Imagine how different life would be right now if Christianity could become a place for sacred conversations; a place to explore possibilities and express doubts and disagree and encourage voices on the edges.
Victoria Loorz
I was told yesterday I have a very active social life.
But maybe it’s really a multitude of sacred conversations.
4 Comments
Earl
To the quote: Why think as small as Christianity? Sacred conversations extend beyond any single religion. Not to be harsh, but imagine how different life would be right now if there were no formal religions to separate us, no reason for millions to have been killed throughout history. Then, there could be honest, untainted, sacred conversations without any one religion trying to control the message.
Sorry, I didn’t start wanting to be that “heavy,” but it struck a nerve. I hope you’re having a good weekend, Monte. This is a lovely photo. Was this from one of your bike rides?
Monte Stevens
When I first read this quote, I also wanted to change the name Christianity to be all inclusive of all faiths and because it also struck a nerve. However, like the author of the quote, I know no other faith on a personal basis than Christianity. I do not know for a fact, but have an assumption, that other faiths are like Christianity in their refusal to have much needed sacred conversations. I agree with you that we can replace the word Christianity with any faith and touch the nerve of some who belong to those faiths. I would even include governments. I am also aware that there are people within all faiths, and governments, who want these sacred conversations. Having you share how it touched a nerve is a sacred conversation!!! Thank you for your courage!!!
The following quote has helped me look at my vocabulary and how I use words, which I fail at on a regular basis. At this time in my life I do not consider myself a Christian primarily because I do not hold to their beliefs. I am aware that I erect a wall between myself and others when I do. And, calling myself a Protestant or Catholic erects the same walls. There can be no sacred conversations with these walls. And, like you I want to see a different world than what we have!!! I love your word, untainted!!
“When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent. Do you see why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.” Jiddu Krishnamurti
Earl
Monte, thank you for sharing the Krishnamurti quote. I agree and appreciate it, and I interpret violence as physical, emotional, and psychological.
Monte Stevens
I’m right there with, any form of violence, even passive, is not a solution for anything!!!!