For me, the lecture was one given by Marcus Borg in a Summer Session class at Pacific School of Religion at least two decades ago. It became the chapter on faith in his book, "The Heart of Christianity," so I suppose I could zero in on the date that way. It caused a major shift in my approach to teaching confirmation class.
The lecture didn't make me give up some certainty. Rather, it invited me to see faith as something that is first and foremost relational, and as something that is changing -- at that the early church saw "faith" in this way. It made so much sense to me and I was/am grateful for his scholarship on the subject.
The gem from this essay for me is, "in a century or two, we too will probably be shown to have contributed to some great injustice or really stupid idea that is invisible to us now."
In 1987 I contracted fungal pneumonia. This lung fungus was kind of rare and the doctors thought I might die. This illness has had lasting effects on my health, faith and career course. Back then I developed the mantra "the only thing certain us change'. I was raised to belief faith was the opposite of doubt. I have come to believe doubt is required if faith. Similarly, uncertainty has long accompanied faith for me.
Hearing Carter Heyward preach in 1989 at the ordination of two lesbians and a gay man was that transformational moment for me. A radical new way for me to consider - and experience - the DIvine: God not as father or friend but as lover. Lover! The first of many huge shifts happened that day.
I've often thought that if our faith as adults is the same it was when we were children, then we have not grown. As we mature, our understanding of our parents expands. This awareness is challenging and complicated and yet brings us into a richer relationship with them as people and not merely archetypes. How can we do any less with God? We must question our preconceptions and sit with uncertainty in order for our relationship with God to deepen. Move into the paradox. Embrace unknowing.
For me, the lecture was one given by Marcus Borg in a Summer Session class at Pacific School of Religion at least two decades ago. It became the chapter on faith in his book, "The Heart of Christianity," so I suppose I could zero in on the date that way. It caused a major shift in my approach to teaching confirmation class.
The lecture didn't make me give up some certainty. Rather, it invited me to see faith as something that is first and foremost relational, and as something that is changing -- at that the early church saw "faith" in this way. It made so much sense to me and I was/am grateful for his scholarship on the subject.
The gem from this essay for me is, "in a century or two, we too will probably be shown to have contributed to some great injustice or really stupid idea that is invisible to us now."
The only certainty that I have come to rely on is absolute confidence in faith, hope and love.
In the midst of all the varied circumstances of life, these three remain.
In 1987 I contracted fungal pneumonia. This lung fungus was kind of rare and the doctors thought I might die. This illness has had lasting effects on my health, faith and career course. Back then I developed the mantra "the only thing certain us change'. I was raised to belief faith was the opposite of doubt. I have come to believe doubt is required if faith. Similarly, uncertainty has long accompanied faith for me.
Hearing Carter Heyward preach in 1989 at the ordination of two lesbians and a gay man was that transformational moment for me. A radical new way for me to consider - and experience - the DIvine: God not as father or friend but as lover. Lover! The first of many huge shifts happened that day.
I've often thought that if our faith as adults is the same it was when we were children, then we have not grown. As we mature, our understanding of our parents expands. This awareness is challenging and complicated and yet brings us into a richer relationship with them as people and not merely archetypes. How can we do any less with God? We must question our preconceptions and sit with uncertainty in order for our relationship with God to deepen. Move into the paradox. Embrace unknowing.
Thank you for your writing, Diana.
Amen to all of this!