Most of what I know about modern Biblical interpretation I learned from Bart Ehrman and John Spong and some enlightened priests and congregants in the Episcopal church I used to attend. There was less emphasis on Paul and the Letters that are attributed to him, and more on the Gospels, especially the Judgment of the Nations ("When did we see you hungry, ..., when you did it for the least of these, you did it for me.") I don't have to tell you that all our translations are based on texts that are copies of copies of copies .... with all the errors, omissions, and additions that implies. Ehrman says the best effort at a true translation is the New RSV. I admit I miss the old familiar language of the RSV. Sometimes I even miss the KJV language.
The Greek Orthodox church I grew up in did its share of charitable works -- they got that part right -- but they were also entrenched in the whole "husband is head of the wife" paradigm which has been unexamined even in light of modern scholarship. In that paradigm, there is no place for unmarried adult women who don't live at home, and that's why I fell away. Several times. I kept going back until finally, I didn't. I still get sad about that sometimes, but as the child of divorced parents, I started out with two strikes against me.
You started out as a woman, and as a child of divorced parents, so obviously you were a wild card who needed to sit waaay the hell over there. I'm sorry about that. I haven't been back in a church of Christ in decades, and I know I'd love the (instrumentalist-free) music, and I bet I'd enjoy the sermons BUT. I don't want to sit waaay the hell over there. I don't want to preach, but I don't want to be told I can't. I don't want to lead the Sunday school (necessarily) but I don't want to be told I can't. It was such a hair shirt, sitting there on those hard pews.
Both of your journeys/struggles through all of this puts me in mind of something civil rights activist and former priest, the late Jim Groppi said. Somewhat paraphrasing here, “You say you can’t do what I do because it’s too hard. I understand but it’s a mistake to think it’s easy for me.”
It’s hard to read about this journey making either of you sad or angry, left out or disrespected but it’s clear that you’re both fearless, no check that, brave. I’m guessing Jesus would be pretty cool with that and would rather have a beer with you two before a whole lot of others.
Most of what I know about modern Biblical interpretation I learned from Bart Ehrman and John Spong and some enlightened priests and congregants in the Episcopal church I used to attend. There was less emphasis on Paul and the Letters that are attributed to him, and more on the Gospels, especially the Judgment of the Nations ("When did we see you hungry, ..., when you did it for the least of these, you did it for me.") I don't have to tell you that all our translations are based on texts that are copies of copies of copies .... with all the errors, omissions, and additions that implies. Ehrman says the best effort at a true translation is the New RSV. I admit I miss the old familiar language of the RSV. Sometimes I even miss the KJV language.
The Greek Orthodox church I grew up in did its share of charitable works -- they got that part right -- but they were also entrenched in the whole "husband is head of the wife" paradigm which has been unexamined even in light of modern scholarship. In that paradigm, there is no place for unmarried adult women who don't live at home, and that's why I fell away. Several times. I kept going back until finally, I didn't. I still get sad about that sometimes, but as the child of divorced parents, I started out with two strikes against me.
You started out as a woman, and as a child of divorced parents, so obviously you were a wild card who needed to sit waaay the hell over there. I'm sorry about that. I haven't been back in a church of Christ in decades, and I know I'd love the (instrumentalist-free) music, and I bet I'd enjoy the sermons BUT. I don't want to sit waaay the hell over there. I don't want to preach, but I don't want to be told I can't. I don't want to lead the Sunday school (necessarily) but I don't want to be told I can't. It was such a hair shirt, sitting there on those hard pews.
Both of your journeys/struggles through all of this puts me in mind of something civil rights activist and former priest, the late Jim Groppi said. Somewhat paraphrasing here, “You say you can’t do what I do because it’s too hard. I understand but it’s a mistake to think it’s easy for me.”
It’s hard to read about this journey making either of you sad or angry, left out or disrespected but it’s clear that you’re both fearless, no check that, brave. I’m guessing Jesus would be pretty cool with that and would rather have a beer with you two before a whole lot of others.
I would buy that beer and enjoy sharing one with Himself. Thank you, Paul.
love everything about this. If I had a faith, I would come to whatever church you found yourself in
Some of my favorite people don't have a religious faith. Come sit by me.