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PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Fred Plumer 

Winter Ponderings

by Fred Plumer

 

Recently I was asked the following two questions:  How do you define Christianity in a way that does not make it unique and therefore superior to other world views? And, if you remove the divinity and miracles of Jesus, what remains that makes Jesus so special?  

These struck me as very good questions, so here's what I answered.

Thank you for taking the time to write. I believe you ask a valuable question. First off, as an organization we are “pluralist.” That is why if you look at our 8Points you will notice that we do not believe that Christianity is the only way to experience the holy, the divine or enlightenment, if I can borrow that term. We see Jesus as a special sage, a prophetic teacher who has broken through the curtain that appears to divide the sacred from the mundane. It is our belief that he has reached the “mountain top” and has left us a path in his teachings and his life that can be modeled and potentially lead to the same kind of experience. For example, in the book of Thomas, Jesus is quoted: “Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden thing will be revealed to him.”

The path is a way to an awakening to what is already here. We do not believe his teachings are about what happens after we die but rather are about how we can experience the Oneness, or Wholeness of all creation here on this beautiful planet that we share. Therefore, our emphasis is on behavior and practice rather than dogma and beliefs.

Is he the only teacher in history that could do that? Of course not. That is the meaning behind our number 2Point- “We affirm that the teachings of Jesus provide but one of many ways to experience the Sacredness and Oneness of life, and that we can draw from diverse sources of wisdom in our spiritual journey; You might be asking why follow Jesus instead of Buddha or Thich Nhat Hahn or maybe Rumi. For me personally I have a long history with Jesus. Admittedly, like a long marriage that relationship has changed over the years. I would like to think that it has evolved. Certainly I have learned more about Jesus in my nearly fifty years of study but I have learned as much about Jesus and what he was teaching from my study of other great teachers. However at some point, I believe, you must pick a teacher if you ever really want to understand or experience any path. The goal is usually the same…the steps may be different.

If I wanted to climb Mt Everest, I would research all of the people who have successfully climbed that mountain and then decide which one do I think is the best teacher for me and then I would ask the person to teach me everything I need to know about climbing that mountain. For example, today I would choose Reinhold Messner. I would read up on everything that has done, study his recommendations and if he were not alive, (he is), I would find others that had been successful students of his and ask if they might mentor me. Most importantly I would prepare for the ascent by practice.

Based in my research, my station in life, my culture and my affinity, I chose Jesus to be my teacher.  I want to experience the “Divine” or “Oneness” that he experienced.  And so I have become a follower of his path. I study and practice just as I would if I was planning to scale Mt. Everest. And the more I practice the more aware, awake and centered my life becomes. I used to tell my students that the difference is like viewing life on a 14 inch black and white TV screen and then seeing reality on a 50 inch HD color screen. We just see more of life, more of what is real and more of the beauty. It helps one have a better sense about who and what Jesus was and in some ways more about who we really are as participants in this planet.  

What makes Jesus so special? I guess my most honest response to most people who ask me that is that they will have to try it to find out. But first organizations like ours have to do a better job of clearing the path of the weeds of ego and tribalism and the stones of control and power. And secondarily we must find better ways to help people make a better transition from a faith of fear to a faith of love.

I hope each of you continue your journey "up the mountain" this year, and that you stop often enough along the way to soak in all the beauty you will find as you go. 

Love, Fred

 



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Coming Up, Events with TCPC leadership:  

3/21-3/24Westar Religious Literacy Seminar, Salem, OR. Featuring Bishop John Shelby Spong. "All In The Family, A Conversation About Marriage, Family, and Sexuality. Click here for more info... (We'll be there too!)

3/10-3/11 "Progressive Christianity for the 21st Century, a Focus on Spirituality in the Church and Nurturing Children Spiritually in Today's World" Led by President, Fred Plumer and Associate Director, Deshna Ubeda. Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. Click here for more info! 

5/7-5/10 "Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity" Washington, D.C. Co-Sponsored by ProgressiveChristianity.org. Click here for more info... Hope to see you there!!

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In the Library


An Ass and a Bunch of Zombies: The Triumphal Entry and Occupy Wall Street
By David R. Henson
Yesterday (October 4th, 2011), the protesters of the Occupy Wall Street movement channeled Michael Jackson in “Thriller,” dressing up like zombies, complete with fake blood, stupefied stagger and an insatiable appetite for money....
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Sacrificial Lambs
By Harry T. Cook
...nothing in my upbringing, in my education and in my commitment to economic and social justice can abide the sacrificing of lives of so-called "ordinary people" to keep the now infamous 1% in the chips....
MORE

Occupied
By Bruce Sanguin
Until the 1870’s economics was an offshoot of moral philosophy. Adam Smith believed in a capitalist economy grounded in a non-capitalist morality. For him, “honesty, thrift, discipline, cooperation, and not consumption and unbridled...
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Occupying America
By Jim Burklo
I'm going to vote in every election for the candidates who are most likely to do whatever it takes to make the poor and the middle class better off before letting the rich get any richer... so that 100% of Americans have a more secure future. ...
MORE

Episcopal Church Divided Over Trinity’s Denial of Occupy
By Elizabeth Drescher
Again and again the Episcopal Church has been on the right side of issues of justice and equality, and Trinity Wall Street has often been at the forefront of these efforts....
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Occupy Wall Street
By Fred Plumer
There were different types of protest, some more violent than others. But the vast majority of the people were simply there to make a statement. “We are not going to let you get away with this.”...
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A Call for Transformation. My Occupy Seattle Port Arrest.
By John Helmiere
Yesterday evening, I was brutally beaten by my brothers on the Seattle Police force as I stood before an entrance to Pier 18 of the Seattle Port in my clergy garb bellowing, “Keep the Peace! Keep the Peace!”  An officer pulled...
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News

Tell President Obama and Congress: End indefinite detention and close Guantanamo

I just signed a petition telling President Obama and Congress to close Guantanamo and end indefinite detention. I hope you sign it, too.

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New ProgressiveChristianity.org Website in 2012!

We are pleased to announce that a new global portal for Progressive Christianity is just around the corner! In early 2012ProgressiveChristianity.org will have a brand new website. The new ProgressiveChristianity.org will be socially interactive, full of new resources and liturgy, and globally connecting.

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MoveOn.org Report: Congress vs. the Internet

As soon as this week, Congress will start debating whether to give the government the power to turn off parts of the Internet. If that sounds like a terrible recipe for abuse of power, that’s because it is.

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“Jesus, Then and Now” with Borg and Crossan!

Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan will be presenting at Irvine United Congregational Church 2/17/2012 and 2/18/2012.

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Theological Degrees and Certificates for the 21st Century Are Now Being Offered by Online University

Global Ministries University has launched a number of programs that include the latest information related to the New Testament and the historical Jesus.  Progressive Christians have the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Theology, Master of Theology, or certificate with a concentration in contemporary Christianity. 

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Events

Darkwood Brew
Jan 1, 2011
MORE

Renew Your Ministry: Join a Consultation Group of the Institute for the support of pastoral ministries
Jan 1, 2012: United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
New Brighton, MN
MORE

Bishop Spong Speaking Schedule 2012
Jan 1, 2012
MORE

PSR Regional Gatherings 2012: Earls on the Road!
Jan 8, 2012: Throughout the United States
MORE

A 9-Week Teleconference with Matthew Fox, Ph.D.
Jan 12, 2012: http://csourcewisdom.com/
MORE

Marcus Borg Lecture Series
Feb 10, 2012: University Congregational United Church of Christ
Seattle, WA
MORE

“Jesus, Then and Now” with Borg and Crossan!
Feb 17, 2012: Irvine United Congregational Church
Irvine, CA
MORE

(Jesus Seminar) Jesus and the Kingdom of God - Then and Now
Feb 17, 2012: First Congregational Church
Tacoma, WA
MORE

Progressive Christianity for the 21st Century
Mar 9, 2012: Kailua
MORE

Westar Religious Literacy Seminar (Spring Meeting 2012)
Mar 21, 2012: Salem Convention Center
Salem, OR
MORE

Discussions

 


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