A River Between

I’ll admit that I’ve been an avid reader of Adam Walker Cleaveland’s blog, Pomomusings, for some time. Adam is a Presbyterian Youth Minister in California, who is part of the new “emergent church” or “postmodern” church movement – which seeks a broader view of Christianity and religion. Adam and other “pomos” seek to bridge differences, and seek a more inclusive and uniting force through theology.

Now, I really like reading Adam’s blog, and Adam’s a really likable guy, but I wonder what he might think of my ideas. He’s had many guests talk about “Plurality 2.0” in the church. But, in reading what he and others have to say, I’ve been compelled to think of my own ideas concerning plurality in religion and faith. I’ll call my ideas “Plurality 3.0” just to keep the version history theme going.

First, a little more about me from a spiritual standpoint.

I grew up in the Presbyterian Church, went to confirmation classes, sang in the choir, sang solos at every holiday or special service, and even went to a nice small Presbyterian college in Iowa to get my Bachelor of Music degree. After all of that – my spiritual journey started bursting out all over.

I came out as a gay man at 23 while in graduate school, became co-moderator for my campus Gay and Lesbian student organization, and hopped from denomination to denomination – finding lots of variances in “welcoming congregations” for Gays and Lesbians. Now, at 40, I live in Duluth, MN where I’ve found myself happily involved with my local Unitarian Universalist Congregation, and I’m also exploring parts of a newfound English/Irish heritage, Celtic Mysticism, Druidry, and “Radical Christianity” for lack of a better term.

I also live in a house owned by the Loaves and Fishes Catholic Worker Community. We provide hospitality and meals to people who might otherwise be homeless, live simply, and share our lives with marginalized folks, and one another.

So… “plurality”.. hmm..

As a Radcal-Catholic-Worker-Unitarian-Gay-Druid without any theological credentials, I hope that I can speak as a lay-person about this concept of Plurality in religion or postmodern Christianity, at least from my own personal experience.

So, based on my own experience and ideas that have been brewing, I wonder if a “Plurality 3.0” might someday emerge. Here are some of my critical questions and thoughts.

• Is there, or can there be room within this paradigm for others whom the word or concept of Christianity, as a descriptor for individual faith or belief, might be too constraining? Within this plurality, can there be the opportunity to see religious identity as a fluid or ever changing and developing path? Can we be Christian or Buddhist or a Druid all at the same time? Do we have the freedom to hop between? Can this fluidity be embraced as “sacred” or even an embodiment of God?
• Can we come to know God – or “the Divine” even in ways that brush against the boundaries of Christian comfort zones? In trees, nature, the earth, our breath? Could we even begin to see God as the logical outcome and manifestation of our shared creativity and humanity? Could our very consciousness itself be seen as our gateway to, or even the unifier with – all that is holy, divine, or God?
• Can we objectively look to our past to understand religion’s role as a tool for oppression and the serving of “empires”? Can we also look to deep and faithful Christian roots as a heritage to be honored, even if we step away into “the myst” of our own spiritual path outside this faith? (This idea came to me especially after hearing a sermon at my Unitarian Church on Easter Sunday about “Why can’t this Jesus guy just go away?”)
• Can we all be “the leaders we’ve been waiting for” - as David Korten expresses in his book, The Great Turning – from Empire to Earth Community? Can we critically examine even our own deeply specialized credentialing models within “the church” - and embrace the lay person as ultimate leader? Better yet – what about those who step down from the pulpit, reject degrees or Masters of Divinity, who simply choose to follow Jesus? Can the extension of plurality also come in the form of multiple paths of education, training, or experience for church leaders, pastors, or future governance itself? Will we be willing in a “Plurality 3.0 system” to step back and critically examine our structures – those that serve us, and those that do not? How will we deal with those structures which no longer serve us?

I have to say, that many of these questions and ideas have come up for me since attending Unitarian services. It’s my guess that many folks who feel that they are “survivors” or “victims” of oppressive faith traditions tend to gravitate toward the Unitarian Universalist Church. We grapple with this kind of plurality all the time (well, most of it – I think that even UU pastors need to go to Christian seminaries before ordination). At the same time, I think we’re only scratching the surface of what plurality can mean in progressive religion.

But, I do like the way this notion of plurality is manifesting right now, even in some mainline Christian churches it seems. Judging from Adam’s long list of guest pastors and religious leaders (many of whom are in their 20s) who blog about Plurality 2.0 – I’d say things are right on track for a possible “3.0” future.

Or – maybe it’s all very simple. Maybe all we need to do to embrace plurality within religion is to do what our pastor at the UU in Duluth says every Sunday.

Our vision guides us to be a beacon for progressive religion in our community.
To Grow Spiritually.
To Support and Love one another.
To Love and Honor the Earth.
To Work for Peace and Justice.
And to Change the World!

I was sitting in Amazing Grace Coffeehouse in Duluth last week, when my friend Áine emailed a link to me of a British singer.  Susan Boyle was an auditioner on the television show, Britain’s Got Talent.  She’s 47, unemployed, never married, and lives with her cat, Pebbles.

Everyone was cynical, and seemingly against her when she claimed that she wanted to be as successful as Elaine Page.  But then she began to sing - and as she wowed the audience to their feet, it was all I could do to hold back my own tears just watching her.  This beautiful woman, who against all odds, showed the world that you must never judge a book by it’s cover, and that we should all be so bold as to go after our dreams - no matter how young or old we are.

Her Youtube video(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY) has reached near 40,000,000 views as of my writing this, and I’m sure these numbers will continue to rise.  So many people had the same reaction I did.  This very common woman shook our foundations and shattered the walls of loss, loneliness, and isolation that are felt by all of us at some point in our lives - and some of us, even nearly all our lives.

What a gift to hear her sing this song, and to share her presence - her very authentic presence.

I think of people I know who have dreams - oh heck, even me and my dreams!  What is it in our world, in our society, that tells us that we cannot acheive these dreams?  What is that force that tells us that we aren’t good enough, young enough, attractive enough, etc?

And then we see someone who can put a mirror up to our own self-doubt - our own memories of bullying, criticism, and those who cut us down over the years - and she hits the home run for all of us.

What a moment!

Thank you, Susan Boyle!

I took an “extended weekend” trip to visit friends in the Twin Cities and in Northfield, MN this week, and as it’s winding down, I’ve been having a wonderful time. Reuniting with my friends, Rose Ann and Gene has been wonderful. Since moving to Duluth in September, I’d not come back to really spend any significant “visiting time” really. I’d just passed through.

I went to the monthly Dream Group, and had a wonderful time just listening to others nighttime dreams, and got some wonderful insights to a dream I had some months ago (I’ll have to share my drawing and reflection sometime!). I also got a chance to revisit the Northfield Buddhist Meditation Center, and I “got through” a half-hour sitting meditation (I’m out of practice). I got to see some old faces at Just Food Co-op, have some hangout time at Goodbye Blue Monday, and just catch up with dear friends.

I also learned that The Village is going strong, meeting on Wednesdays, and that The Center for Sustainable Living is now embarking on a “Transition Towns” initiative. Lots of good things!

All in all, a wonderful visit!

Recently, two other friends and I have started a venture we call “Hats for Honduras” - http://www.hatsforhonduras.org/ I want to give special props to Tiger Technologies for donating the hosting for our website. They are the best hosting company, hands down, that I’ve ever worked with, and I’m so thrilled that they were touched by this project as well.

Hats for Honduras is a venture in keeping a friendship alive, and for hopefully sparking new ones. Over the past year-and-a-half, the Loaves and Fishes Community, which I volunteer with, hosted a man named Henry, from Honduras. After a long recovery from a near-death auto accident, he finally returned home last month.

Henry became part of our family, and we’ve been invited to visit any time. Hats for Honduras is our fundraising project to fly 3-4 of us to Tegucigalpa, Honduras by 2010 to visit Henry in his native land. We’re looking for donations, of yarn, looms, knitted hats, and money. We’ll send a hand-made knitted hat to anyone who donates. Henry adored the knitted hat made for him by our friend Kristina, and took it with him everywhere - even to West Palm Beach, before boarding a flight from Miami to Honduras.

Our loftiest goals are also to start a friendship exchange program between Duluth, MN and Henry’s community between Tegucigalpa and Juticalpa.

Knitting has been easier on the circular looms for this newbie, but I’m learning a lot, and having fun. I have now made 8 hats!

Read all about our adventures in knitting at the Hats for Honduras Web Site.

I don’t normally put links to movies on my blog, but this one needs a special mention. Throughout this whole movie, I was moved to tears. Prayers for Bobby is a very honest portrayal of a family and a mother dealing with the news of their son being gay.

Coming out is a journey for a family. Sometimes it’s a real struggle, and nobody’s perfect, and there are never easy answers. Acceptance doesn’t always come quickly. In my own wonderfully loving and beautifully imperfect family, our journey has never been easy, but we’ve always loved each other - that I have never doubted. It took some time, but now they ask me about Michael, my partner, and I was touched to see them put his picture right next to mine in their home.

This movie shows so vividly, the worst fears of any gay son to feel deeply that they are not loved, and the deepest fears of any parent who would have to suffer a death of their son to suicide. It also shows how religion can be used as a tool to divide us, to sever families, and to make people to feel deep deep shame.

How can God shame one of his own? How can God not love one of his own?

I forgave my mother years ago for saying some of the same things Sigourney Weaver says to her son in this movie. I forgave myself for feeling like I put my parents through this tough journey years ago. And though in many ways we’re all still on this journey, I love them with all my heart, and I grew to accepting myself, and feeling the gifts that come with loving another person, and finding true joy.

So, I encourage everyone to watch. Have kleenex ready.

I’ve not posted in a while. My bad.

But, I thought I’d share some success that happened this past October! After moving to Duluth, MN, I realized that I needed to apply for a city license to practice massage therapy. The City of Duluth has a requirement of 500 hours of massage and bodywork related education, as well as a criminal background check, in order to obtain this license.

The background check was easy, but the 500 hour requirement was a bit of a challenge. Since the State of Minnesota does not license massage therapists, I have been practicing for the last nine years without having to worry about these things. I practice under the Minnesota Unlicensed Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Law, which gives provides freedom of access to choose one’s own practitioner, as well as gives the right of any traditional healer to practice his or her trade within as state regulation. However, cities and other local government agencies are free to license massage therapists as they choose.

I have never “graduated” from a massage therapy program of 500 hours or more. However, I have taken many courses in massage therapy and related business, communication, ethics, and holistic healing methods from massage schools, workshops, and other independent study.

So, I gathered all of my transcripts from the two massage therapy schools I attended, as well as other training certificates, continuing education courses, transcripts from self-designed classes while in graduate school, and information about the conversion of semester hours to in-class “clock” hours from a national certifying group for massage, and made the case for myself that I had obtained the equivalent of 545 hours of massage, bodywork, and related education and training.

And within 3-4 weeks my license came in the mail!!

I believe that this is a huge success, and an example of the legitimacy of Portfolios of Learning as EQUAL to degrees and certifications. You can read my portfolio request for massage therapy licensure here (PDF), or click the PDF document image above.

I finally can now see my “Pass” grades online for my final five credits of graduate school. While I’ve decided to not complete the final steps to getting the “degree” - I’m happy to have accomplished the learning and deep inquiry. Parts of my “portfolio” and transcripts will be sent to Duluth to fulfill requirements for a Massage Therapist license with the city (along with other past transcripts).

I’m happy with my learning, but maybe not the “schooling” portions. The following writing completely sums up my own feelings about “The Culture of Schooling” as it is now.

Source: McEducation for All? - Shikshantar: The Peoples’ Institute for Rethinking Education and Development

The Culture of Schooling…

1) Labels, ranks and sorts human beings. It creates a rigid social hierarchy consisting of a very small elite class of ‘highly educated’ and a large lower class of ‘failures’ and ‘illiterates’, based on levels of school achievement.

2) Imposes uniformity and standardization. It propagates the viewpoint that diversity is an obstacle, which must be removed if society is to progress.

3) Spreads fear, insecurity, violence and silence through its externally-imposed, military-like discipline.

4) Forces human beings to violently compete against each other over scarce resources in rigid win-lose situations.

5) Confines the motivation for learning to examinations, certificates and jobs. It suppresses all non-school motivations to learn and kills all desire to engage in critical self-evaluation. It centralizes control over the human learning process into the State-Market nexus, taking power away from individuals and communities.

6) Commodifies all human beings, Nature, knowledge and social relationships. They are to be extracted, exploited, bought and sold.

7) Fragments and compartmentalizes knowledge, human beings and the natural world. It de-links knowledge from wisdom, practical experiences and specific contexts.

Artificially separates human rationality from human emotions and the human spirit. It imposes a single view of rationality and logic on all people, while simultaneously devaluing many other knowledge systems.

9) Privileges literacy (in a few elite languages) over all other forms of human expression and creation. It drives people to distrust their local languages while prioritizing newspapers, textbooks, television as the only reliable sources of information.

10) Reduces the spaces and opportunities for ‘valid’ human learning by demanding that they all be funneled through a centrally-controlled institution. It creates artificial divisions between learning and home, work, play, spirituality.

11) Destroys the dignity of labor; devalues the learning that takes place through manual work.

12) Breaks intergenerational bonds of family and community and increases people’s dependency on the Nation-State and Government, on Science and Technology, and on the Global Market, for their livelihoods and identities.

It’s been in the making for a while, but now that we’ve been able to tell some really close friends, I thought I’d make the big announcement here.

In September, Michael and I (and Junebug) will be leaving Northfield to live in Duluth, MN. We have been talking for a while with the Loaves and Fishes Catholic Worker Community about our desires to someday move to Duluth. At first it was just casual, but then the community gave us an offer we couldn’t refuse. We’ll be moving into Hannah House, helping them out by paying the taxes, insurance, and utilities, as well as helping them out and being involved however we are comfortable.

If you aren’t sure what a “Catholic Worker Community” is - here’s a brief history lesson. Originally founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, the Catholic Worker movement has sought to provide shelter, meals, and hospitality to those who are homeless. They have also been know for their “radical” political stances regarding peace and social justice. Many folks in this movement have been know for their civil disobedience, especially against war, militarism, and nuclear weapons - often from a very radical Christian or spiritual standpoint.

We’re not sure exactly what we’ll end up doing there, but I have a lead on some office space in Downtown Duluth for doing bodywork, and Michael is considering driving for Duluth Transit for a time. Whatever we do for “jobs” we will figure out. This is just an opportunity for us to live on SO MUCH LESS money, and to be around incredibly like-minded friends. Duluth is where Michael lived when we first met, and where he and I did sidewalk chalk drawings all around the city for Hiroshima Day.

We’re incredibly excited! We’re going up this weekend to help clean the house and get involved with a march down the Lake Superior coast. Apparently the military has been dumping some toxic waste in the lake and it’s gotten a bit out of hand.

Wish us luck!

Kombucha is now my biggest guilty pleasure! I love making this healthy,fizzy, fermented tea at home. Kombucha is said to have come from China thousands of years ago. It has been historically a popular health tonic in Russia for centuries. Many people have claimed that Kombucha helped in their illnesses, cancer, the regrowing of hair, the un-graying of hair, and of course, just general all-around well-being.

Kombucha starts with basic black or green tea, sugar, and the addition of a Kombucha “mushroom” or culture. By placing the culture in a glass jar of prepared tea with sugar, over about 5-7 days it literally eats up the caffeine and sugar - then converts it to healthy acids and B-vitamins. The tea begins to taste like fizzy apple cider.

It’s oh so yummy! I’m brewing about 2 gallons a week!

For more information on how to brew your own Kombucha, here are some links:

How to Make Kombucha
Health Claims of Kombucha

Tags: kombucha

After meeting with key faculty at the college I was attending, I turned in my final portfolio of 5 credits, and sent a revised final statement paper to my advisor in the mail. After completing 32 credits of coursework, I have decided to leave the boxes of academia. It was an easy decision after I was shown sample “position papers” adhering to APA standards, and learning that I could only present my colloquium (final presentation) in one lecture hall at the college. A lot of prescription. A lot of “business as usual” that I have taken myself so far away from in the past three years of inquiry and learning. Lots of other reasons also contributed to this decision.

If you are interested in reading my “final integration paper” for my last contract, it details my reasoning and rationale for walking out. I have intentionally taken out any mention of the college’s name. Click on this link or the image above to read my WalkOut statement!