Patrick's Place

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Saturday 6

1. You’re in church, listening to a sermon, when your pastor begins a diatribe that you strongly disagree with. Which are you more likely to do: sit through the sermon and confront the pastor privately afterwards, get up and leave in the middle of the sermon, or say nothing at all?

Based on my current pastor, if this happened I'd be too shocked to do anything more than sit transfixed until the end of the sermon. I'd probably leave then and spend the remainder of the service in the bathroom. Or the car. And yeah, I'd definitely be calling to chat with him later. The first question out of my mouth would be "Are you feeling ok?"

The key word here for me is "diatribe." In the 6 years he has been at our church--during which I've served on Session, worked as a youth leader and done a great deal of miscellaneous behind-the-scenes volunteering, and also gone to Presbytery meetings which he moderated--I've never seen him approach "diatribe." Don't get me wrong: if he disagrees, or is cranky, it's obvious. He's just not someone who goes off half-cocked; he thinks everything through. EVERY. thing. Every-damn-thing. ;-)

2. Regardless of your response to question #1, how likely would you be to return to the same church with the same level of enthusiasm the following week?

I'd actually be more enthusiastic the following week; one does love to see "what happens next." However, to be clear: I don't attend church as a follower of the pastor. I attend church as a follower of Christ.

3. Based on how well you know your particular belief system's main principles, how much do you agree with them overall?

I'm in full concord with well over 95% of the PCUSA beliefs and doctrines, and its stand on most of the social issues we face daily. My only issue is that the TF on PUP didn't go far enough...this time. Yet. Soon, though, very soon. Please, Lord Jesus, soon.

4. Based on how well you know your pastor or the person from whom you take the most spiritual advice (or the person who has influenced your beliefs the most if not a pastor), how much do you think you agree with this person overall and how much do you disagree?

I think my current pastor and I are fairly close, though we haven't gotten into the nitty-gritty on the Big Scary Issues in detail. I don't really have one spiritual advisor. That's a heavy load for one person--I rely on the teachings of all my previous pastor and teachers, and read a lot.

5. How important is it to you that the people with whom you associate most often have views on spirituality that closely mirror your own?

I actually don't have a lot of tight friendships within my church--anymore. Most of my friends are either non-Christian or we just don't talk about it. I'm not overtly trying to save them, and they are not overtly trying to rescue me. However, I have a great deal of difficulty with anyone who thinks they've got all the answers figured out for everyone on earth, be they Christian, Muslim, or crazy-ass nutcake. Sorry, I'm just not an evangelizer, and I expect the same courtesy in return.

6. To what extent do you believe spirited rallies about racism actually opens the door to improve race relations in this country, as opposed to merely maintaining a level of anger that blocks such attempts to improve things?

I'm not sure what is meant by "spirited rallies." If they are designed and used as a safe place to discuss race inclusively, then they are great. If they are designed as use as a place to vent, then they are probably not very helpful in the long term.

That's not to say that venting is appropriate. I just don't think it should be done if the program is to come to some sort of conclusion, to give directed, concrete plans for what needs to be addressed.

The same thing goes for feminism. Nothing pisses me off more than a feminist rally that has turned into man-bashing. I like men. I don't always like the actions of some men, but to castigate 50% of the race because some of that 50% is intellectually retarded isn't fair, isn't helpful, isn't healthy, and isn't forward-thinking at all.

Rock on, Obama, for trying to keep the conversation focused on the positives without being ignorant of the past and current real, serious, major issues we face in dealing with racism!