Thank you for looking at this blog. If you are reading the Heart of Christianity by Marcus J. Borg, you have found the blog of our study group.
This blog aims to provide a collaborative online forum for the study group to explore the ideas of the book. To provide a respectful blog, please write with the following disciplines in mind as adapted from our group's terms of reference:
- inclusiveness
- non-judgment
- openness to learning from differences.
First Meeting:
Our first meeting began with introductions. Our minister, Lydia Glawson, had a small table coffee table in the center of the room. On top of the green table cloth, we found a green candle, a water pitcher, and a loaf of bread.
Our study group began by lighting the candle. Wa,Wa,Wa, Emimimo or Come, O Holy Spirit, Come - a Nigerian chant- was played to invite the Holy Spirit to come among us. Lydia read from Luke's gospel. We were invited to think of ourselves as journeying like the two travellers who met the risen Christ on the road. This is the beginning of our journey as we reflect on what Christianity means to us personally and corporately. It will be a deepening of our faith.
After Marcus Borg addressed us through a dvd, we broke out into small discussion groups. We discussed our personal reflections about the gifts we received (or not) from our various faith traditions. We also discussed Borg's premise that there is an earlier form of Christianity and an emerging form of Christianity.
The earlier form of Christianity is the one many churches have practiced over the last century.
The Bible is divine product which is to be understood literally and factually. The bible is the revelation of doctrine and morals, and the Christian life emphasises an afterlife and what to believe or do to be saved.
The emerging form of Christianity sees the Bible as a human response to God. It is interpreted historically and metaphorically. It's function is to be a sacred means whereby the Spirit speaks to us through metaphor. The Christian life is a transformation in this life through relationship with God.
We raised the following questions in response to these paradigms.
1. Can the Bible be divinely inspired and literal?
2. Why do so many people cling to the earlier paradigm?
3. Is Borg trying too hard to divide Christianity into two groups?
4. Are we going to rewrite the Bible to suit ourselves?
5. Maybe we need to work hard at following Jesus' way.
6. How is it possible to be Christian and not believe in Christianity?
Lydia invited us to be intentional about our daily spiritual practice. We are encouraged to pray, read scripture and let it speak to us, and use meditation and music. Journaling how God is active in our daily life is also another spiritual practice we might consider.
Lydia broke the bread, and we shared the bread with each other with the words "Bread for the journey."
The group dispursed until next week, but we were encouraged to discuss our reading and thoughts with each other. Thus, this blog is another means to do that sharing.
We are to read chapter two for next week. If anyone wants to share their thoughts of chapter one and chapter two, please feel free.
Blessings.
