...and salvation?
Posted on 05/05/2013 12:09:11 PM PDT by hiho hiho
People who call themselves “spiritual” are atheists who haven’t got the guts to admit they’re atheists.
Here’s a shorthand for SBNR perspective from the Christian tradition:
1) The actual teachings of Christ as documented in the New Testament (e.g., love God and love your neighbor as yourself) are fundamental, spiritually-inspired truths to be honored, taught and practiced through the ages.
2) The Paulian/trinitarian/literal teachings of Christianity as espoused in 98% of churches are an interpretation of Christ and his life that SBNRs simply don’t believe any more than they believe in Santa Claus or the Easter bunny. They are seen as effective only for the simple-minded or for authorities in various churches intent on propping up their importance to the gullibles’ lives. SBNRs find it awkward and hard to justify raising their children in an institution that teaches truths which they themselves don’t believe to be true.
SBNRs would gladly support churches that taught #1 without #2, except that such tend first to be rare and second, by their very nature, not inclined to impose some sort of guilt/duty/obligation to live a spiritual life only through weekly attendance.
SAR types have a hard time understanding and respecting SBNRs, whose numbers continue to rise apace.
People who call themselves ‘spiritual’ are atheists by your definition, but not by theirs.
Thank you.
I've tried many "churches" in my 62 years. All I've ever come across is dogma and power struggles.
My wife and I and some others gather and talk, and pray to Him. I'm satisfied with our effort, since no one really knows what happens, except in our daily endeavors with others.
As far as I know, Jesus never had an "organized" church...only to follow what would become the Gospels. He said it, I believe Him.
FMCDH(BITS)
SAR and SBNR.....I don't have a clue.
OK, I Got it.
SBNR is sort of like a “Non-Denominational” church. The second they separate themselves from the other denominations they became yet another denomination.
What does spiritual mean if not to harbor religous beliefs? I suspect they use the term to mean they believe something but aren’t hampered by rules and regulations. That’s fine, but what rules and regulations are they rejecting? To love others? To love God?
SBNR is sort of like a “Non-Denominational” church. The second they separate themselves from the other denominations they became yet another denomination.
What does spiritual mean if not to harbor religous beliefs? I suspect they use the term to mean they believe something but aren’t hampered by rules and regulations. That’s fine, but what rules and regulations are they rejecting? To love others? To love God?
...and salvation?
I've never heard it put that way, but I think you're right. The term "atheist" seems to have too much of a negative connotation for them to swallow.
Also, I think that they're scared that they might be wrong. So, they deny. They are full of balderdash.
Sounds like the author is trying to justify to herself why she attends an organized religion than actually touting the benefits of it.
Many “churches” are not churches at all. They have become social gatherings for little adult girls trying to fit in.
You paint with a broad brush Duncan. I know there are a lot of "spirtualist" people on His world who don't recognize Him as the Lord.
Please don't lump me into that group.
I believe in Him. "Organized religions" and "churches" are not part of my beliefs. From my readings of the Bible, they weren't part of His either.
With all due respect,
FMCDH(BITS)
Redefining “religious” as “church attending” and redefining “spiritual” as “non church attending” is pious and arrogant, not to mention a show of lack of faith in church itself. Attending an organized church and giving it money is not a required part of faith.
Thank you for defining my reality for me. I am incapable of arriving at my own conclusions. Don’t know what I would do without you.
Jesus established an organized Church. He gave authority to only a few men. They chose others to help them. They developed ways of handling issues which confronted the Church. All the earmarks of an organized Church are right there in the New Testament.
So let me get this straight. If I go to church on Sundays I get to hang out with and take advice from people like you? Where do I sign up? /nothanks
In other words : KMA
The Church is one of spirit and not of structures, deacons, bishops and the like. He never organized a “Church” as we know today, read the Bible and you will find he did not proclaim the creation of buildings and structure but of acceptance.
I challenge you to show where in scripture he lays out the “Organization” of the current churches with the layers and all of the titles and such. Christ came to free all of us from the intermediaries, not to reinforce that which had been part of the Judaic culture before he came.
No one before his Life, Death and Resurrection but a very select few had been given the gift of the Holy Spirit which was given to ALL believers in Christ as our direct personal connection to God our Father. Hence the name the Holy SPIRIT (note not church) Christ refers to the church in the sense of a common acceptance and faith in him being the Son of God, a body of people not a building or anything needed to be “managed” by layers of folks.
My spiritual mentor who is well known in faiths around the world was a minister in church for over 27 years and burned out trying to follow the “rules” of the religion he was ordained in. He brought me into the awareness of “home fellowship” which to me is far more in line with what Christ wanted versus overly legalistic theocrats who seem to think they can “interpret” what Christ was saying to provide cover for themselves to belong to the “structure”
BTW I am an ordained minister in a non denominational “church” and I use no pulpit, have no buildings and no others who need to have a title such as Deacon, Bishop or the like. I hold no ill will towards them, I follow what Christ teaches in the Bible and have I will continue down this path.
And last, spirituality is where many have gone, I see beauty of God each morning during my prayers and meditations (conversations really) with God when the sky changes colors. It like us is HIS creation and far too many “religions” try to lay claim to knowing what is and is not acceptable and even denigrate people of other beliefs (Pentacost Vs insert other church here)as we are right and you are wrong
God Bless and keep us, all of us, we are all his Children and not separate families.
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