038608.post-58534365725026513152016-02-02T09:23:29.789-08:002016-02-02T09:23:29.789-08:00The institutional church abandoned Christ's &q...The institutional church abandoned Christ's "Way" 1700-plus years ago when it made a pact with Satan's clever minion, the emperor of Rome, who remained a pagan until his deathbed. Constantinian Christianity usurped and bastardized the teachings of Jesus.Case closed. Pace e Benehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18098779449166700051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941566034196038608.post-6067064211548360682016-01-30T04:33:49.267-08:002016-01-30T04:33:49.267-08:00...and AS a Presbyterian, I think Hedges is a bit ......and AS a Presbyterian, I think Hedges is a bit of a Neo-Puritan. He simply cannot grok the catholic way of <i><b>Ora</b> et Labora</i>. Why waste time on the Eucharist, when we should be 24/7/365 for The Revolution? [One imagines him chastising the woman anointing Jesus's feet.]<br /><br />I think there is much commendable about Hedge's faith (as a UTS alum, I am also DEEPLY disturbed by this "building skyscraper condos on the Quad" thing: it was walking around the Union Quad which kept me sane at Finals time!). But I need <i>beauty</i> and <i>stillness</i> (and I really LIKE smells&bells!). Call me crazy: I want The Revolution AND splendid sanctuaries ("sanctuary" in EVERY meaning of the term). I don't believe the Gospel demands we choose between them. It's Both/And.JCFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14516376500318551838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941566034196038608.post-82936796603584372012016-01-29T15:14:14.952-08:002016-01-29T15:14:14.952-08:00Hedges is ordained in the Presbyterian Church. I t...Hedges is ordained in the Presbyterian Church. I think he's more interested in contrasting the institutional/corporate establishment church with the little congregations people live in.Marthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04335155980634952940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941566034196038608.post-22053276698164076132016-01-29T13:44:36.094-08:002016-01-29T13:44:36.094-08:00Yes I did begin by acknowledging the constant risk...Yes I did begin by acknowledging the constant risk of collapsing the mission for those reasons. But the point of engagement is at his reliance on Tillich and Nirbuhr to say that the church is inherently corrupt and demonic as opposed to solitary individuals who are pure. His point about staying true to mission is what I mean at the beginning by saying there are valuable insights in the suiucide piece. I would say the oblique thing is the connection between that missional emphasis and the reliance on individualist theologies.Bishop Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00677552161067636954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941566034196038608.post-80371800817290789962016-01-29T10:42:39.428-08:002016-01-29T10:42:39.428-08:00Bishop Dan,
In many ways I agree with you, especia...Bishop Dan,<br />In many ways I agree with you, especially about individualism vs. communion and common life, and that we follow Christ, not a political agenda, especially not an agenda derived from outside the Gospel. However, I do think that the fundamental critique that Hedges makes is really that the seminaries and the liberal church have abandoned their mission in a sort of flailing to preserve appearances and institutions. I think that the specifics of his description are aimed at other liberal protestant denominations, rather than specifically at the Episcopal Church, so the confrontation between your two arguments is a bit oblique. I do think that the Episcopal Church needs to be very aware of ways in which it seeks organizational comfort by looking for funding, etc. by adopting the values of the wealthy rather than living with and for the poor.Drew Kadelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16245831151577574882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941566034196038608.post-57212598610926486372016-01-29T07:44:09.494-08:002016-01-29T07:44:09.494-08:00http://www.christianweek.org/10-predictions-future...http://www.christianweek.org/10-predictions-future-church-shifting-attendance-patterns/ more on this subjectAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287169546184325690noreply@blogger.com