Just Got Mel Whites New Book

[progressive4christ]

WOW! just one chapter and a lot is explained about the fundamentalists. I am so glad God saved me from ever falling into the hate and lies of the cultic nature of these types of Christians. i was amazed at what I read about Billy Gram. I just assumed he was one of them because my mom likes him. I am not a big reader, but I think I have been hooked lined and sinked in having to read to learn more. I think it will also help me for I have joined a group at my church that is fight for gay right for full inclusiveness in the church. Who here has already read the book?

[progressive4christ]

I thought that this might be a better location; for the book exemplifies faith and and the way Mel White deals with the issues.

[Pablo Rafael]

Am I right in asssuming that the book is Religion Gone Bad? (I always hate it when I am discussing something other than what everyone else is. It only reinforces the notion that I am few bricks short of a load...sigh!)

I think that there are many forces that fight against God's work here on earth. One of the main forces in my opinion is the legalism that goes on within the fundamentalist movements. It replaces the grace of God with a set of rules.

It has been a few months since I read the book. Though I can't say that I "enjoyed" it, I thought it was enlightening. I think so much of current "Christianity" would do well to remember the words of Saint Paul when he says "If I have not love, I am a noisy gong or clanging cymbal" Much energy and money goes into a lot of gong and cymbal clanging in our churches I am afraid.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[Steven E. Webster]

Dear Progressive

I read Religion Gone Bad some time ago. You might begin to find it depressing as you get deeper into it, but as I recall Mel brings it to an uplifting conclusion. It is a scary topic, however---Mel's and several other books on the market right now point out how far down the road to some kind of fascism or theocracy we have come as a nation.

I'm from a progressive United Methodist faith and Fundamentalism seems downright strange to me. Fundamentalism involves a certain shutting down of one's God-given reason--it is a dangerous road!

Steven Webster

[progressive4christ]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

Dear Progressive

I read Religion Gone Bad some time ago. You might begin to find it depressing as you get deeper into it, but as I recall Mel brings it to an uplifting conclusion. It is a scary topic, however---Mel's and several other books on the market right now point out how far down the road to some kind of fascism or theocracy we have come as a nation.

I'm from a progressive United Methodist faith and Fundamentalism seems downright strange to me. Fundamentalism involves a certain shutting down of one's God-given reason--it is a dangerous road!

Steven Webster

Your most correct on that it can be depressing and sometimes I get down right boiling mad at what I read about the 'Fundies" my heart aches for I have many loved one who think or agree with this type of Christianity. I my self just want to do what I know to be Christ like attributes; if i am ever wrong I pray that God knows my heart is in the right place. i am a redletter christian= follower of Christ's teachings. I like to keep it somewhat simple and all pure.

[BenL]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

I'm from a progressive United Methodist faith and Fundamentalism seems downright strange to me. Fundamentalism involves a certain shutting down of one's God-given reason--it is a dangerous road! (emphasis added)

Steven Webster

Thanks for saying this, Steven. Although it seems off the topic of Mel White's book, it isn't really. Now I understand what it is about the conservative wing of the Episcopal/Anglican continuum that seems wrong in the context of the homosexuality debate in our denomination. We have long accepted the three-legged-stool theory of Scripture, tradition and reason when doing theology. When one or another is out of whack, the stool is lopsided or downright collapses. A rigid conservatism always seemed out of whack to me, kinda beside the point. That's what makes it so hard to debate the issue. Both sides are going at it with vastly different suppositions. Sorry to coopt your insight, but it helps.

[Gregory_de_Bois]

Just read it. I liked it, even if parts were depressing. I like the whole part about King James I.

Namaste,

Greg

[pnggrad79]

I read "Religion Gone Bad" and parts of it were really scary to me. It has been a long time since I read it, though. The threat of a theocracy is real I think, and we need to stop it before it becomes American Nazism.