Since my profile isn't very filled out, I thought it was worth a quick blog entry about who I am theologically.
I was raised mostly Catholic. I went to a Catholic high school and spent a lot of time digging into the faith. I am not an expert on the Catholic faith by any means, but I have spent a good amount of time learning about Catholic theology.
I decided to leave the church in my college years to attend a more Biblically focused church. It was a small, independent little church that doesn't exist anymore. They were typical of the little evangelical/fundamentalist churches of the 80's. They panicked about things like whether the high school kids were wearing jeans to evening services and dismissed the elder whose teenage daughter got pregnant.
I was involved in a campus Christian organization at college. And while all of this was and is an important part of my life, much of it has always confused me.
So I've spent a lot of time trying to dig into it. I've read books on apologetics looking for that magic argument that will address some of my concerns. I have spent time studying some of the more mainline philosophers and theologians -- from Karl Barth to Freud to Nietzsche to Schopenhauer.
I consider myself a Kierkegaardian -- which is a bit of a joke, since Kierkegaard himself said something like "to label me is to render me useless."
I currently go to a large evangelical church. Honestly, there are some parts of it that I love. We opened a wonderful community center in the last 3 years, which offers free medical, legal, dental care, free after school sports programs and lots of other things to anyone who shows up.
And honestly, there are some parts I'm not so crazy about. The pastors are great. But among the lay leaders, there are a lot of expectations on how to behave. They have a very pre-defined, generally pop-Christianity way of looking at things. I'm not saying they're always wrong. But it does seem to me that they have not considered the alternatives.
So, that's me.
The blog is a place for me to think on e-paper, and maybe one or two of you will think with me.
Hope we can all enjoy the ride.
1 comment:
Kevin,
I know you from the college days. Even though many years passed without contact, your mind still seems to function as normal for you as ever. :)
Recently, I have been tired of looking and longing for someone to "think" with. I mean to travel outside the box of what we are told to think. Sure, I can read & ponder & even pray, but an outlet such as this, perhaps sharing some of my explorations and questions, and hearing of your quarries seems to relieve some built up pressure on the brain. I am trying to hold off on the lobotomy as long as feasible. :) Or maybe it's just nice not to feel alone as an inquirer of Truth. Either way, I'd like to purchase a ticket for the ride...as long as it's free. I won't likely comment much, but I will shirley be compelled to correct you when you are wrong.
You Rock!
Bren
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