tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post8952530386476800306..comments2023-02-15T00:15:50.873-08:00Comments on Soul Search: Why I feel I have a right to criticiseSoul Searcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01484611864233206491noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-77928429996869454142013-11-11T15:36:57.458-08:002013-11-11T15:36:57.458-08:00Thanks. You could tweet me a direct message @souls...Thanks. You could tweet me a direct message @soulsearch2013 and we could take it from there.Soul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01484611864233206491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-87333191040891989132013-11-11T13:30:11.012-08:002013-11-11T13:30:11.012-08:00Hi,
If you are still interested, I would be more t...Hi,<br />If you are still interested, I would be more than happy to meet up and chat about my experiences as a Christian...or come to our house group and see what you think. Not sure how to leave my details in a way that can't be seen publically but let me know and I'll pass them on. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-57611138153153100892013-10-05T14:28:19.453-07:002013-10-05T14:28:19.453-07:00Thanks to Alan for another comment. Blogger doesn&...Thanks to Alan for another comment. Blogger doesn't give me the option to edit comments to remove people's e-mail addresses from the text, so this is Soul Searcher posting what Alan had to say: <br />"'She's just a bit lost, and so far none of you has really made a concerted effort to rescue her.'<br />John Sentamu once said that when it came to discussing faith he was just one beggar telling another where he found bread. If your year of church searching still leaves you soul searching, can I try doing the same? You're welcome to email [address removed] (don't necessarily wait til the year is out!) and I'd be glad to tell you my story and/or hear your musings.... ..any questions you have may be poorly answered I'm afraid, and my theology is probably a bit frayed in places, but your thoughts would be well received and genuinely answered."<br /><br />Since I wrote this post there have been one or two kind people who have taken time to talk to me in depth, and it's much appreciated. More on one of these in particular to come in a future blog post on the subject of prayer. Soul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01484611864233206491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-74394127010510741232013-08-31T08:53:20.801-07:002013-08-31T08:53:20.801-07:00Gone are the days when we respected bank managers!...Gone are the days when we respected bank managers! <br /><br />Thanks for your comments. I honestly don't know if I'll find somewhere. Even when you find somewhere you like, there's a difference between dropping in occasionally and actually becoming a member - that's when all the cracks begin to show. I think you're right to say that the main problem with Christianity is the Christians. Some of them are truly awful specimens of humanity, and smug with it. <br /><br />At this stage, I think I'm more or less muddling my way out, but you never know ... anything could happen.Soul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01484611864233206491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-21149252046141738812013-08-31T04:11:46.255-07:002013-08-31T04:11:46.255-07:00I'm really enjoying your blog and the "re...I'm really enjoying your blog and the "reviews" - who knows, maybe 'Church Advisor'isn't such a bad idea after all. In this consumerist age, it might help increase congregation numbers?<br /><br />I was brought up in the Church of Scotland, went to Sunday School and Bible Class. Yet now I don't go to church on a regular basis - weddings and funerals more often than not. I admire those who have found faith and are so sure, but at the same time, I personally have my doubts. I've seen and met too many professing Christians who display the most un-Christian attitude towards others, so much so, that if that's Christianity, then they can keep it. So, I'll just muddle on through, thanks very much.<br /><br />How times have changed since the respected (and not to be questioned!) men of a town or village were the Minister, the Doctor and the Bank Manager....<br /><br />You're over two thirds through your search now and you've indicated that you like going to church. Do you think you'll find somewhere you like and feel welcomed by the end of the year? Wishing you well in the remainder of your search!<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-12776038794984500602013-08-26T01:40:27.142-07:002013-08-26T01:40:27.142-07:00The list is always evolving. Who knows where the S...The list is always evolving. Who knows where the Soul Searcher may strike next?Soul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01484611864233206491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-10365619077132454712013-08-26T01:13:00.335-07:002013-08-26T01:13:00.335-07:00Do you have Niddrie Community Church on your list?...Do you have Niddrie Community Church on your list?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-86693829722837366592013-08-21T09:09:25.755-07:002013-08-21T09:09:25.755-07:00Thanks for your kind comment. The power structures...Thanks for your kind comment. The power structures would make a riveting study for any sociologist, anthropologist or psychologist. As a feminist, I see patriarchy everywhere and it's especially evident in churches. In the past, though, I actually belonged to a church where women were excluded from leadership and I managed to live with that quite happily ... for a while, at least. At the time, it didn't seem the most important issue, but looking back I'm amazed I ever accepted it. I still haven't quite got my thoughts organised on the subject, but I've a feeling there could be future blog posts specifically on the subject of power and patriarchy. Soul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01484611864233206491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-87979068197762049702013-08-21T06:32:45.481-07:002013-08-21T06:32:45.481-07:00Dear Soul Searcher,
Have really enjoyed your ‘mus...Dear Soul Searcher,<br /><br />Have really enjoyed your ‘musings’ on this site. By all accounts, Jesus was a good guy. I mean, you can’t argue against love and acceptance on any level unless you’re making judgments against some a priori criteria. Surely Jesus would baulk at all the bling (the leading) white males in the cloth are surrounding by. The behavior of the church hierarchy says more about power (structures) and their own conceit than any ‘essence of God’ (in my humble...). <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-55086357051845686562013-08-20T09:02:37.415-07:002013-08-20T09:02:37.415-07:00That hasn't happened yet, thank goodness. But ...That hasn't happened yet, thank goodness. But we're a consumer society and people can shop around for a church, so why should they expect to be immune from the "TripAdviser effect"? I very much doubt I wield that much power anyway, but you never know. Soul Searcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01484611864233206491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702498547782657636.post-16825034587739363482013-08-20T05:09:39.243-07:002013-08-20T05:09:39.243-07:00I endeded up with legal threats when I wrote about...I endeded up with legal threats when I wrote about my experiences of one church. It does make you wonder.Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09396016590610037737noreply@blogger.com