Hospital of St Cross, Almshouse (1136) from the River Itchen, Winchester UK 2029
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The Rev'd Dr Chris Scott is a highly respected and insightful Priest of the Church of England, a Psychologist and Psychoanalyst. He is an honorary Chaplain to Winchester University, a published commentator on Religion and Theology and is the only priest who is also a Member of the UK Humanist Society.
This year Chris celebrates 50 years of being, as he terms it, 'professionally religious '. In a recent post, Chris comments on his experience and summarizes his views on the current state of the Church.
His most recent excellent and highly recommended book 'The Jesus Myth' is easily accessible.
Here is what he had to say in his post.
"This year marks my 50th year of being 'professionally religious'. It started when I joined the Society of Saint Francis as a novice, continued with theological training, and then ordination in 1981. It continues today in retirement as an Honorary Chaplain to the University of Winchester.
It has to be said that I have always had a love-hate relationship with the Church as an institution. I was sacked from my first curacy. One of the things I was charged with was "wanting the Church to be a therapeutic community". Well yes, I still do believe that. But what so often gets in the way of the Church really being 'the healing Body of Christ', is Religion.
"Why are Church of England congregations shrinking year-on-year? Why is our message just not being heard by contemporary society? It is, I believe because the Church is peddling Religion rather than the message of Jesus. Religion is marked by belief - orthodoxy, right belief about Jesus, whereas Jesus was concerned with right living - orthopraxis. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven". The message of Jesus is being lost because of the emphasis by the Church of beliefs about him, couched in a language and beliefs emanating from the Bronze and Iron Ages.
"So much of the Biblical text is in the form of poetry, legend, parable and myth, and yet as often as not, they are read in Church as though they are all historical fact. The Nativity Story, which still draws crowds to the churches, has the same currency to the modern mind as Father Christmas and Elves. Nice for the children but irrelevant to modern society.
"Do we not need to start treating our congregations as 'grown ups' and explain the nature of myth in the Bible? The phrase I first heard at a lecture by Marcus Borg encapsulates it so well; "Myth is a story about something that never was, but always is". Like a parable, the truth lies behind the story, not in the story.
"My plea to the Church is that it stops concentrating on right (ancient) beliefs, and starts just BEING the church. In my experience, people find it a great relief in finding that they do not have to believe in the literal and historical truth in the Bible, but are able to find Truth 'hidden' in the stories. As a psychotherapist I have encountered many individuals damaged by dogmatic religion. I think that the Church, as an institution, is causing self-damage by failing to speak in a language modern woman and man can relate to.
"Chris is the Author of "Goodbye to God" and "The Jesus Myth" "
It has to be said that I have always had a love-hate relationship with the Church as an institution. I was sacked from my first curacy. One of the things I was charged with was "wanting the Church to be a therapeutic community". Well yes, I still do believe that. But what so often gets in the way of the Church really being 'the healing Body of Christ', is Religion.
"Why are Church of England congregations shrinking year-on-year? Why is our message just not being heard by contemporary society? It is, I believe because the Church is peddling Religion rather than the message of Jesus. Religion is marked by belief - orthodoxy, right belief about Jesus, whereas Jesus was concerned with right living - orthopraxis. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven". The message of Jesus is being lost because of the emphasis by the Church of beliefs about him, couched in a language and beliefs emanating from the Bronze and Iron Ages.
"So much of the Biblical text is in the form of poetry, legend, parable and myth, and yet as often as not, they are read in Church as though they are all historical fact. The Nativity Story, which still draws crowds to the churches, has the same currency to the modern mind as Father Christmas and Elves. Nice for the children but irrelevant to modern society.
"Do we not need to start treating our congregations as 'grown ups' and explain the nature of myth in the Bible? The phrase I first heard at a lecture by Marcus Borg encapsulates it so well; "Myth is a story about something that never was, but always is". Like a parable, the truth lies behind the story, not in the story.
"My plea to the Church is that it stops concentrating on right (ancient) beliefs, and starts just BEING the church. In my experience, people find it a great relief in finding that they do not have to believe in the literal and historical truth in the Bible, but are able to find Truth 'hidden' in the stories. As a psychotherapist I have encountered many individuals damaged by dogmatic religion. I think that the Church, as an institution, is causing self-damage by failing to speak in a language modern woman and man can relate to.
"Chris is the Author of "Goodbye to God" and "The Jesus Myth" "
Peace, justice and blessings to all.
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