Confirmation

[Fish and Bread]

I think I've mentioned before that my original parish was one that was very charismatic-influenced. Their pneumatology would have thought it much more important to see me speak in tongues than to see episcopal hands laid on.

Interestingly, given the historical conceptual connection of confirmation to awakening the holy spirit, and charismatic movement's claim to be reviving gifts of the holy spirit, one would think that charismatics would value confirmation even more highly than everyone else. I know that's not the way the movement works in practice, though.

 

[everbecoming2007]

Interestingly, given the historical conceptual connection of confirmation to awakening the holy spirit, and charismatic movement's claim to be reviving gifts of the holy spirit, one would think that charismatics would value confirmation even more highly than everyone else. I know that's not the way the movement works in practice, though.

Perhaps a good deal of them generally tend to think of the activity of the Holy Spirit apart from sacraments and sacramental rites, though I am speculating. I have next to zero experience with Charismatics in sacramental traditions.

 

[Cappadocious]

There is something immensely powerful in standing up and claiming this faith for yourself

You might agree that there are also harmful modes of doing so: Those associated with anxiety, self-centeredness, a misguided sense of discipline, and a misguided sense of what it takes to belong.

What would you say to the claim: It is hard and rare to avoid these modes when standing up and claiming the faith for yourself in the given avenues available for it today?

 

[Paidiske]

I think I agree with your first sentence, although I'd like to know more about what you mean by "a misguided sense of what it takes to belong."

I think it is probably true that few of us come to any moment of commitment, as a Christian, without mixed motivations or indeed some sin at work in us. But I do not think that that means we should not make commitments at all; just that we should seek to discern wisely and to be aware of our weaknesses.

 

[everbecoming2007]

I think I agree with your first sentence, although I'd like to know more about what you mean by "a misguided sense of what it takes to belong."

I think it is probably true that few of us come to any moment of commitment, as a Christian, without mixed motivations or indeed some sin at work in us. But I do not think that that means we should not make commitments at all; just that we should seek to discern wisely and to be aware of our weaknesses.

True. Plus the rite of confirmation as I experienced it didn't have room for individualism or making a great show of my profession. You follow the rite and that's that.

 

[Cappadocious]

I think it is probably true that few of us come to any moment of commitment, as a Christian, without mixed motivations or indeed some sin at work in us. But I do not think that that means we should not make commitments at all; just that we should seek to discern wisely and to be aware of our weaknesses.

Hmm. The thing is, I wasn't really talking about impure motivations, or sinful inclinations. Rather I'm talking about how that ceremony or event functions for the person.

Such rites are meaningful practices and induct a person into something. I think in most cases of what we'd call "making the faith your own" through a pubic ceremony, the ceremony inducts a person into a pathological way of understanding their inner life and Christianity viz. community, discipline, etc. In other words, would people be healthier people and better Christians if they lived the Christian life without such a reflective act?

 

[Paidiske]

I think I sort of understand what you're getting at, Cappadocious, but I might be able to respond better if you explain for me exactly how you understand the "pathological way of understanding."