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I really wish I knew what to say to help. I've been struggling with my own issues. I can identify readily with reasons why some quit the Church, & at times I also wonder how I've stuck around. I'm trying to get better, to heal from all that has wounded my faith. I'm seeking healing by trying to...

I don't know. Ultimately, I think I will be fine with it, but I think there are many questions that will need to be answered. I'm not going to get into it here (I'm not on the site as much as I used to be), but for now I can trust the process. Basically, wait & see.

This was my realization as well. Since I can see different possible ways to read & understand the often-cited biblical texts, I must choose love for the LGBT community. Not the "love the sinner, hate the sin" bitter jab that is not really loving at all, but real love that welcomes & shows mercy...

Ok, I haven't gone through all of the responses, but I'd be fine with Progressive Christianity or something similar.

Come & see! We welcome you. If you have visited already, please feel free to ask questions or tell us about your visit. I came to the Episcopal Church from another denomination a few years ago after much seeking. Blessings on your journey.

He is risen!

I guess what "conditions" exist depends on who you talk to. Salvation is wholeness, healing. We can't be whole or heal if we live lives that wound others & ourselves - and I don't agree that salvation is a one time only deal. We must continually, everyday, love & serve others. It's a process...

I know how you feel. I took a break from this site in part because of some of the ugliness I've seen & the despair I've felt since the election, though my spirits have lifted somewhat. I was skipping every so many services because I just really couldn't understand. I'm getting better. I have...

Both testaments have issues. The OT is far worse, but I think Christians should be able to see a progression from the OT to NT in how to understand God. Tribal God with rules to a God that more plainly requires mercy & love. Many Christians in the US seem to prefer the tribal vision.

I struggled with depression in my teen years. After some Bible reading, spotty church attendance, & tracts, I decided one day that Jesus is the Way. Had a stint in fundamentalist type of church, then evangelical oriented churches, before becoming an Episcopalian. Lately I struggle with the...

I'm sorry to hear this. Lately my own troubles stem from both the election & battles with doubt. I love my church, I have friends there, the clergy members are good people...but I feel hopelessly sad that so many people in this country (including in my own family) have this terrifying...

I'm actually not surprised by the election result. That doesn't make it any easier to accept. Some people are "one issue" voters: it's abortion, or gun rights, etc, no matter how vile the actual candidate. For others, the (unrealistic) economic promises won them over. And for others, it was...

Right, I'm thinking about young kids. Sometimes reading the stories (from a decent children's story Bible, actually) still leaves me reading about people being killed. These are young kids & when they ask or seem scared...I just don't know how to deal with that in a way they understand. I can't...

Can anyone offer insight or resources for explaining what might be called liberal theology/progressive Christianity/etc to kids? Example, dealing with the mythology & otherwise troubling stories in the Bible. Sometimes when I'm reading Bible stories with kids, the horror or ridiculousness of...

There are different traditions surrounding Advent. I don't know that any of them are wrong. In my Episcopal Church & in my home, we use 3 blue candles & 1 pink. The blue is associated with Mary & with hope, anticipation. It is difficult, especially with kids, to distinguish Advent &...

Feel free to share as much about your experiences as you'd like. :) The BCP can be confusing, especially for a visitor. Don't worry if you don't get it right away or find it difficult. If you attend services for awhile, soon enough you will have many parts of the service memorized or be...

God loves you. You're not an abomination. Christians disagree about homosexuality, & there are Bible verses to deal with - hedrick provided a link earlier in the thread to "the Gay Christian Network," which provides good summaries of the two main Christian viewpoints on the topic. There are...

I don't know. Most people in my generation do not like to be "preached" to, & the Christian witness - especially regarding American evangelicalism - is severely damaged & not credible in their eyes. Truthfully, & this may be hard for some, I don't see any possibility of a widespread healing of...

We just set up our tree & we began our observance of Advent with the wreath, prayer, & appropriate hymnody. Christmas Eve we will go to church & maybe bake cookies. Christmas Day we exchange gifts & also go to church. Christmas will be observed in prayer & song until Epiphany.

It depends on who you ask. Some would say "being saved" is a question of "going to heaven," but I think this is inadequate. I think most traditional Christians would say that salvation is a process, not just a one time event - though you could say there is a beginning event of sorts (namely...