Existential Punk

The Difference Between Literalism & Fundamentalism

i have never read John Dominic Crossan but have always heard wonderful things about him and plan to read him in the future! HT Pete Rollins for this interview clip with Crossan where he discusses the difference between religious literalism and religious fundamentalism. i think he is spot on and i really resonated with what he said from my own personal experiences!

Emerging Women

i was invited by Julie Clawson to submit a piece to the Emerging Women Blog on their series on women engaging sex/sexuality. It is my 'Sex-Crazed: America's Christian Subculture' piece i did a few weeks ago for The Ooze and it is up at the Emerging Women Blog TODAY. Here is what the Emerging Women Blog says about this series:

'Let’s talk about sex. No, we’re not just trying to drive up the blog hits. Just the fact that we are a group of women here discussing faith and real life lands us all sorts of interesting Google search hits. No, we just simply want to explore our diverse perspectives on sex.

Over the next week or two (starting this afternoon) most of the posts here at Emerging Women will focus on some aspect of sex. We will explore, among other topics, the freedoms women can find when we aren’t viewed as sex objects, the healing that can come to those who suffer from sexual abuse, the messages that modern American Christianity sends about sex, and our celebration of our sexuality. These posts have been submitted by a diverse group of women - each with her own unique perspective. They might disagree with each other - and that’s okay, that’s kinda the point of exploring perspectives.

So I invite you to respectfully engage in this dialogue. Join us on this exploration of sexuality as we learn from each other.'

Thoughts On Deconstruction & Emerging Church

'Deconstruction: This represents psycho-spiritual transmutation; reprogramming negative behaviour patterns through alchemical processes; turning the black dross into pure gold.' Found this here and thought it apropos to my post.

i have been thinking about deconstruction and faith within the emerging church conversation the past month or so, ruminating, pondering, and attempting to form some cohesive thoughts. Today i came across a wonderfully thought-provoking post titled "Allowing Ourselves to be Deconstructed" by Blake Huggins. i see deconstruction as a form of transmutation which can be defined as,

'the act of changing or the state of being changed into another form.'

Deconstruction can be defined as,

'analyzing (a text or linguistic or a conceptual system) by deconstruction, typically in order to expose its hidden internal assumptions and contradictions and subvert its apparent significance or unity.'

Many in the emerging church conversation say things like, "Ok, we have deconstructed. Now it is time to move on and reconstruct, stop talking, and move on to praxis." i'd actually like to say i disagree with this premise because we are always in need of deconstructing. i see deconstruction/reconstruction as a continual and simultaneous process that in order to be holistic must include decontructing myself and my belief systems. We must read things we disagree with and allow it to read us, get under our skin, and challenge us and our assumptions. Also, deconstructing belief systems, whether long-held traditions or ourselves, while at the same time putting things into actual praxis is the simultanaity i am advocating for in our lives. Is it messy and scary? Of course! Yet, it is necessary. It goes along with Pete Rollins' idea of furthering along my own conversion. Huggins talks about this deconstruction of our own beliefs so eloquently. He says two things that stuck out to me:

'I’m wondering if sometimes, in our efforts to deconstruct “something else,” we miss the opportunity to let ourselves be deconstructed.'

AND

'That is not to say that I reject the deconstructing of historical figures or systems of thought.  Not at all.  I’m only suggesting that perhaps there is a tension between our deconstruction and our being deconstructed.  The key is learning to live and embody that tension well.'

People must realize deconstruction is NOT a one time event to move on from but a continual, life-long process! What are your thoughts?

Parents and the Ex-Gay Movement

Oh the damage places organizations like Exodus and Love In Action do not only to the people they are attempting to 'fix' as if they are defective, but the harm and shame they heap on the parents. It is sick and sad. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Here is Peterson Toscano's story:

Portia de Rossi Makes Heartfelt Apology For Marrying Ellen Degeneres

HT Towleroad for the heads up on Portia de Rossi's heartfelt apology to all those she has harmed by her marriage to Ellen Degeneres.This IS HILARIOUS!!!!!!!

Comment Of The Week

Ok, here is the comment of the week that came to Queermergent that i deleted. At first it sounds like it is a nice comment but then it turns south. These kinds of comments are just plain sickening. i just do not understand how Christians like this think they are extending the love and grace of G-D to people. It is one thing to disagree but it is defintely another thing to write something perverse like this. i am not one to judge whether they are a Christian or not as that is up to G-D, but comments like this would definitely not make me want to know G-D if i were not already a Christ-follower. What are your thoughts?

'Thank you so much for your inspirational story about how love indeed wins. I'm much like you. My relationship with my mother has been increasingly one of deep longing. She fostered that love for years, and we know that our love is of God---no matter what others say. You were brave to come out, and I hope one day I can come out in the same way. (I'm just not there yet.) You are a true inspiration to all of us LGBTQI.  Praise God and thank you. Jesus loves you.'

UN Gay Rights Declaration To Be Signed By Us, FINALLY!

FINALLY, President Obama is doing something tangible to help the LGBTQ community at large world-wide by formally endorsing 'a U.N. statement calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality, a measure that former President George W. Bush had refused to sign.' Not that i have much hope in the UN enforcing this as they are not very successful in keeping the slaughter of innocents in Africa and elsewhere from happening, but it is a step in the right direction. At least it is way more than Bush EVER did for our community!

Read the entire article at Huffington Post.

This Makes Me Queasy

So, the other day i emailed my mom to make sure she was doing ok regarding her investments and this horrible time in the economy. Her reply really made me queasy and reminded me the myriad of reasons why i left right-wing, Evangelical, charismatic, literal interpretations of the Bible religion. We have not seen each other or spoken on the phone since March 1998 and have communicated only via email and letters. She is a very religious person and we have not seen eye-to-eye in many years. i just do not get this kind of Christianity. It really is hard for me to wrap my head around her kind of belief system. i have no idea how or where to find common ground with her. i asked her then if she believes like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson that us Queers are the reason for 9/11 happening. She did not respond to that. She was a bit hesitant, as in a later reply, to give me a more nuanced answer because she was wondering why i was so concerned. i have shown concern for her over the years in asking about her health. She just continually hides behind her religion and the notion that 'Trusting G-D' is all it takes. There is a place for trusting G-D but there is also using common sense and our brains too. We cannot get bogged down in worry and fear but they are legitimate feelings we cannot ignore. We cannot put our heads in the sand. Anyone else relate to me and my not getting this kind of faith or are there others out there who believe our country is under G-D's judgment? i find it narcissistic to think our nation is so bad enough that we are the only nation under the judgment of G-D!

Adele,
 
I have not even looked at my paperwork.  I am totally trusting in the Lord to take care of me.  You can't sell when things are low.  I believe things midght get a little better for a short time, but really believe this country is under judgment of God because we have totally turned from Him.  We have taken Him out of everything:  Schools, government, businesses, even churches.  We have slaughtered His babies in the womb and now we are going to be killing embryos.  We have totally changed the meaning of his Word.  People interpret it according to how they want to live regardless of what God thinks.  Doctrines are being changed and rewritten.  We don't even value families in  godly manner.  It is a wonder He doesn't bring down fire and brimstone on this country like He did on Sodom and Gomorrah.  There is so much corruption in our Congress and other areas of government.  This president is spending our money like crazy.  He can't fix things until the moral fiber of the people of this country improves.  I am doing fine because my King still sits on the throne, not in the White House in Washington D. C.  Would you be stupid enough to give banks so much so much money without any strings to it?  Same for the car manufacturers.  Ther are very few people in Washington who are moral and upright.
 
Love ya,
 
Mom

Comment Of The Week

i am going to start showcasing a comment a week or so, whenever i get mean-spirited, Un-Christ-like comments over at Queermergent. Today's comment:

'OK, so you have turned away from the path of Christianity; that’s fine.

Your belief that, “That homosexual actions are not sin in the context of a monogamous relationship.” is in direct opposition to the tenets of Christianity; you can’t believe as you do and truly be a Christian.

On the other hand, I believe that those who call themselves Christians who denounce homosexuals instead of denouncing homosexuality have also fallen from the path of the religion, since, “hate the sin, but love the sinner,” is a core tenet of their religion as well.'

Where do these people get off speaking to me this way? At least the commenter left a real web address. Again, i delete these comments, as they are not fruitful for safe and honest conversation for the LGBTQ community. i just learned the other day that the phrase, which i only ever hear in regards to homosexuality, 'Love the sinner, hate the sin', is not in the Bible, but was said by Gandhi. Who is this freaking person to judge whether i am a Christian or not. He is NOT G-D! Why don't these people mind their own P's & Q's, talk amongst themselves, and leave us queers alone? i don't come to their sites and tell them how un-Christ-like they are in their beliefs. Do these people think that their words and actions would propel people who do not know G-D to want to know G-D? It is so unloving and hurtful.

The Third Place Interview

i received the following email the other day:

Hey - so I found you off of Eugene Cho's rockin' blog and love your blog. As a young Christian thinker, one trying to find my footing between my conservative upbringing and the postmodern shifts in our culture, I'd love to set up an interview with you over on the third place. I have several dear friends who are homosexual, but none who also subscribe to my faith. So I thought, if you are willing, I could send you some questions and just engage the conversation that is on so many peoples minds (though they don't want to talk about it, at least not with people who don't agree).

The whole point to me would be to explain how we've come to where we are, how we veiw and interpret the scripture in our lives, etc. I do not want to debate, I just want honest questions with honest answers - letting disagreements exist with respect for one another and forcing the more conservatives to at least try and see things from your side, including myself. I want to understand. So, I could draft some questions and see what you think and then go from there. Let me know...

God Bless
--
Kevin Davis

He sounded sincere so i agreed to do the interview. Furthering this conversation along is my desire and i feel like one of my purposes on this earth. So, THANK YOU, Kevin, for taking the risk to reach out to me and assisting to further the conversation along.  The interview is up at Kevin's blog, The Third Place, so come and join the conversation.