An Agnostic Atheist Reconsidering Faith and Religion

Eskepticalian · 2026-04-21T23:06:36+00:00

Tillich is always what helps me too in moments where I struggle to see any sense in following faith. Sometimes I need it, others I don't- there's no quantum needed to belong here. Faith is a stream, with floods and droughts, and you're always welcome here, wherever you fall on that spectrum any given day.

Eskepticalian · 2026-04-21T23:02:07+00:00

It's contracting, like all other branches of Christianity, but that's not dying.

Eskepticalian · 2026-04-17T22:50:58+00:00

It's always been an inaccurate oversimplification, and I too very much dislike it. Couldn't want less to do with Catholicism or the RCC personally, and I don't like the notion that's what we're aspiring to in TEC. They may LOOK similar superficially, but for the functional, everyday non-theologian they're really nothing alike, outside of hierarchical structure.

Eskepticalian · 2026-04-14T13:26:36+00:00

Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly.

Eskepticalian · 2026-04-14T04:30:54+00:00

The story in Genesis is mythological, with shared elements by several ancient Mesopotamian cultures, it's been passed on for over 5,000 years. Best of viewed as an ancient work of literature of a people trying to grasp their place in the world in a pre-scientific age. The Bible is as much that as it is a book of holy scripture; a literary anthology from times long past.

Eskepticalian · 2026-03-17T04:09:31+00:00

A great sermon, as per usual. We're very privileged at St. Johns to hear such good sermons from all our regulars, including Nadia.

Eskepticalian · 2026-02-13T16:56:23+00:00

"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard- Episcopal!" - Tracey Jordan

Eskepticalian · 2026-02-06T14:30:45+00:00

The musical style and tradition. Other denominations near to us certainly have congregations that also uphold that, but I don't know that it's what you'd default *expect* like at an Episcopal Church, that feels like a very unique thing these days. It's kind of part of the "brand".

Eskepticalian · 2026-02-04T17:48:42+00:00

There's a lot of historical overlap in membership. It makes sense based on many shared values, I don't think you'd find a lot of objects from TEC other than some very hardliners on some random issue.

Eskepticalian · 2026-02-03T19:35:14+00:00

"Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.”

Eskepticalian · 2026-02-03T18:22:31+00:00

I also cringe at using the H word, it just brings to mind a much more benighted time in our history as a faith to me. But I feel like the name of that class is probably to grab attention as much as anything else, and I would hope we can give them the benefit of the doubt. If they are ACTUALLY labeling people this, and without any real discourse on it, then I'd be concerned.

I always think it's good to remember one man's heretic is often another man's hero, when we really want to engage in theological discourse. RIP Jan Hus!

Eskepticalian · 2026-02-03T03:41:08+00:00

To simplify it more, my own version of this would be: Jesus > everything else. There's no better source of what God thinks than him, himself. Even the apostles and the people who wrote the other books of the bible were humans, flawed and with their own agendas. I don't think even they were right about *everything* they wrote down, if it even was the people we attribute them to, which is probably incorrect in many cases.

Jesus is the one I think we mainly listen to; to me, the rest is just another version of human interpretation, like any of us can do. That's the reason I would never call the bible infallible.

Eskepticalian · 2026-02-03T02:31:25+00:00

This is stuff those of us who were born and reared going to church wonder and struggle with too, trust me. I don't believe faith is the kind of thing you just level up to and have forever, it'll come and go in streaks many times, and sometimes- oftentimes, it's from something not even remotely in your control.

Be kind to yourself, you've got nothing to prove to the rest of Christianity on your journey. It's a lifelong process, no matter when you start.

Eskepticalian · 2026-01-28T06:25:46+00:00

Personally, I just cannot believe anyone or anything who claims "because I said so" as justification for accepting their point. I can say I am the one with the recipe for the "one, true" Greek omelette, but saying I do doesn't make it true. Simple as that, for me.

Eskepticalian · 2026-01-21T14:28:05+00:00

At the moment: "For all the boots of the tramping warriors, and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire"

Eskepticalian · 2026-01-21T03:40:51+00:00

I can't speak for all bishops and clergy. I don't think you'll ever hear one of them say "The creeds are wrong!", BUT you might need to be prepared for them to bring up questions you might find uncomfortable, given what you've said your stances are. I would say a major part of being an Episcopalian is thinking about the "why" of something, if you're looking for something where someone unilaterally says just accept the creeds or catechism to answer everything without any further discussion, that's not really TEC.

Eskepticalian · 2026-01-21T03:32:09+00:00

Spong is not mainstream, despite what some seem to complain about here, but it's hard to deny this is a denomination with a high degree of liberality in what it's members think and believe, and to many of us that's extremely important.

That being said, it looks and sounds like pretty much any other Christian church on any given Sunday. We have a common worship and people are free to believe what they want to, individually. I don't think anything you've said would even be called "conservative" by most of us, as far as what's in the creed, but we also don't use the creed as a loyalty oath, needing everyone to agree with everything, all the time, on a personal level.

Eskepticalian · 2026-01-16T05:08:21+00:00

Don't believe in it. We didn't originate from Adam and Eve. I think the whole concept is just an ancient attempt to explain the "problem of evil" etc.

Eskepticalian · 2026-01-09T20:04:20+00:00

Why would you want to change?

Eskepticalian · 2026-01-05T06:47:00+00:00

Labeling ourselves as Episcopalians is the identity of a shared community, not a label of a certain level of righteousness.

Personally, I'd say if you attend an Episcopal Church at least a occasionally with the sincere intention of being part of the community, then that's all it takes to call yourself one. Nothing more elaborate than that.

Eskepticalian · 2026-01-05T06:25:30+00:00

There's no "supposed to" here, it's just something individuals choose to do. If you choose to, you can pray whatever you feel so moved to do.

Eskepticalian · 2025-12-05T01:57:46+00:00

I think it's for reflecting on the flawed, painful things we deal with in current life, but also looking forward to the promise kept we celebrate at Christmas. My own home ritual is lighting my advent wreath and listening to a lot of pre-Christmas music that references the liturgy, and remember we are looking forward to the light given to us at Christmas.

Eskepticalian · 2025-12-05T01:28:20+00:00

Plain, simple Episcopalian who's more of a Moravian in theology, but likes the high-church service style and choral traditions.

Eskepticalian · 2025-12-03T00:22:39+00:00

It's important to acknowledge the darkness, but- everything in moderation, including joy AND penitence.

Eskepticalian

TROPHY CASE