Front PageOutline version Alpha 2
Submitted by bill on Tue, 04/24/2007 - 14:43. blook faithcommons Structure
This is the latest outline for the blook Faith as a Commons. These are major sections that describe first the current situation and how we got here; second the way to faith in a technologically advanced twenty-first century that allows for science and rationality as well as pluralism in religion and philosophy; and third the Commons of faith, why faith requires the commons perspective even more in our global world and how faith contributes to the commons; and fourth to keep the faith we must seek inspiration while constantly smashing idols that suck the life out of the Faith Commons.
The sections are:
Introduction
This is not about religious faith. It is about a-religious faith. Faith for everybody. Faith for the whole person—the whole being. Religion, at its best, is documented or revealed faith. Faith comes first, then religion. For some, religion is a way to faith, or an exercise thereof. But for an increasing number of us, religion today is a limiter of faith. This is an attempt to define faith in a way that we who live in an increasingly pluralistic society can have and share faith for the good of the commons, and reduce sectarian strife at the same time by outsourcing—if you will—faith. It's ok to use religious texts and customs, and especially to share them. Faith in inclusiveness is most important.
Why Faith?
Losing Faith
Finding Faith
Redefining Faith
Sharing Faith
Maybe this sounds too evangelical? It's supposed to be about Commons and the way that faith operates in community. Is it a put-off?
Keeping Faith
Appendices
These may change as we go, or course. I will get to work soon creating the structure for this.
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Disguising Faith
Submitted by Arti Swede on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 21:36.
Reido said in a separate string: How much are we willing to invest in Faith? To that, I would answer that we alreadly are investing all of our Being (even if we are not aware of it).
Perhaps this suggests "Disguising Faith" as part of the outline
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Re: Disguising Faith
Submitted by bill on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 22:17.
Arti,
You bring up a good point. Some disguises may be idols, others lying to oneself--since faith=truth or truthfulness.
Losing Faith is perhaps related to disguising it, so one of them could be a subsection of the other.
This Faith thing is really taking me for a ride, these past few weeks, and the past few days in particular. Not too long ago I was becoming convinced that it was going to be a no-show, that the concept was too shallow and that nobody cared. Now I'm thinking that it can be connected to deep human existence, of being issues, without doing a lot of smoke-and-mirror, shell game word study kinds of blather, which was my fear when I thought it might be a no-show. But we'll see. Maybe tomorrow I'll get a chance to throw out some draft stuff to kick around for the continuation of the Redefining Faith chapter. This would be the meat of it, unless something better comes along.
Anyway, good point. Thanks.
bill
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Sharing period
Submitted by bill on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 22:25.
Reido,
Are you suggesting that decoupling "Sharing" from "Faith" in the title is better? Or just that "sharing" as an approach to conversation with no mention of conversion?
Maybe a strong disclaimer should be made that conversion is not in the vocabulary. In fact, it's probably a good idea to state up front what expectations are and are not. But that won't prevent people from getting turned off by a quick scan down the TOC to find a phrase that looks like Campus Crusade, or such.
bill
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Asking For Input From Others
Submitted by reido on Fri, 04/27/2007 - 21:17.
Bill
I can see it being taken both ways, and would like to know what "we" think. Coming from a fundamentalist background, I am not personally put off by the expression or the idea of sharing faith.
From my perspective, and the redefinition of Faith that has come with it -- I have found people who have brought me exponentially more than could have been discovered all by my lonesome. And I look forward to reading the perspectives they bring.
reido
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Sharing Faith
Bill
I see your point. The title could be useful as a lead-in to a conversational approach to sharing. That is, sharing really should be that, and not conversion. The Evangelical approach to sharing is really a misnomer.
reido