There are lots of different kinds of Christians, I happen to know a good number who are not only NOT intolerant jerks but are very accomodating to a non-christian UU - They're called my seminary classmates.
My friend Jen, who is a Christian and has spent the last decade or so working on behalf of people with HIV/AIDS. When she's in the U.S., she's doing public health work and running fundraising marathons; when she's not in the U.S., she's helping orphans in South African and Cambodia. And she is so much fun -- loves to dance, and she's the one who got me to go on my first (and so far only) camping trip.
People like her completely humble me. I think that's what the Episcopalians have in mind when they say that instead of directly evangelizing, Episcopalians should live in such a way that people approach *them* to find out what has made them so joyful.
I used to have a friend who was a Catholic nun. She was 24 and a hoot. I called her Sister Silly. (Her name was Sister Sylvia Marie.). When we went to an Earth Fair together she greeted the booth full of Hindu nuns as long lost sisters -- she said they were the same as her; "fellow religious" was the phrase she used. She seemed to think that a nun is a nun -- if you have dedicated your life to God, it didn't matter what you called God.
Maybe you could check out Into Great Silence, the documentary about an ascetic [that actually sort of minimizes it!] monastery in the French Alps. It's an awfully compelling film, and the monks don't come across as at all intolerant.
Of course, they're silent for about 99% of the film. ;-)
Because of a recent ton of spam and weird insulting comments from a brand-new poster, I'm putting in comment moderation for a bit. I'm planning to do comment moderation "Ms. Kitty Style," as in, with a very light touch and kicking only off-topic and unreasonably insulting posts.
Um... you can say something funny and irreverent about Jesus/prayer/Communion and I won't get mad. Promise.
ReplyDeleteThere's one!
There are lots of different kinds of Christians, I happen to know a good number who are not only NOT intolerant jerks but are very accomodating to a non-christian UU - They're called my seminary classmates.
ReplyDeleteSee? I knew they were out there...
ReplyDeleteCC
who is having a rough night. Ignore her.
My friend Jen, who is a Christian and has spent the last decade or so working on behalf of people with HIV/AIDS. When she's in the U.S., she's doing public health work and running fundraising marathons; when she's not in the U.S., she's helping orphans in South African and Cambodia. And she is so much fun -- loves to dance, and she's the one who got me to go on my first (and so far only) camping trip.
ReplyDeletePeople like her completely humble me. I think that's what the Episcopalians have in mind when they say that instead of directly evangelizing, Episcopalians should live in such a way that people approach *them* to find out what has made them so joyful.
I used to have a friend who was a Catholic nun. She was 24 and a hoot. I called her Sister Silly. (Her name was Sister Sylvia Marie.). When we went to an Earth Fair together she greeted the booth full of Hindu nuns as long lost sisters -- she said they were the same as her; "fellow religious" was the phrase she used. She seemed to think that a nun is a nun -- if you have dedicated your life to God, it didn't matter what you called God.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could check out Into Great Silence, the documentary about an ascetic [that actually sort of minimizes it!] monastery in the French Alps. It's an awfully compelling film, and the monks don't come across as at all intolerant.
ReplyDeleteOf course, they're silent for about 99% of the film. ;-)
Really, it's a great film. Highly recommended.
Well if it will make you feel better CC I will hereby acknowledge that not *all* U*Us are intolerant jerks. . .
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