tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3222418233330841391.post7607289258677155968..comments2024-03-27T05:25:04.829-04:00Comments on Hallowed Secularism: More on Progressive ReligionBruce Ledewitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10419873523392584062noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3222418233330841391.post-60915527528940554722008-03-14T13:45:00.000-04:002008-03-14T13:45:00.000-04:00Ok, I forgot to say that was me (Thurman) in the l...Ok, I forgot to say that was me (<A HREF="http://xpatriatedtexan.com/blog/" REL="nofollow">Thurman</A>) in the last comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3222418233330841391.post-46081533073147548402008-03-14T13:42:00.000-04:002008-03-14T13:42:00.000-04:00It seems we're all having comment trouble. If thi...It seems we're all having comment trouble. If this works, then your place is the only one that will let us all discuss things in one place - but there are advantages to cross-linking.<BR/><BR/>I don't think you are alone as you might think. Since I don't know where you live, I can't say for sure, but the <A HREF="http://www.ethicalsociety.org/" REL="nofollow">Ethical Society</A> or the <A HREF="http://www.ethicalhuman.org/" REL="nofollow">Ethical Humanist Society</A> could be starting points to broaden the sense of community.<BR/><BR/>It was necessary for me to leave three major denominations of Christian churches before I found a tradition that holds reason to be as great a yardstick as scripture and tradition. It's a difficult balancing act, and it is always easy to slip back into the mindless adherence to tradition.<BR/><BR/>Moses Mendelsohn, if you remember, was actually thrown out of his Jewish congregation because he wanted to reconcile his religion with what he knew of the world around him. Martin Luther did the same within the Catholic Church, as did Calvin and the Wesley brothers. It would seem that there is a historical precedence for leaving the "church" (body of believers) in order to move them beyond the points at which they are stuck.<BR/><BR/>Being a trailblazer can be lonely work, just don't make it any more so than it has to. And keep up the good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3222418233330841391.post-4850551593868473052008-03-13T15:41:00.000-04:002008-03-13T15:41:00.000-04:00So, I had to leave even if others feel they can st...<I>So, I had to leave even if others feel they can stay in their traditions. </I><BR/><BR/>I am a strong believer that people need to choose the path that works best for them.<BR/><BR/>Not everyone finds it satisfying to try to work with a tradition, even one they were born with, if they find its challenges insurmountable.Mystical Seekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10828225180668865911noreply@blogger.com