Oh, dear Peter, what a supreme teacher you are. This thrilled my soul. It teaches the universal connection we all have, the consciousness we all share. Christianity is one choice, among many, as an avenue to the Divine. Our avenue choice may have to do with the culture we know, our evolving understanding, & the soul’s best fit in that evolution. This does not negate other avenues. Rather, it allows vast choices of incorporating love & beauty from multiple avenues of seeking out the Divine. You & I may choose a “progressive” Christianity. Others may choose a different path in their journey.
Thank you Dr. Gilbert. I'm so honored to have your support for this work. I'm just following what thrills my soul. I'm so grateful it resonates with anyone else.
I love all this. I wish I was as brave as you. I cannot utter that sentence at this point. I cannot say I’m Christian. Because when I say that it would mean I was aligning myself with so much of what I don’t believe. Having a adult child in the LGBTQ community keeps me from being able to utter that sentence along with so many other things. And I don’t think I need a label. Because I know love and I know what’s right. I know that there’s likely one consciousness, that one energy and connection. I don’t think it needs a label.
Thanks Ralphie. I don't know if I'm brave. I'm just following the longing where it leads me. I don't overthink things as much as I used to. I don't give my aversions as much credibility as I used to. I'm finding that real empowerment is to humbly open to what thrills my soul. I've immersed myself in contemplative, mystical, progressive Christianity so deeply, and read that stuff constantly, and dialogue about it all the time, and in those circles none of the idiotic sexism, mysogony, transphobia, or homophobia exists. They showed them all the door a long time ago. So in those circles the word "Christian" no longer triggers fear. But that's what my piece is about, and this whole Substack of mine--exploring the opening. And in the end you're right. We don't need labels. As I heard someone say, "I just follow the way of Jesus. He wasn't a Christian, so why should I be?"
Thanks Peter. I so enjoy reading what you so skillfully share. I do need to be more like you though. My ego gets in the way too much. If I were to even say I support some of the Christian ideals - I feel then that others would think I was a Christian and I don't want to be in their eyes. This is because the majority of those defining Christianity don't define it the way I would so I don't want to be looped into THAT. I recently stumbled upon some social media accounts of former ministers and pastors explaining how they are now "deconstructing" after decades of preaching and they openly share they no longer can align with any of it. It's fascinating.
I spend a lot of time in progressive, deconstructionist spaces. It's very exciting. I didn't grow up in Christianity, so unlike a lot of exvangelicals, I'm not deconstructing. I don't know what to call what I'm doing. I'm just doing it.
Thank you once again Peter, for this feast for heart and soul. There is so much to learn and mull over from the expression of your writing. The gift of age, and 35 years of hiking through Montana field and forest has offered me the experience of finding wisdom everywhere and in everyone. I will hike through the coming weeks with your beautiful words.
Wow, Peter. This is a pocket-guide to humanity--screw religion, just live a Christ-like life! I felt the need to forward widely! Thanks a million for posting this kind of useful thinking!
Thank you Jon. I might’ve said it quite differently (since I am a religious person), but I know what you mean. And thank you for sharing this piece. I really, really appreciate it.
Thank you for another thoughtful article that gives me more to consider and more wonderful books to read. I’ve read that when people told Maya Angelou they were Christian, her response was “Already?” Maya felt like Christianity is a journey of becoming. A journey we are always on.
James, great question. And in a way, that's what this whole past year of Substack posts have been about--me grappling with how I ended up here. As a student, teacher, and practitioner of the world's wisdom traditions, I eventually found myself drawn more and more deeply to the contemplative, mystical, and progressive side of the Christian family tree. I haven't replaced anything with Christianity--I've simply added it and focused my practice there. More directly to your question, I didn't choose my path(s) through a calculation of atrocities-per-capita. Human beings are fucked up, and they do horrible shit--that's always been true. As a white man it's been a long, slow growth process to come to some peace about the fact that most of the horrible shit was done when people who look like me were in charge. But I don't go around in a state of shame--I feel instead a deep resolve to name truth, repair the damage, and work for the healing of the world. This conversation would take much longer than we have space here to work out. But that's a start.
This resonates! I’m on the same path now for a decade or so. We might call it esoteric Christianity, but who knows. I’ve been walking with Yeshua, the Hermetics, Gurdjieff, Cynthia Bourgeault. Not looking for something, more inhabiting something. Not a belief … a practice. I call it Living From Good. Good being the higher arc of meaning that we sense and can begin to inhabit. I’d be honored if you take a look at the breadcrumbs I’ve left on my route … https://livingfromgood.com/mystical-themes/
Oh, dear Peter, what a supreme teacher you are. This thrilled my soul. It teaches the universal connection we all have, the consciousness we all share. Christianity is one choice, among many, as an avenue to the Divine. Our avenue choice may have to do with the culture we know, our evolving understanding, & the soul’s best fit in that evolution. This does not negate other avenues. Rather, it allows vast choices of incorporating love & beauty from multiple avenues of seeking out the Divine. You & I may choose a “progressive” Christianity. Others may choose a different path in their journey.
Thank you Dr. Gilbert. I'm so honored to have your support for this work. I'm just following what thrills my soul. I'm so grateful it resonates with anyone else.
I love all this. I wish I was as brave as you. I cannot utter that sentence at this point. I cannot say I’m Christian. Because when I say that it would mean I was aligning myself with so much of what I don’t believe. Having a adult child in the LGBTQ community keeps me from being able to utter that sentence along with so many other things. And I don’t think I need a label. Because I know love and I know what’s right. I know that there’s likely one consciousness, that one energy and connection. I don’t think it needs a label.
Thanks Ralphie. I don't know if I'm brave. I'm just following the longing where it leads me. I don't overthink things as much as I used to. I don't give my aversions as much credibility as I used to. I'm finding that real empowerment is to humbly open to what thrills my soul. I've immersed myself in contemplative, mystical, progressive Christianity so deeply, and read that stuff constantly, and dialogue about it all the time, and in those circles none of the idiotic sexism, mysogony, transphobia, or homophobia exists. They showed them all the door a long time ago. So in those circles the word "Christian" no longer triggers fear. But that's what my piece is about, and this whole Substack of mine--exploring the opening. And in the end you're right. We don't need labels. As I heard someone say, "I just follow the way of Jesus. He wasn't a Christian, so why should I be?"
Thanks Peter. I so enjoy reading what you so skillfully share. I do need to be more like you though. My ego gets in the way too much. If I were to even say I support some of the Christian ideals - I feel then that others would think I was a Christian and I don't want to be in their eyes. This is because the majority of those defining Christianity don't define it the way I would so I don't want to be looped into THAT. I recently stumbled upon some social media accounts of former ministers and pastors explaining how they are now "deconstructing" after decades of preaching and they openly share they no longer can align with any of it. It's fascinating.
I spend a lot of time in progressive, deconstructionist spaces. It's very exciting. I didn't grow up in Christianity, so unlike a lot of exvangelicals, I'm not deconstructing. I don't know what to call what I'm doing. I'm just doing it.
Thank you once again Peter, for this feast for heart and soul. There is so much to learn and mull over from the expression of your writing. The gift of age, and 35 years of hiking through Montana field and forest has offered me the experience of finding wisdom everywhere and in everyone. I will hike through the coming weeks with your beautiful words.
Thank you for your deeply evocative note Patti. I will carry this nourishment with me on the road ahead.
Wow, Peter. This is a pocket-guide to humanity--screw religion, just live a Christ-like life! I felt the need to forward widely! Thanks a million for posting this kind of useful thinking!
Thank you Jon. I might’ve said it quite differently (since I am a religious person), but I know what you mean. And thank you for sharing this piece. I really, really appreciate it.
Peter, I apologize for being too rough. I just wanted to underscore the message that Jesus wasn't interested in the trappings.
Like I said—I knew what you meant, and I agree with you.
Thank you for another thoughtful article that gives me more to consider and more wonderful books to read. I’ve read that when people told Maya Angelou they were Christian, her response was “Already?” Maya felt like Christianity is a journey of becoming. A journey we are always on.
Thank you Cindye. And what a great quote from Maya Angelou--I love it!
Beautiful, very beautiful.
Thank you June. 🙏🏼
Another great article, and puzzling at the same time.
Given your obvious breadth of knowledge about religions, why choose Christianity with all its problems as a guiding path?
James, great question. And in a way, that's what this whole past year of Substack posts have been about--me grappling with how I ended up here. As a student, teacher, and practitioner of the world's wisdom traditions, I eventually found myself drawn more and more deeply to the contemplative, mystical, and progressive side of the Christian family tree. I haven't replaced anything with Christianity--I've simply added it and focused my practice there. More directly to your question, I didn't choose my path(s) through a calculation of atrocities-per-capita. Human beings are fucked up, and they do horrible shit--that's always been true. As a white man it's been a long, slow growth process to come to some peace about the fact that most of the horrible shit was done when people who look like me were in charge. But I don't go around in a state of shame--I feel instead a deep resolve to name truth, repair the damage, and work for the healing of the world. This conversation would take much longer than we have space here to work out. But that's a start.
Peter, this is a great post! Once again you have shared great insight that we can all use to become better global citizens.
Frank
This resonates! I’m on the same path now for a decade or so. We might call it esoteric Christianity, but who knows. I’ve been walking with Yeshua, the Hermetics, Gurdjieff, Cynthia Bourgeault. Not looking for something, more inhabiting something. Not a belief … a practice. I call it Living From Good. Good being the higher arc of meaning that we sense and can begin to inhabit. I’d be honored if you take a look at the breadcrumbs I’ve left on my route … https://livingfromgood.com/mystical-themes/