I appreciate your edge and its honesty. I am so tired of people using God as justification for their own biases and bad behavior. After 59 years of trying to be Catholic, I am done. I have witnessed too much unkindness within the church; my heart is tired and sore. Thank you for your work and voice, Nadia. Love and peace to you.
I hear you. I have also left the Catholic Church after trying for years to be a voice of change from within. There just came a time when it felt I was being complicit in the “closed table” - the only exclusion of so many. If there’s no room for everyone at the table, then it’s not God’s table.
I understand that change is more likely from inside; that in leaving Catholicism I have been/will be less likely to effect change. I still love Meister Eckhart, Thomas Merton, John the 23rd; had great hope for Pope Francis; but there comes a time...
Thank you. I know both Munther and Mitri quite well and I admire their 'sumud' (Arabic: steadfastness) en that of all the many Palestinians I know. May the kairos come, sooner rather than later, that Palestine will be free!
A point worth keeping in heart and mind in this particular pre-lenten season: in all four passion narratives Jesus is charged with, and condemned to crucifixion for - heresy. For some, Bishop Budde's plea for compassion was - heresy. For many (far too many) to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God - is the worst heresy of all.
Worth remembering that at its roots, heresy means believing something other, something different. All prophets are heretics when they emerge from the status quo. And it takes an edge to cut through the complacency that those in control work to their advantage. The word "belief" is a major contributor to the problem. "Trust" is usually better in most contexts. Truth for us is primarily a person, the Truth, not a value of a proposition, not a judgment of a doctrine. Loyalty to people, solidarity with the little ones is seeing and doing Matt 25. Beliefs often get in the way and need to be cut away to get to the core. A word to the ex- and still-Catholics: find a way to gather with the trusted faithful where you find them. Francis is trying to promote a culture of encounter, a stance of active listening, a style of walking together. The belief police, those who want control and right angles of orthodoxy, still have too firm a grip on the everyday reality of the gathering. I'm gonna stay and fight, but I get it, and I'm sorry. We have much to learn from our broader Christian family and I wish you peace and urge you to find a more welcoming home among those whom you can trust. I still feel called to dwell in the dysfunction and be called heretical. Pray for me as my forehead is lumpy from banging it against the walls.
I like your comment and agree with you. Heterosexual (from a similar root) simply means "sexually different" and heterodox simply means "different formula" (more or less) and the word "belief" is a major problem: I agree. I will pray with you since the walls won't respond; and reminding myself that when I'm seeing and doing Matt 25 to keep in mind the instructions in Matt 5 and the marching orders in Matt 10.
Thank you for your courage to address this topic. Too many leaders, Christian and otherwise, know what you wrote is true but are afraid of those who equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. When we lived in Bethlehem, we also experienced the check points. It's much worse now. At that time, even Jewish settler friends begged us, with tears in their eyes, to tell American Christians what the reality of the occupation is because "it is destroying the Jewish soul". We can't afford to be silent while our dear friends suffer although it may cost us our supporters.
God bless you, Nadia. When I have doubts (not about God, but about calling myself a Christian) you are one of those who reassure me. This is true prophesy!
Great examples of heresy - and taking God’s name and vain.Thank you for sharing your insights. I am deeply saddened by the centuries of hate and fear between people who all have roots in that land. Everyone there deserves to live with agency and dignity. My prayers are with you and with all those who work tirelessly to come to true peace.
In 2017 I was in Israel with a small group of clergy colleagues. Our trip had been set up by the Episcopal church in cooperation with the Anglican Diocese in Israel. While we were there we were given opportunities to talk to Jewish rabbis, professors and “settlers “. We also were taken into Bethlehem, which is surrounded by an extremely high wall and is designed to keep the residents from leaving. They are virtual prisoners. Palestinian Christians told us horrific stories of suppression and marginalization. Israeli Jews proudly told us stories of their belief that all of the land Israel was theirs because the Bible proclaimed it.
Nadia, thank you for being there and opening the eyes of your readers. May God’s grace overflow in the broken land.
Amen! Thank you for speaking truth. I wish the mainline churches were more vocal in support of their Palestinian siblings in Christ. Munther and Mitri and the sumud of the people have much to teach us on how to live out our faith. We need to grapple with the fact that our ignorance and silence has contributed to this ongoing genocide.
I had a conversation with a Jewish woman from Canada last night who has experienced anti-semitism in her own city. She sees this conflict very differently than I do. She has family that dies in the holocaust and she has family in Israel who tell her how awful the Palestinians are. It seems as though to me anyway, that it is hard to know what the truth is. Israel has false narratives just as we do about the people we deem other. I want to honor her experiences and her fears, but it seems like she is only getting half of the story as I am only getting half of the story as well. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. But the trauma that so many feel right now makes it very difficult to even have a meaningful conversation. I have been following Munther for several years and know of the farmer he talks about. I have a friend who goes to the farm to help out. The whole thing seems so hopeless. God have mercy on us all.
Thank you for putting my scattered thoughts into words. As a religious gypsy, it's easy to feel like I'm on an island, but I am always grateful for your expression of who Jesus really is.
I feel that way too! And you know what it's really OK. Our relationships with spirit and Jesus is ours and our alone. And we have to be faithful to that blessings.
I fully agree on that definition of heresy, for it has been in America for centuries, as it has been in the Middle East and Europe. The 2nd point in your title is what gives me pause as I think what may be in America's future-Checkpoints.
Yeah... The mood in the Native American Church in I attend was not good. They went over what to do if I.C.E. is knocking on their door and to not let them in or talk to them if they do not have a warrant. If they say they do, ask them to slide it under their door. It must be signed and only by a judge in their jurisdiction. smh
I appreciate your edge and its honesty. I am so tired of people using God as justification for their own biases and bad behavior. After 59 years of trying to be Catholic, I am done. I have witnessed too much unkindness within the church; my heart is tired and sore. Thank you for your work and voice, Nadia. Love and peace to you.
Beth, I hear you and I would raise you a F$%&, but I have none left to give. I am a Methodist who is also D.O.N.E.
I hear you. I have also left the Catholic Church after trying for years to be a voice of change from within. There just came a time when it felt I was being complicit in the “closed table” - the only exclusion of so many. If there’s no room for everyone at the table, then it’s not God’s table.
So good Roma.
I understand that change is more likely from inside; that in leaving Catholicism I have been/will be less likely to effect change. I still love Meister Eckhart, Thomas Merton, John the 23rd; had great hope for Pope Francis; but there comes a time...
Praying for your tender heart, endurance and perseverance, your mission is powerful and needed. Thank you!🙏🧡
„And I imagine God is just about sick to death of it.“
That’s what I sense, too.
😪
Thank you for shining your light on this. My heart aches for Palestine and the generations of suffering this has wrought.
Thank you. I know both Munther and Mitri quite well and I admire their 'sumud' (Arabic: steadfastness) en that of all the many Palestinians I know. May the kairos come, sooner rather than later, that Palestine will be free!
sumud! yes. it is nothing short of astonishing.
A point worth keeping in heart and mind in this particular pre-lenten season: in all four passion narratives Jesus is charged with, and condemned to crucifixion for - heresy. For some, Bishop Budde's plea for compassion was - heresy. For many (far too many) to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God - is the worst heresy of all.
Worth remembering that at its roots, heresy means believing something other, something different. All prophets are heretics when they emerge from the status quo. And it takes an edge to cut through the complacency that those in control work to their advantage. The word "belief" is a major contributor to the problem. "Trust" is usually better in most contexts. Truth for us is primarily a person, the Truth, not a value of a proposition, not a judgment of a doctrine. Loyalty to people, solidarity with the little ones is seeing and doing Matt 25. Beliefs often get in the way and need to be cut away to get to the core. A word to the ex- and still-Catholics: find a way to gather with the trusted faithful where you find them. Francis is trying to promote a culture of encounter, a stance of active listening, a style of walking together. The belief police, those who want control and right angles of orthodoxy, still have too firm a grip on the everyday reality of the gathering. I'm gonna stay and fight, but I get it, and I'm sorry. We have much to learn from our broader Christian family and I wish you peace and urge you to find a more welcoming home among those whom you can trust. I still feel called to dwell in the dysfunction and be called heretical. Pray for me as my forehead is lumpy from banging it against the walls.
I like your comment and agree with you. Heterosexual (from a similar root) simply means "sexually different" and heterodox simply means "different formula" (more or less) and the word "belief" is a major problem: I agree. I will pray with you since the walls won't respond; and reminding myself that when I'm seeing and doing Matt 25 to keep in mind the instructions in Matt 5 and the marching orders in Matt 10.
Thank you for your courage to address this topic. Too many leaders, Christian and otherwise, know what you wrote is true but are afraid of those who equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. When we lived in Bethlehem, we also experienced the check points. It's much worse now. At that time, even Jewish settler friends begged us, with tears in their eyes, to tell American Christians what the reality of the occupation is because "it is destroying the Jewish soul". We can't afford to be silent while our dear friends suffer although it may cost us our supporters.
God bless you, Nadia. When I have doubts (not about God, but about calling myself a Christian) you are one of those who reassure me. This is true prophesy!
Great examples of heresy - and taking God’s name and vain.Thank you for sharing your insights. I am deeply saddened by the centuries of hate and fear between people who all have roots in that land. Everyone there deserves to live with agency and dignity. My prayers are with you and with all those who work tirelessly to come to true peace.
In 2017 I was in Israel with a small group of clergy colleagues. Our trip had been set up by the Episcopal church in cooperation with the Anglican Diocese in Israel. While we were there we were given opportunities to talk to Jewish rabbis, professors and “settlers “. We also were taken into Bethlehem, which is surrounded by an extremely high wall and is designed to keep the residents from leaving. They are virtual prisoners. Palestinian Christians told us horrific stories of suppression and marginalization. Israeli Jews proudly told us stories of their belief that all of the land Israel was theirs because the Bible proclaimed it.
Nadia, thank you for being there and opening the eyes of your readers. May God’s grace overflow in the broken land.
Amen! Thank you for speaking truth. I wish the mainline churches were more vocal in support of their Palestinian siblings in Christ. Munther and Mitri and the sumud of the people have much to teach us on how to live out our faith. We need to grapple with the fact that our ignorance and silence has contributed to this ongoing genocide.
I had a conversation with a Jewish woman from Canada last night who has experienced anti-semitism in her own city. She sees this conflict very differently than I do. She has family that dies in the holocaust and she has family in Israel who tell her how awful the Palestinians are. It seems as though to me anyway, that it is hard to know what the truth is. Israel has false narratives just as we do about the people we deem other. I want to honor her experiences and her fears, but it seems like she is only getting half of the story as I am only getting half of the story as well. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. But the trauma that so many feel right now makes it very difficult to even have a meaningful conversation. I have been following Munther for several years and know of the farmer he talks about. I have a friend who goes to the farm to help out. The whole thing seems so hopeless. God have mercy on us all.
yes, God have mercy on us all.
Amen.
Thank you for putting my scattered thoughts into words. As a religious gypsy, it's easy to feel like I'm on an island, but I am always grateful for your expression of who Jesus really is.
I feel that way too! And you know what it's really OK. Our relationships with spirit and Jesus is ours and our alone. And we have to be faithful to that blessings.
I fully agree on that definition of heresy, for it has been in America for centuries, as it has been in the Middle East and Europe. The 2nd point in your title is what gives me pause as I think what may be in America's future-Checkpoints.
Oh man...
Yeah... The mood in the Native American Church in I attend was not good. They went over what to do if I.C.E. is knocking on their door and to not let them in or talk to them if they do not have a warrant. If they say they do, ask them to slide it under their door. It must be signed and only by a judge in their jurisdiction. smh
Incredible words. Powerful and true. Thank you
Amen and thank you Nadia. Praying you can get some rest and emotional recharging.