October 05, 2005
Choosing My Religion
Choosing My Religion
One hears all sorts of reasons to go to one church congregation or another. Some people want a big place, while others look for some place small where they are more necessary to the day-to-day workings and can't be anonymous. Some people look for a place with great preaching or music. Most of the people I know place varying degrees of emphasis on those sorts of things, but also want most of all to find a place faithful to the Gospel (even though their idea of what is faithful might diverge greatly from someone else's).
Today I was at the park with a bunch of other moms who have older kids at Hippie German School and little kids about the age of The Middle Girl. Some how the topic of where people go to church came up. One lady said she loved her church (when they went) because, "It is progressive, liberal and has a lot of same sex couples with children." I don't think my jaw dropped too far, but those wouldn't top my list of things to look for in a congregation.
It's a strange feeling to be hear something that seems like a parody and see everyone else in the group nodding with interest. Discussions like that make me question the wisdom of sending my children to Hippie School. And yet, although almost everyone at Hippie German School is bound to be more liberal than I am -- I don't feel as if everyone out there is really quite that rabid. And there is so much to love about the education and the school that I'm not ready to give it up. Other schools aren't free from troubles and my children don't want to be homeschooled at present.
It sure was a conversation stopper when I was asked where I go to church and I said the name of what must be in the minds of that particular group one of the most conservative churches in town. Coversation switched topics almost immediately.
I guess it's good they didn't jump on you, though it might be a good thing if you were able to challenge their mindset about what's "good". Usually when something like that happens to me I'm just relieved. Maybe that's why I don't belong on the mission field!
Posted by: Lenise at October 5, 2005 03:20 PMWow! Sometimes I think people throw out a statement like that for its shock value alone. I'll bet your admission to the group was more of an eye opener than hers--and in a positive way.
Posted by: Meredith at October 5, 2005 09:18 PMWe left the Hippie Kraut School this year for a variety of reasons. The main one was financial, but the grinding you describe was a real issue too. There was always a sense of "holier than thou," in a macrovegan goat hair scarf sort of way. I miss so many parts of it, but the kids have adjusted fine.
Posted by: Steve the LLamabutcher at October 5, 2005 10:25 PMI keep telling my wife she needs to read your site!
Posted by: Steve TLB at October 5, 2005 10:25 PMFight the good fight!
Posted by: jason berggren at October 6, 2005 05:54 AMThat's what I find so funny about so-called progressive folks. They talk a good line about being inclusive and diverse, yet present them with something disagreeable (such as thinking that the Bible is meant to actually be consulted on matters of faith), and they seem to throw up the barricades with great skill.
Which, you gotta admit, is a pretty skillful thing to do while swathed in macrovegan goat hair scarves.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at October 6, 2005 09:45 AMI'll echo what Jason said. The liberal lady's comment might have someone question what she really worships.
Looks like macrovegan goat hair scarves will be THE Christmas (or Hannukah or whatever) gift this year.
Posted by: MarcV at October 6, 2005 11:23 AMDoesn't every little girl want Macrovegan Goathair Scarf Knitting Barbie for Christmas?
Marc, you think she might not be sincerely trying to worship God because He doesn't enter into what she looks for in a church at all? I'm shocked at your insensitivity.
Posted by: Jordana at October 6, 2005 11:40 AMWish I could find a church like the park lady attends.
Posted by: Anne at October 6, 2005 01:35 PMI'm happy that my church sites scripture, tradition, and reason as sources of authority, as opposed to political correctness.
See you at "seminary."
George
Posted by: George at October 6, 2005 10:00 PMI'd be happy with a church that focused on what Jesus *did* say - caring for the poor, love thy neighbor, all that jazz.
Instead of what he didn't say.
(Psst...homosexuality)
Posted by: Anne at October 7, 2005 09:32 AM
Jordana Adams, Chief Pontificator