Category: DOC Thoughts
Big Tent Christianity Pt. 2
As I continue reading about this event it was good to learn that one of my favorite scholars, Marcus Borg, offered words as a headliner at this event. Borg’s description of the divide within Christianity resonates with my thought and experience. It is also a good description of the conversations within my brand of Christian witness, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I recommend any of Borg’s books. Below find a bit of the reporting about his address.
Marcus Borg’s Talk Surprises Many at Conference
by Cynthia B. Astle | The Progressive Christian | February 12, 2011Heart of the Message
Borg began the session, with its theme of Jesus, God and the Church, by posing what he sees as the critical question for all Christians today:What is the heart of the Christian message today, the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Borg said that a historic answer to this question dominates most understandings of Christianity today: “Jesus died for our sins so we can be forgiven and go to heaven if we believe in him.”
However, Borg continued, a growing number of Christians view the Christian message today as the radical centering in God that Jesus outlines in the three synoptic gospels:
“[Jesus] answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’” -Luke 10.27
“Jesus talks consistently about the coming of the kingdom of God,” Borg said. “The kingdom of God is not for the afterlife, but for earth. It’s what life would be like if kings didn’t rule the world, a transformed world of justice and fairness, where everyone has enough for life.”
Big Tent Christianity
Here is an event I wanted to attend, but there was no time. I would fit in what is called “progressive Christianity” though I prefer the term liberal, but that word has been thoroughly trashed by those embracing a “conservative” political agenda. I’ll deal with that irony another day. Anyway, here is a report from The Progressive Christian website about the event and how progressive Christians and the emergent “Christian” movement came together to discuss what I call the practice of Christianity.
Big Tent Christianity
by Cynthia B. Astle | February 13, 2011
“Big Tent Christianity was given birth by Christian leaders to respond to the massive social, economic and climate changes the Church faces,” Clayton continued, “We want to open our arms and honor the many ways that [Holy] Spirit leads us to encounter the way of Jesus. We want to become allies and not enemies, to act in sacrificial ways toward one another.“We came to be inspired and supported and to find new partners on the [faith] journey.”
Plenary presentations included: “Healing the Wounds of Religion” led by Howard Merritt, “Reframing the Big Tent” led by McLaren, and “Textual Divinity: Discovering the Divine” led by Rohr. Workshop topics ranged from social-action issues such as immigration reform, science and evolution, and technology through engaging popular culture, neo-monastics and the “spiritual but not religious” phenomenon to familiar church subjects such as worship, youth ministry, forming missional communities, storytelling and songs.