Comments for Sanctuary Without Walls http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com Spiritual sustenance, naturally. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on To Stay or Go ~ Spiritual Communities & Community Ministry by Tanya Avakian http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/2010/08/09/to-stay-or-go-spiritual-communities-community-ministry/#comment-495 Tanya Avakian Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:00:51 +0000 http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/?p=1029#comment-495 To natureloversunited: I confess to having some sympathy with your viewpoint at least now and then--that when high-profile practitioners of a religion leave in an equally high-profile way, not to mention making statements such as "leaving Christianity for Christ," they're being a bit unfair to many of the rest of us because they identify "Christ" with whatever they personally find outside, and those of us who aren't rich, famous or powerful have no hope of being identified with those things just by being us. I think sometimes it would put less pressure on the many people negotiating compromises "inside," wherever they find it, if a person who finds she just can't go to church anymore, act as a public spokesperson, etc., would settle for practicing what they do believe in a more private, nondenominational way and let others make their own decisions likewise. I respect what Anne Rice has done because I think she's making a point about the absence of a strong progressive voice within Christianity today, and the need to start having conversations about both the sticking points and also about how much does not have to do with the sticking points of today--it IS going to look somewhat different fifty years from now--but the way she has made it tends to marginalize the very people her viewpoint needs. (By which I don't just sentimentally mean "the good 'uns," with the idea that their views wouldn't be out of place at a folk music concert, but people all across the board who are prepared to recognize others all across the board as human beings.) On the plus side, she has responded very graciously on her Facebook site to anyone who's addressed her decision in even a halfway intelligent way, and has overall shown herself, here as elsewhere, to be a person of real goodwill, if a bit eccentric. I'm glad she hasn't given up on Christ, if she doesn't trust human institutions to represent Him anymore. To natureloversunited: I confess to having some sympathy with your viewpoint at least now and then–that when high-profile practitioners of a religion leave in an equally high-profile way, not to mention making statements such as “leaving Christianity for Christ,” they’re being a bit unfair to many of the rest of us because they identify “Christ” with whatever they personally find outside, and those of us who aren’t rich, famous or powerful have no hope of being identified with those things just by being us. I think sometimes it would put less pressure on the many people negotiating compromises “inside,” wherever they find it, if a person who finds she just can’t go to church anymore, act as a public spokesperson, etc., would settle for practicing what they do believe in a more private, nondenominational way and let others make their own decisions likewise. I respect what Anne Rice has done because I think she’s making a point about the absence of a strong progressive voice within Christianity today, and the need to start having conversations about both the sticking points and also about how much does not have to do with the sticking points of today–it IS going to look somewhat different fifty years from now–but the way she has made it tends to marginalize the very people her viewpoint needs. (By which I don’t just sentimentally mean “the good ‘uns,” with the idea that their views wouldn’t be out of place at a folk music concert, but people all across the board who are prepared to recognize others all across the board as human beings.)

On the plus side, she has responded very graciously on her Facebook site to anyone who’s addressed her decision in even a halfway intelligent way, and has overall shown herself, here as elsewhere, to be a person of real goodwill, if a bit eccentric. I’m glad she hasn’t given up on Christ, if she doesn’t trust human institutions to represent Him anymore.

]]> Comment on Wild Flowers by natureloversunited http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/2010/08/16/wild-flowers/#comment-490 natureloversunited Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:01:30 +0000 http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/?p=1084#comment-490 Viewing the stars is certainly a magical and spiritual experience. When we were in St.Regis Falls, we spent a great deal of time under the stars watching for those elusive flashing streaks. It is incredibly inspiring when you can view the night sky away from the city lights and actually see the cloud of the milky way. The number of stars and the three dimensional depth of the sky so lacking from a city view is humbling. This experience not only puts you in your place in the grand scheme of things, showing just how small you really are but it also pulls you in and shows you that no matter how small, you are part of the whole and not unimportant. I think that is the ultimate message that we can receive. Viewing the stars is certainly a magical and spiritual experience. When we were in St.Regis Falls, we spent a great deal of time under the stars watching for those elusive flashing streaks. It is incredibly inspiring when you can view the night sky away from the city lights and actually see the cloud of the milky way. The number of stars and the three dimensional depth of the sky so lacking from a city view is humbling. This experience not only puts you in your place in the grand scheme of things, showing just how small you really are but it also pulls you in and shows you that no matter how small, you are part of the whole and not unimportant. I think that is the ultimate message that we can receive.

]]> Comment on To Stay or Go ~ Spiritual Communities & Community Ministry by natureloversunited http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/2010/08/09/to-stay-or-go-spiritual-communities-community-ministry/#comment-489 natureloversunited Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:53:38 +0000 http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/?p=1029#comment-489 I am so behind in reading this blog and in posting but here is my take. Perhaps I am a little bit of a cynic but I have to question the reality of things when a well-known author suddenly makes a public change in their system of belief's and then publishes works which fit their new found revalation. Perhaps I question the motivation and wonder if anything really changed or if it is a ploy to sell copy. I obviously can't know her heart and I hope that her intentions are honorable and sincere. She's the one who has to live with it. As for me, I do understand how belief's shift as I have done so many times myself. Obviously however I am not well known nor am I pounding the pavement and screaming from the rooftops about how I have evolved in my path. I see it as a personal thing but one which I will gladly share with anyone who wishes to listen. I have not nor will I ever make a public appeal and shove the details of my life and my faith down anybody's throat. In my cynicism I have to wonder the necessity of being so bold. I am so behind in reading this blog and in posting but here is my take. Perhaps I am a little bit of a cynic but I have to question the reality of things when a well-known author suddenly makes a public change in their system of belief’s and then publishes works which fit their new found revalation. Perhaps I question the motivation and wonder if anything really changed or if it is a ploy to sell copy. I obviously can’t know her heart and I hope that her intentions are honorable and sincere. She’s the one who has to live with it. As for me, I do understand how belief’s shift as I have done so many times myself. Obviously however I am not well known nor am I pounding the pavement and screaming from the rooftops about how I have evolved in my path. I see it as a personal thing but one which I will gladly share with anyone who wishes to listen. I have not nor will I ever make a public appeal and shove the details of my life and my faith down anybody’s throat. In my cynicism I have to wonder the necessity of being so bold.

]]> Comment on Sense of the Sacred ~ Please help me spread the word! by Katharine http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/2010/08/30/sense-of-the-sacred-please-help-me-spread-the-word/#comment-488 Katharine Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:07:51 +0000 http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/?p=1115#comment-488 Wow! That's quite the endorsement, Rachel. Thanks very much! Wow! That’s quite the endorsement, Rachel. Thanks very much!

]]> Comment on Sense of the Sacred ~ Please help me spread the word! by Rachel Kelly http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/2010/08/30/sense-of-the-sacred-please-help-me-spread-the-word/#comment-487 Rachel Kelly Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:47:41 +0000 http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/?p=1115#comment-487 * Subject: Marian Van Eyk McCain's talk at the Chatham Co-op on September 12, 2 PM.‏ Dear Friends, My friend, Katharine Houk, from Chatham, is putting together some exciting events in Chatham this September. If you click on the link near the bottom - GreenSpirit Poster - you will see the invitation to Marian Van Eyk McCain's talk at the Chatham Co-op on September 12, 2 PM. There is also a seven-part series beginning on September 14th in Chatham: Growing Older, Growing Wiser: Becoming an Elderwoman. See if you can finagle a way to get on Katharine's blog subscriber list: Sanctuary Without Walls. You'll get the invites and updates herein: http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/ (this has spiritual underpinnings. if i could best describe Katharine Houk, it would be to say she reminds me to think of, to get in touch with, my innermost woman, my most natural self, my pagan self. she's my best friend's mother growing up- another mama to the teenage years... AND (so much more!) an amazing creator of things sewn from great imagination and skill! check out her fiber arts! http://katharinehouk.com/ ) Lots of love, Rachel p.s. ...and don't forget about the Chatham Fair opening this weekend! *
Subject: Marian Van Eyk McCain’s talk at the Chatham Co-op on September 12, 2 PM.‏

Dear Friends,

My friend, Katharine Houk, from Chatham, is putting together some exciting events in Chatham this September. If you click on the link near the bottom – GreenSpirit Poster – you will see the invitation to Marian Van Eyk McCain’s talk at the Chatham Co-op on September 12, 2 PM.

There is also a seven-part series beginning on September 14th in Chatham: Growing Older, Growing Wiser: Becoming an Elderwoman.

See if you can finagle a way to get on Katharine’s blog subscriber list: Sanctuary Without Walls. You’ll get the invites and updates herein: http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/

(this has spiritual underpinnings. if i could best describe Katharine Houk, it would be to say she reminds me to think of, to get in touch with, my innermost woman, my most natural self, my pagan self. she’s my best friend’s mother growing up- another mama to the teenage years… AND (so much more!) an amazing creator of things sewn from great imagination and skill! check out her fiber arts! http://katharinehouk.com/ )

Lots of love, Rachel

p.s. …and don’t forget about the Chatham Fair opening this weekend!

]]> Comment on About This Blog by Katharine http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/about/#comment-486 Katharine Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:25:21 +0000 http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/about/#comment-486 Christina, Thanks for visiting my blog! I took a peek at yours - especially liked the "aliveness" poem. I do wish you lived closer! Katharine Christina,
Thanks for visiting my blog! I took a peek at yours – especially liked the “aliveness” poem.
I do wish you lived closer!
Katharine

]]> Comment on About This Blog by Christina Cronk http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/about/#comment-485 Christina Cronk Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:10:52 +0000 http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/about/#comment-485 I've never heard of SWW before now but it sounds wonderful! I wish I still lived in NE instead of N FL... The trails at Taughkannuk Falls in Ithaca were some of the most beautiful country I've ever experienced. So glad I came across your blog today, we have many beliefs in common. I’ve never heard of SWW before now but it sounds wonderful! I wish I still lived in NE instead of N FL… The trails at Taughkannuk Falls in Ithaca were some of the most beautiful country I’ve ever experienced. So glad I came across your blog today, we have many beliefs in common.

]]> Comment on To Stay or Go ~ Spiritual Communities & Community Ministry by Christina http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/2010/08/09/to-stay-or-go-spiritual-communities-community-ministry/#comment-484 Christina Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:17:25 +0000 http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/?p=1029#comment-484 Thanks Katharine. I also did not know about Ann. As a cradle Catholic I continue to find my conscience drawing me elsewhere. Scary, but gradually freeing. I've always tried to think of myself as constantly "becoming" a Christian as Jurgen Moltmann spoke of. Saying "I am" a christian is stagnate. The "I believe, help my unbelief" mantra is what helps make the becoming...or not becoming as the case may be, possible. Thanks! Chris Thanks Katharine. I also did not know about Ann. As a cradle Catholic I continue to find my conscience drawing me elsewhere. Scary, but gradually freeing.
I’ve always tried to think of myself as constantly “becoming” a Christian as Jurgen Moltmann spoke of. Saying “I am” a christian is stagnate. The “I believe, help my unbelief” mantra is what helps make the becoming…or not becoming as the case may be, possible. Thanks!
Chris

]]> Comment on Katharine Houk by Katharine http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/katharine-houk/#comment-483 Katharine Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:45:02 +0000 http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/?page_id=114#comment-483 Thank you, Rebecca. I have added your fabulous site to my blog roll. Thank you, Rebecca. I have added your fabulous site to my blog roll.

]]> Comment on Katharine Houk by Rebecca Hecking http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/katharine-houk/#comment-482 Rebecca Hecking Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:57:03 +0000 http://sanctuarywithoutwalls.com/?page_id=114#comment-482 Katharine, I love your site! This is a breath of fresh air. Beautiful! Where are you in NY state? Email if you want. I'm in NW Pennsylvania. Katharine, I love your site! This is a breath of fresh air. Beautiful! Where are you in NY state? Email if you want. I’m in NW Pennsylvania.

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