A reader responds to the question:
Yep. I was a seminary student during the run-up to the Iraq war and was shattered by the way that the majority of the body of Christ failed to challenge the unnecessary, destructive, world-shattering battle. Those theologians who attempted to justify the war did so with flimsy "just war" reasoning that fell apart under close scrutiny. I was sad, angry, and disillusioned wondering if those who professed to follow Christ and be guided by the Holy Spirit were delusional. Shouldn't followers of Christ, who preached radical non-violence, have approached the war with more scrutiny? If the Church didn't challenge its followers and the world, was it worth my time or devotion?
Another writes:
Your comment – about finding a Christianity that is both modern and transcendent – struck a chord with me. I was raised Catholic. But I haven't practiced for several years. As a woman, I feel that I cannot participate in a faith that systematically treats women as second-class citizens.
When it comes to real influence in the Church, we simply are not invited to the table, and I don't see how any organization that claims to value the dignity of every human being can continue to do that to half of its participants. Also, as the sister of a gay man, I cannot participate in a church that refuses to recognize the beauty and dignity of his loving relationship with his partner.
I am grateful for my Catholic education. It gave me a solid spiritual and moral foundation. But I don't want to raise my son in the Church; there's just too much ugliness. In some ways I feel the Church left me. The Church I was raised in (post-Vatican II, SF Bay Area) was inclusive, progressive, concerned with poverty and social justice. We were challenged to see the humanity in the poor, the refugee, the other … and to DO something about it. My values haven't changed, but it seems the Church's have. It has disappointed me again and again by choosing patriarchy over compassion, power over justice, contempt over humility, self-deceiving lies over truth.
But other churches just don't do it for me. They lack the sense of gravitas and mystery that I experienced at Mass. They feel more like wholesome social clubs with inspirational speakers – which is great, but doesn't fill the gap. I suppose I could seek out a more progressive parish, but those are becoming fewer and farther between, and subject to the dictates of increasingly conservative bishops.
There are times when I consider turning to Buddhism, as my brother has. But I do want to belong to a church, and I do want to raise my son as an enlightened Christian. Perhaps I haven't looked hard enough, and there is a church out there that is both modern and transcendent. Perhaps some of your readers will offer suggestions?
One does:
"The Episcopal Church follows the via media or "middle way" between Protestant and Roman Catholic doctrine and practices: that is both Catholic and Reformed." (From Wiki)
I know you've had readers try to convert you to Episcopal in the past (I've seen your response) so I won't try to do so. However, the middle way does already exist in this country, and unfortunately it is doing anything BUT growing (even under the strong leadership of Jefferts-Schori). Perhaps in the long run, the "nones" you mention will find their way to such a middle way or work to create their own, but for now when I try to explain to my friends and acquaintances, or many other people that it is possible to be both Christian AND progressive, they look at me as if I am some wild hermit living off locusts and wild honey (and many of my "Christian" friends wouldn't even understand the reference).
It seems people are choosing the non-middle ways in greater numbers than ever before. I can only hope we don't reach Santorum levels before the trend begins to reverse and the pendulum swings back the other way. I hope the millennials and newer generations help with this.
The Dish 