In Reply to: Re: Do we need separate boards? posted by Roger on September 30, 2006 at 13:51:55:
Something we need to consider is all the flakey New Age stuff that TFI teaches. I have no problem with a lot of New Age ideas, but I think many people have a legitimate need to separate New Age teachings from orthodox Christian teachings. Unfortunately, this often takens the form of condeming the New Age philosophies as heretical and dangaerous, when a simple statement that such-and-such is not in line with traditional Christian teaching would be sufficient.
Note that I said "flakey" New Age ideas. I don't believe that all philosophies or ideas connected to the New Age lable are flakey or false or dangerous, particularly not those ideas having to do with health and the mind/body connection. This is where an intellectually honest exploration of New Age ideas and alternative, (largely eastern) philosophies might be of benefit to Familites and exers who read this board.
New Age and alternative, non-western spiritualities should be discussed on their own merits. Statements regarding these ideas as being heretical from the standpoint of Christian tradition are not particularly helpful to people who want to reason things out for themselves on some basis other than, "Because the Bible tells us so."
A lot of people coming out of a cultic Christian religious experience want nothing to do with Christian tradition. It has taken me many years to reclaim my own Christian identity, and I think this occurred in large part as a reaction to Christian-identified people at this site trying to tell me what it means to love God and follow the teachings of a first century Jewish Rabbi called Jesus of Nazareth in a post-modern age. I have resented the propagation of conservative Christian dogma as though it were the only true or authentic representation of Christian faith. I realize that's my problem to handle, and I've done the best I could, knowing that my best is not always good enough for other people at this site.
To be quite honest and frank, I have felt emotionally threatened at times by some of the narrow-minded dogmatism expressed on this board. There's a deep part of my being who identifies with being burned at the stake for someone else's accusation of heresy. I am holding to the only faith by which I'm willing to live. Sorry if you don't like it, but I'm done with making apologies and pussy-footing around someone else's hang-ups and religious issues.
I am very thankful for having the Journey board, because it has helped me grow spiritually. Isn't that what it was designed to do?