I've been doing some research on the web for other bloggers, journalists, etc. who talk about "Christian Agnosticism" and the results have disturbed me a little. I've begun to suspect that, most of the time, what people call "Christian Agnosticism" has less to do with learning and growing in faith and praxis - loving God, loving others - and more to do with political agendas. I call myself a Christian agnostic because of a starting point, a place where faith meets context, where my doubt can be openly and freely expressed and then worked out in the midst of God's grace. I love the paradox of the name, the linking of two very different streams of thought in one paradigm. Unfortunately, these others do not seem to share this mission, and I worry that I may have inadvertently linked myself to a movement I do not support.
I named this blog based on the idea that we don't have everything figured out - I don't understand everything, and neither do you. The numenous, a word coined by Rudolf Otto, seemed to express this idea well. It's an invitation to a journey where the end is about getting to better know a person (Jesus) and not a set of rules. Because these others do not share this sentiment, I'm beginning to consider what other labels could work that both inspire others to ask hard questions, but also does not invite unwelcome assumptions. The term "Jesus Follower" was coined because the term "Christian" had picked up so much negative baggage in postmodern circles, and I'm starting to find that "Christian Agnostic" similarly already carries a great deal of baggage, none of which I wish to inherit. A name is just a name, and if it ceases to hold meaning useful for conveying its message it ought to be dropped and given a new name that more accurately reflects its content.
That said, I'm taking suggestions, particularly from those of you that have already been on this journey with me for some time now. What ought someone of this way of thinking call himself, if not a "Christian agnostic"?
Christian Thinker? Jesus Think? Follower of the Way? (I read "Way" there as, well, Jesus... but less of a "key" to get into heaven, and more of a way of seeing/understanding life, a way of living life...) (Maybe "WayFollower"...)
ReplyDeleteWas discussing with another friend the craziness of "spouting the party line" or just following "group think" rather than pondering things and really understanding what you think, what you "know" (which will always change!)
Maybe just... Forever Changing. :-)
What you call yourself is up to you. What you make of that name is up to you. All the term really means is that you are a-(without) gnosis(knowledge). It's a good term to explore doubt with.
ReplyDeleteWhatever other labels people may decide to tag you with, you know who and what you are. If people make incorrect assumptions, correct them! I'm sure you're not the only Christian Agnostic out there who runs into this problem. Just because the masses think something, that doesn't make them right.
I'm actually standing on the other side of the camp, as an agnostic atheist. ;) Wow, does that one carry a lot of baggage! The people who matter will learn the truth. The ones who don't can assume what they like.
Good luck.
I think one of the problems here is that "doubt" has such a negative connotation in our culture, even though a certain amount of doubt and skepticism is actually healthy - asking questions is the mark of the wise (Jesus did it all the time), and yet our culture has attached to the idea of doubt a major taboo. So I guess the trouble is ... how do you find a name for such an idea that does not have those cultural issues? I know Rudolf Otto (and others in his generation) simply made up words, but I'm not sure there are enough variations left in the english language that would be short enough ...
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