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Embracing Christian Myth

In writing several of my previous posts I had a nagging sense that the focus has been on the negative emotions related to this transition. That is okay with me, honesty necessitates this.  Nevertheless, my soul was alarmed. What happened to the joy, enthusiasm and curiosity that underwrote the earlier part of this journey?  

There are a few reasons this sense of "going towards something," has been temporarily misplaced: First, my ipad stopped downloading podcasts. For months I have been listening to inspiring and life giving discussions with my ipad and blue tooth speaker in my little Corolla. Now I have been listening to Narnia on CD which is amazing but not the same. I can get the podcasts on my laptop but with a new schedule my listening frequency has plummeted. 

Secondly, my Wed pm small group has come to a close. It consisted of 1.5 hrs in the car listening to podcasts and over an hour sharing authentically with some guys who have become close friends.  That all disappeared. 

I have had some time to read but I'm so tired at night and the daytime isn't real conducive with the adult responsibilities. 

Last night I cracked Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth" and it was like water to my soul. I wanted to share one paragraph that jumped out at me. 

If a person is really involved in a religion and really building his life on it, he better stay with the software that he has got. But a chap like myself, who likes to play with the software-well, I can run around, but I probably will never have an experience comparable to that of a saint. (p.20)

He is talking about how each religion or belief system operates like software, it's parts make it work to accomplish certain tasks. You cannot just take parts of one and expect them to work in another. 
I realize that while my belief system has changed, I will always be operating on a Christian platform even if it has been tweaked. 

I believe there is much to be learned from Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and others but I doubt I can ever see the world their way at a deep level.  This is not unlike language which at this point I could learn new ones but my thinking would be in English.

Campbell and others like Marcus Borg have a positive assessment of Christianity because they see how it functions as a positive myth. It is true even if not "literally" true in the sense that an evangelical believes. I know I can at least get on board with that which is why I am not completely rejecting all things church and Christian. 

I see much love, sacrifice, and beauty in the people called Christians.  Jesus is so compelling for this reason...he inspires love!


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