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Wandering & Wondering's avatar

Well go figure: I'm currently doing a DMin, and have worked in the church my whole career, and I've never even heard the terms pre-trib and post-trib, lol. And, yes! to theology in the woods! Wendell Berry was bang on when he said the Bible is best read outdoors. I like calling myself an eco-theologian, and I'm also not into doctrine or debate. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Colette.

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Colette Eaton's avatar

Yes!! Love me some Wendell Berry! My first theology degree was in systematic theology, so I ended up studying all the -oligies 🤪 and I’m there with you as well, I consider myself an eco-theologian as well. I’ve learned so much about God by just observing nature. 💚

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Shawna Atteberry's avatar

I've traveled this road too. There is great freedom in saying, "I don't know. Let's find out together." Theology and prayer both have become communal activities for me. You're right that the guy in the sweater vest is the typical image, but I think the image should be a group of people sitting around a table with good food and good wine talking about their relationships with God, and where there finding God that week.

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Colette Eaton's avatar

Yes!! I will take a table any day over a classroom. Such a beautiful picture about how theology needs to be worked out in community and within the context of our very real lives. ❤️

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Virgin Monk Boy's avatar

I used to sharpen theology like a weapon. Now I plant it like a seed and see what blooms.

This is the most honest theology I’ve read in ages. No cape, no citations—just the holy act of admitting you don’t know and loving anyway. Turns out the most dangerous thing about God isn’t misunderstanding Them—it’s thinking you’ve got Them cornered in a footnote.

Still tired. Still here. Still praying in sighs and sarcasm. Thank you for setting a place at the table that doesn’t require a doctrinal résumé.

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Colette Eaton's avatar

Praying in “sighs and sarcasm” with you! 😂❤️

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Liz Cooledge Jenkins's avatar

"My questions got bigger. So did God." I love this - thanks for being on the journey and sharing about it so beautifully. Also, you gotta have a little Brene and Glennon to balance out...everything, lol.

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Colette Eaton's avatar

For sure! 😂❤️

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Kim Eckhart's avatar

I keep thinking of Shelly’s encouragement to expand our concept of theology to include people like me. No degrees, just a longing to experience more of the divine in everyday life. You say it so well.

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Colette Eaton's avatar

Yes!! When taken at its word, theology is simply the study of the Divine which for anyone who has taken the time to do so, in both classroom or life is a theologian.

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Mike Y's avatar

Beautiful reflection. I feel like ive shifted focus to just reading more bible. The more I read the more what all you’re saying hits home. Romans 15 was talked about this morning just the first bit. Just the focus on not making things a disagreement, if you have the right answer live to be patient with those that dont.

And in a multitude of words transgression is unavoidable.

Really encouraging thoughts! Thanks for sharing this!

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Colette Eaton's avatar

I feel you there! I’m more drawn to simply ready the Gospels these days more than anything theological.

Thanks for reading, Mike!

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Jun 29
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Gus's avatar
Jun 29Edited

I believe you have God on you. Just need to see him or her from a different point of view to get more inspiration. I have never lost my faith in hardworking people like you. I do not want to burn the past. My inspiration comes from nature now. I believe nature is God.

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Colette Eaton's avatar

Thank you, Gus. I also don’t want to burn down the past but integrate it into the whole. ☺️

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Anni Ponder's avatar

Beautiful. This is resonating deeply with me, even as I roll up my sleeves and dig into the texts myself.

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Gus's avatar

I believe that if we integrate both beliefs. Cosmos God and Bible God we will advance a lot on his or her knowledge. I believe both are the same anyway. I’m not a theologian I’m just an everyday construction worker. But I spend 30+ years of my free time going to church and reading the Bible and trying to understand and realize is start. But believe God is more than that a lot more.

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Gus's avatar

Like Baruch Spinoza said We have God right in front of us and we don’t even realize. I believe he is here on us and with us and all around us. Not up there and waiting for his coming back. I believe he’s up there too but you know what I mea.

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Colette Eaton's avatar

I do! I believe God is with us, right in front of us and in us. We just need to learn a new way of seeing, we need new sight to see God’s immanent Presence.

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