Theology Panel conference call on Tuesday, October 14th, 8:30 EDT

I would like to invite all those interested to the next Theology Panel conference call on Tuesday, October 14th, 8:30 EDT. To particpate call 1-218-339-2500, use 727705* as your access code.

The panel seeks to provide a progressive Christian theology to our our activist work in achieving social justice.

We have had several lively discussions thus far, and the value of those discussions can be enhanced with continued participation.

The agenda for the discussion is always open to amendment, but I would propose that we bick up last month's un-addressed topic:
2 Views of God: strict father vs nurturant parent.

To refress our collective memory:
"I just re-read an article by George Lakoff wherein he states his belief that the difference between conservative and progressive Christianity is whether God is seen as a strict father or a nurturant parent.

"The strict father God is punitive: Follow His commandments and you go to Heaven. Disobey and you go to Hell. Since you're all sinners, He'll give you a second chance. His son has suffered so much that he has built up enough moral credit to pay for the sins of everybody. If you accept Jesus as you're savior, He'll wipe the slate clean as if you've been born again; but this time you'd better get it right or else. Do what your church says and you'll go to Heaven; disobey and you'll go to Hell."

"The nurturant God offers Grace, which is metaphorical nurturance. To get Grace, you have to be close to God; you can't earn Grace; it's freely given and unconditionally; it must be accepted actively; it fills and nourishes you, protects you, heals you, makes you a moral person."

To me the strict God seems to come from the Old Testament and the nurturant God from the New. I, by life experience and formal and informal studies, favor the nurturant parent. I come by my belief both by science, my intellect, by reason and by religion, my intuition, by faith, when those times come when reason alone fails to provide the answers I seek. This is the basis of my declaration of being a Deist. I seek to be a fully enlightened person.

I wonder if, from your initial up bringing as a Southern Baptist, you were taught not to question God, your church and by extension your parents. My understanding of the Baptist Church, maybe my prejudice, is that the home of a strict God, a place of fire and brimstone, "ya'll better be good or God's gonna get ya." Please correct me if I am wrong. I grew up with a similiar understanding of the Roman Catholic church except it was The Pope who'll "get ya". I'm open to correction here, too.

I started life in a Methodist family, NO BODY challenged Grandfather Warden, his word was law. Once free from home, after I entered college my thinking began to change; I progressed from agnostism, to atheism, to non-theism, and due to my strong background in science, to Deism. I believe in a Creator because it both "makes sense" and because it provides answers that reason alone can not.

Shall we indulge ourselves and go into this strict father vs nurturant parent further? I loved to spend some time in real time hearing what you and others have to say.

BTW, I beleive this discussion has important currency in that it has much relevance in explaining the differences between the national Republican and Democratic platforms and their chosen candidates."

Any other ideas, please make your suggestions known; and please join us.

Roger