The Theologian's Table

I am one of those Christians that Atheists and Agnostics make fun of. I am Christian in large part because I was raised in the church. Mostly, I've never questioned the existence of God because I'd seen Him at work too much to deny Him. What my critics might not understand is that just because I grew up in the church doesn't mean that I was always Johnny Do-Good Christian, as I'm sure my early college friends can attest to. And, there is a different kind of denial, which is just walking away from God. In my late teens and early twenties, that is how I denied God's existence, by walking away. I remember a time where I lived on an Native American reservation. I visited some people that lived in a run-down house with no windows. Meaning, there were places for the windows to go, but there were no panes of glass, just empty frames letting in the elements. In many ways that house mirrored my life back then. It was in disrepair, incomplete, and vulnerable. As I r...

Mary Ann Morgan  - "Worshiping hand on blue" - Flickr Disclaimer : They say honesty is the best policy, but it can sometimes lead to hurt feelings or offense. What I have to say in this post may hurt some. All I can do is apologize in advance and tell you that writing posts such as this helps me sort through my thoughts and clarify my positions. Of course, feedback is always welcomed. Generalizations           I'm not sure if the average Southerner is aware that there are certain stereotypes pitted against them when it comes to spirituality. It may not be the case for every Northerner to hold these views, but this one did. What I'm talking about of course is the stereotype that most Southerners who go to church are swinging off the chandeliers, speaking in tongues, falling over in the aisle types of worshipers. Or they are people who check their mind at the door, sing hymns and passively listen to a preacher shout fire and...