You Can't Ask That

[Paidiske]

Do you ever wish you could give someone advice that might go against doctrine? Like telling someone they should divorce or get an abortion for example...

Not really? But I don't see my role so much as advice-giving (telling people what they should do) as being about helping people sort through their own beliefs, convictions and emotions and working out what they think they should do. The only time I tend to get fairly heavily directive is if, for example, I'm worried for someone's mental health and I get all "Go to the GP! Undiagnosed mental health issues make baby Jesus cry!"

I'm not sure I believe in "going to heaven" as its stereotypically pictured, but I believe I'll be with God after this life.

 

[durangodawood]

...I'm not sure I believe in "going to heaven" as its stereotypically pictured, but I believe I'll be with God after this life.

What do you mean by "God"?

 

[Paidiske]

What do you mean by "God"?

I don't think that's easy to put into words. I mean, I could reel off all the doctrinal stuff, about the Creator of everything that exists, and all of that, but really I mean the presence I've encountered which has been totally consistently loving, life-giving and has sustained me through all the crap life has thrown at me. The doctrines just give me words to put around that very intuitive, deeply personal set of experiences.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I don't think that's easy to put into words. I mean, I could reel off all the doctrinal stuff, about the Creator of everything that exists, and all of that, but really I mean the presence I've encountered which has been totally consistently loving, life-giving and has sustained me through all the crap life has thrown at me. The doctrines just give me words to put around that very intuitive, deeply personal set of experiences.

In what manner did you the "presence" of god? Do you see it, touch it, feel it, etc...

 

[Paidiske]

In what manner did you the "presence" of god? Do you see it, touch it, feel it, etc...

It's mostly not a sensory thing. It's an intuitive thing.

I'm sorry - I know it doesn't stack up as empirical evidence. And that's deeply unsatisfying. But that doesn't make it less real to me.

 

[Ana the Ist]

It's mostly not a sensory thing. It's an intuitive thing.

I'm sorry - I know it doesn't stack up as empirical evidence. And that's deeply unsatisfying. But that doesn't make it less real to me.

You don't need to apologize for anything...they're just questions I'd ask.

 

[Ovlov90]

It's mostly not a sensory thing. It's an intuitive thing.

I'm sorry - I know it doesn't stack up as empirical evidence. And that's deeply unsatisfying. But that doesn't make it less real to me.

Same here. You know when you know. And its un/indescribable.
How about why they dont exort their parishioners to read the Bible for themselves?

 

[Paidiske]

How about why they dont exort their parishioners to read the Bible for themselves?

Well, there's a stereotype that needs debunking!

 

[Ovlov90]

Well, there's a stereotype that needs debunking!

OK. If Im wrong I apologize. But its a steriotype I formed from Catholics and ex Catholics alike. Older ones recalled mass and other services being done in latin. Even younger ones claimed they didnt have to read the Bible,
that the priests did that. I assumed for them?
Perhaps ask them why that stereotype persists?
This is a fairly old thread so its safe to say show didnt take place yet?

 

[Paidiske]

Filming was supposed to happen before Christmas, but got deferred until this coming Friday.

But it's not a matter of "ask them" - it'll be other people's questions being asked of me.

 

[Ovlov90]

Filming was supposed to happen before Christmas, but got deferred until this coming Friday.

But it's not a matter of "ask them" - it'll be other people's questions being asked of me.

Guess I was way out of loop! Sorry! Best of regards to you and God Bless!
At the risk of being annoying, why does that stereotype persist then? I know Im not alone in it. At least in U. S. Could it be that a newer generation of clergy just hasnt caught up and overtaken it yet?

 

[Paidiske]

At the risk of being annoying, why does that stereotype persist then? I know Im not alone in it. At least in U. S. Could it be that a newer generation of clergy just hasnt caught up and overtaken it yet?

Possibly. Also, I think many people who perpetuate this kind of stereotype are actually those who left the church long ago. (Like the people here who, when I did hospital rounds, told me they were "C of E" despite the Anglican church having changed its name in the 70s. What that told me about those patients was they hadn't regularly darkened the door of a church for 40-something years!)

So I suspect that many people who left the church decades ago aren't actually an authority on contemporary church culture.

 

[Ovlov90]

Possibly. Also, I think many people who perpetuate this kind of stereotype are actually those who left the church long ago. (Like the people here who, when I did hospital rounds, told me they were "C of E" despite the Anglican church having changed its name in the 70s. What that told me about those patients was they hadn't regularly darkened the door of a church for 40-something years!)

So I suspect that many people who left the church decades ago aren't actually an authority on contemporary church culture.

Thats fair. Kind of what I ended up thinking. Also~ I was thinking more roman catholic. I dont know that we have many Anglican congregations in my area to begin with. I need to pay more attention to what I read. You did mention you were pregnant. Ive gotten quite a bit from N. T. Wright. To drop a name. (Like I know him personally or something) Maybe the episode could be found on web at a later date? God Bless!