tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post2872781422455233533..comments2023-05-08T01:40:59.721+10:00Comments on Heady Brew: Parting Ways... and what I don't (and do) believe about the BIBLE!Kerry Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03051264598690393719noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-19064327777355206842012-09-23T21:11:16.347+10:002012-09-23T21:11:16.347+10:00Hey, Mr T - Sorry for the slow reply... haven'...Hey, Mr T - Sorry for the slow reply... haven't been around very much, of late!<br /><br />I absolutely agree with you, that the need for rules and "external authority" is a sign of immaturity. What an incredible insight - and I totally see it!! I think you have really put your finger on something here. When we hide fearfully inside our religious frameworks and rules - it really is FEAR, not faith. <br /><br />I think though, that it could be helpful to distinguish between religion (in the sense of rigid rules and authority structures) and faith - which can be a very open and life-affirming thing, in my experience, and is something that empowers us to become mature beings.<br /><br />I still want to put together a post on who /what I believe Jesus is, and why I think he intentionally broke the power of religion - but it will have to wait until at least next week... I'm off on a little holiday, and will be "unplugging" for the next week! Talk to you after that! :)<br /><br />Kerry Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03051264598690393719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-18536924888754911232012-09-19T23:40:29.140+10:002012-09-19T23:40:29.140+10:00But that's what religion is: granting authorit...But that's what religion is: granting authority to some divine figure so that the divine rules we then are to follow are righteous. And I agree: it is not healthy. In fact, it's a sign of immaturity - a fear of independence, a fear of life on its terms - when someone cannot (or refuses to) grow up, will not accept authorship for the rules to be chosen and implemented, and refuses to leave their 'father's house'. (Care to re-read the myths of Genesis now?) It is far more difficult - and far more rewarding - to undertake the hero's journey, the quest to find meaning and purpose in life, than it is to go along with the parental rules of conduct, of someone else arbitrating what is to be done in life, what is of value, what is meaningful and worthy of our purpose. Religious belief creates the eternal surrogate parent (or the invisible but pervasive Dear Leader of the Thought Police in many cases). Is this really the legacy - the blueprint for living <i>wisely</i> - we want to instil in our children? To be forever <i>dependents</i>? tildebhttp://questionablemotives.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-37277686396369735292012-09-19T18:18:21.960+10:002012-09-19T18:18:21.960+10:00Mr. T - I think any religion that simply focuses o...Mr. T - I think any religion that simply focuses on "rules" of right and wrong, is on the continuum to this kind of scariness.... I have been there - and it is not healthy!!!<br /><br />Kerry Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00222234596995479355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-6709034065651162322012-09-19T07:52:58.229+10:002012-09-19T07:52:58.229+10:00As we all should be. The values of islam are incom...As we all should be. The values of islam are incompatible with Western secular values (values like your religious freedom). tildebhttp://questionablemotives.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-56433335699861368502012-09-19T07:31:58.452+10:002012-09-19T07:31:58.452+10:00Oh VERY scary stuff, Tildeb - we are all a bit rat...Oh VERY scary stuff, Tildeb - we are all a bit rattled by this! Kerry Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00222234596995479355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-44633681676375511292012-09-19T04:17:33.032+10:002012-09-19T04:17:33.032+10:00A better link (with some text) is here.A better link (with some text) is <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/video-of-8-year-old-jihad-girl-urging-islamic-uprising/story-fndo317g-1226476305453" rel="nofollow">here</a>.tildebhttp://questionablemotives.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-66883250442515742712012-09-19T04:11:50.767+10:002012-09-19T04:11:50.767+10:00Maybe you could switch them over to the school tha...Maybe you could switch them over to the school that produces <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyHB5ngdPzY&w=560&h=315" rel="nofollow">this kind</a> of cute, non-indoctrinated, student.tildebhttp://questionablemotives.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-20910234559295198952012-09-14T22:29:58.550+10:002012-09-14T22:29:58.550+10:00Great comment Doug, I also am only really interest...Great comment Doug, I also am only really interested in Christianity as far as the historical (and continual) influence it has had on our society. I am not religious myself. Great post though Kerry! You are such a good writer! Also 'mankind'..... Kerry I am not a man or of the 'man' kind... I am of the humankind :-) Sorry I won't be at our writers' meeting tomorrow... I am flat out with uni, but hope to catch you in the cafe one week soon ;-)Rhiannon Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06577480607789523491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-47830472481810419852012-09-12T18:32:16.491+10:002012-09-12T18:32:16.491+10:00No, Doug - you are most definitely NOT a wall buil...No, Doug - you are most definitely NOT a wall builder! Pardon my paranoia! I do find it is often very difficult to talk with some people about my Christian beliefs and really be "heard" - I think the same old script just plays in their heads (understandably, I guess, since it is pretty institutionalised, just about everywhere!) and they hear only what they expect to hear... And I wasn't quite sure what you meant, for the record, but just wanted to clarify in case I'd been misunderstood. (I kind of expect you to "get" it, actually! Even if you don't quite see it the same way - you're a good listener!)Kerry Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00222234596995479355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-58446919350033996222012-09-12T18:11:17.060+10:002012-09-12T18:11:17.060+10:00I wasn't suggesting you are a wall-builder. I ...I wasn't suggesting you are a wall-builder. I was explaining that even though I don't share the Christian worldview, seeking instead to embrace the roots of human religious impulse, that doesn't make me a wall-builder with regard to the traditions I reject. I can find much common ground with progressive, inclusive Christians.Doug Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18027574195522869708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-20771652155450917212012-09-11T18:48:55.743+10:002012-09-11T18:48:55.743+10:00Crikey!! Hope I'm not putting walls up, here ...Crikey!! Hope I'm not putting walls up, here - definitely don't believe in the whole "us vs. them" thing - in saying I believe there is inspiration to be found in the Bible, I'm NOT saying it is exclusive. Far from it!!Kerry Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03051264598690393719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-20103162347719803752012-09-11T08:30:40.974+10:002012-09-11T08:30:40.974+10:00As long as Christians are open and inclusive I don...As long as Christians are open and inclusive I don't have much to say beyond "I just don't agree with that worldview." When I try to place Christianity into its historical context (the only way I am able to entertain it at all), it just doesn't seem to be a commanding element in the overall scheme of things. I am interested in the roots of the human religious impulse. I think we all might find more agreement there than in the ways the various traditions developed and evolved. But I don't personally want to build walls. I prefer bridges and (very) low-standing hedges.Doug Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18027574195522869708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-61418569827285100282012-09-10T19:06:37.575+10:002012-09-10T19:06:37.575+10:00That's so very true!!That's so very true!! Kerry Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03051264598690393719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-55867128215058476912012-09-10T15:16:20.632+10:002012-09-10T15:16:20.632+10:00Hi Kerry
Probably a good idea, regarding the kid&...Hi Kerry<br /><br />Probably a good idea, regarding the kid's school.<br /><br />Here's my summation of bible belief.<br /><br />Obey the ten commandments, and you'll stay out of trouble.<br /><br />Read and try to comprehend the parables and aphorisms of Jesus, you'll be a better person.<br /><br />The rest is .. well i wont refer to the impolite word, I usually use. Its all secondary to me. None of it is miraculous.<br /><br />History and poetry, is there somewhere, but only as another book to consult.<br /><br />Stu. <br /><br />Stuart Mawbeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09835070944792986401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-72301804322022528502012-09-10T11:12:09.599+10:002012-09-10T11:12:09.599+10:00Yes, my big mouth gets me into trouble all the tim...Yes, my big mouth gets me into trouble all the time. No, you certainly didn't come across as slamming the school. I know it has been great with a lot of the kids. We had a boy living with us for a while who went there. I know kids who still go and really benefit from it. The kids are really cared for.<br /><br />I am not-so-fundamentalist-anymore either. When I do go to church I feel uncomfortable, like a backslider; but we have to be true to ourselves, and I felt like a hypocrite when I did go. <br /><br />I was just reading your description of your Blog and I found it interesting that you mentioned God is Love or alternatively that Love is God, depending on one's belief system. I love it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-75573851504073673492012-09-10T10:53:03.768+10:002012-09-10T10:53:03.768+10:00Hey, Lindy - thank you for commenting. One of the...Hey, Lindy - thank you for commenting. One of the things I did want to avoid, (and I hope it is clear in my post) is slamming the school as a community - it has so many great things going for it, and I have REALLY appreciated the staff there. Only recently, Toby had a bit of a problem that needed resolving, and the way it was handled by the school was absolutely fantastic. NO complaints, there. However again and again I keep coming up against the reality that what we believe as a family is NOT the fundamental dogma that is the official stance of the school - and in some ways, being Christian, but not-so-fundamentalist-anymore - is a harder line to walk than if we were a non-believing family at the school. <br /><br />Especially as my kids get older, and are thinking more for themselves - the kind of Bible teaching they are getting there does not seem to be helpful. I probably need to have a more open discussion with the school about this (I have touched on it, but not gone into detail - mostly because I hadn't nutted it out clearly enough for myself). I do have a (possibly unfortunate) habit of thinking things through on the internet - hope it doesn't come back to bite me!! o.O!Kerry Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03051264598690393719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6253824019426659573.post-57958001325624506232012-09-10T10:11:43.784+10:002012-09-10T10:11:43.784+10:00Thankyou for posting this. I have struggled with t...Thankyou for posting this. I have struggled with this for many years. It has been hard to reconcile what I truly believe (deep down inside where I live)with what I have been told to believe in church. It sticks in my craw when people bleat scriptures but then judge people. As I grow older my belief is God has grown stronger, but not my belief in church. I see God the Creator everywhere I look. I will never believe the world evolved from an atom. There are too many amazing things in the world to think that an intelligent and loving Being didn't have a hand in its creation. But I have trouble reconciling a loving God with the concept of hell. I think hell is not demons with pitchforks, but rather an absence of God. I read C.S. Lewis' book "The Great Divorce" years ago, and I really felt that his concept of heaven and hell was more the way I see it. At the end of the day the Bible is about Love. Good for you, pulling the kids out of the school. I rammed religion down my kids' throats for years, and now not one of them will set foot inside a church. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com