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Is there another kind of Christianity?
By Robert Rock
The Christianity most of us know has thrived for over 2000 years. But in the last 200 years, especially since the rise of scientific thought, many have come to question its most basic tenets, such as being the one and only true religion, belief in resurrection of the body, the virgin birth, and a second coming. Those so questioning have had to make hard choices between retaining their faith by ignoring their intellectual convictions, or, giving up their practice of Christianity in favor of other religions, or no religion. Yet many of those in between continue to search for new definitions of Christianity they can accept - a religion that offers them the freedom to think and believe at the same time.
One of the most effective present day efforts toward seeking a new Christianity is that of the Westar Institute in Santa Rosa, CA, which began its activities 23 years ago. Each year over 100 scholars from all over the world assemble there to present their latest findings, and to get feedback from their fellows, as well as from the lay public before publishing their results. Following is a copy of their mission statement.
“Westar Institute is a member-supported, non-profit research and educational institute dedicated to the advancement of religious literacy. Westar’s twofold mission is to foster collaborative research in religious studies and to communicate the results of the scholarship of religion to a broad, non-specialist public.
“Until a few years ago, essential knowledge about biblical and religious traditions was hidden in the windowless studies of universities and seminaries-away from the general public. Such research was considered too controversial or too complicated for lay persons to understand. Many scholars, fearing open conflict or even reprisal, talked only to one another. The churches often decided what information their constituents were ‘ready’ to hear.
“Through publications, educational programs, and research projects like the Jesus Seminar, Westar has opened up a new kind of conversation about religion. This is an honest, no-hold-barred exchange involving thousands of scholars, clergy and other individuals who have critical questions about the past, present and future of religion. Westar is not affiliated with any religious institution nor does it advocate a particular theological point of view.”
Probably the most significant findings of this Institute are the discoveries of Christian writings that precede the four gospels as we know them. These are found among the recently discovered manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi texts. Such writings as the Gospel of Thomas describe a Christianity which precedes the concepts of the virgin birth, resurrection of the body and worship of Jesus. Because these writings occurred earlier than the better known gospels, they are considered to be closer to the time Jesus walked the earth, and therefore - theoretically - more accurate. For example, in contrast to the conventional Christian message, there is strong evidence that Jesus never considered himself a god, even though his powers of love and healing led others to regard him as one. These findings of Westar’s “Jesus Seminar” now total over 500 new books - far more information than can be adequately introduced here. (A listing of these books is maintained in Redding’s Pilgrim Congregational Church UCC.)
But because these new discoveries of Christian origins are so drastically different from orthodox beliefs, it is necessary to point out that they do not apply to everyone. There will always be those of us who need and prefer the time-tested message, and there will also always be those of us who need a new Christian message that frees us to worship and think and question and analyze, and one which does not conflict with the advent of scientific thought that was born out of the industrial and technological revolution of the last two hundred years.
My purpose in offering this information is to make it known to those who may have given up on conventional Christianity, the fact that continuing discoveries are occurring of new Christian findings that may speak with more vitality to their needs.
Pilgrim Congregational Church here in Redding is one of the places where you can explore both the new, and the traditional concepts of Christianity. Our address is 2850 Foothill Blvd., 243-3121.
Robert Rock is a Pilgrim Congregational Church layman.
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I appreciate and applaud your effort to spread this alternative view. As a teenager, raised in a very conservative Episcopal Church, I struggled with the notion that those who were born before Christ, or who lived in places where Christ had never been heard of, were doomed to eternal perdition because of ignorance. That struck me as really, really unfair, and something a merciful God would not do. In college, I met my first Atheist. Until then, I thought the only difference between me and the people who went to other churches was exactly how it went together. Even the pagans believed in a god or gods.
But one of your statements puzzles me. You state: “Each year over 100 scholars from all over the world assemble there to present their latest findings…” How does one have “findings” on issues of faith? If I measure the height of my ceiling as 7 feet 6 inches, that is a “finding”. Findings are things you can “find”. Things you can verify. The whole point of faith is that it does not include findings. Faith starts out with “I believe”. Someone else can measure my ceilings and tell me I am a lousy carpenter and the height is only 7 feet 5 inches, and we can verify that. But if you say “I believe”, how do I challenge that? do I say, “BS. You don’t believe that for a second?” Maybe if I had a bunch of recordings saying you believed the opposite. But all that would do is show that you are inconsistent.
There are historical facts, about which we can argue. But if you tell me that you believe something as a matter of faith, I cannot challenge that. I can call you an idiot or a prophet. But I can’t challenge your belief. That is what faith is.
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Mr. Rock needs to study the early Christian history better to know the doctrinal disputes that were voted on by the ancient Priests at the different councils. The fact that the Bible survived at all is a miracle. The books contained therein were canonical, but the reason for the need to choose which books were to be included is a little disputed. I like the theory that those books in particular were special, so special that if the owner of a copy of Paul’s letter to the Romans gave it to the Romans to burn (instead of himself) then that was a sin worthy of excommunication, while surrendering a less approved tract such as the Gospel of Mary did not require excommunication.
Once the Christian Church became legal and then approved in the dissolving Roman Empire, those in new authority could hunt down the heretics and do more than excommunicate them. Again those who had the power choose what constituted orthodoxy in the new state religion. The series of councils ratified the orthodox concepts and had the power to stamp out the heretics who were just following their individual traditions that were hundreds of years old. The organization and belief system founded by the original followers of a carpenter born in a manager were removed and replaced by new rituals and sacraments. Beliefs merged with those of other religions, retaining some scripture and adding philosophy and paganism.
Throw in another 1500 years and you have the current set up where Baptists claim that Catholics aren’t Christian because they aren’t reborn. Seventh Day Adventists reject those who worship on Sunday instead of Saturday. Lutherans splinter over differences. What works for one, doesn’t work for others. If you can listen to the voice of God inside your head following your path, then nobody can dispute that you are Christian if your works are good.
A new Christian Church, importing a dab of Eastern philosophy, would not be original, just a new flavor of the month. Great if they find clarity. If not, there will be another flavor next month.
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Mr. Barr, my old landlord, there are churches which believe that those who are not allowed the opportunity to hear the message of Christ in this life are afforded the chance in the next. How could a just God deny the billions of souls who have died without that chance. Those who would doom the unfortunates to an everlasting Hell will find themselves in a very crowded Heaven.
I see little diffeence between someone who was drowned in a bucket in China 20 years ago and Noah’s neighbor who drowned 6000 years ago. Both need to be saved and a just God will see their hearts.
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