Friends,
"So, what are you?"
That's the question people ask me all the time regarding my religious convictions.
As a former megachurch pastor and current polarizing public figure actively confronting phobic Christianity and MAGA nationalism, they want me to sum up my spirituality with a neat little label, to fit the greatest mysteries of this life and whatever comes after it into a tiny box that can be easily categorized.
As a self-professed spiritual mutt, I'm no longer comfortable with the restrictive titles and undersized boxes. Maybe you understand that tension.
In the years since making my exodus from weekly pastoral ministry, I’ve found a massive virtual "congregation" outside of it, made of disparate human beings from all over the world who will not settle for easy answers, tiny Gods, or an expression of belief that lacks compassion.
It's been beautiful to see people of such diverse religious worldviews walk with one another despite their differences.
I’ve shared my wildly meandering spiritual sojourn across multiple books and hundreds of blogs. Now I'd like to hear a bit more about yours.
My team and I put together a short survey about faith and spirituality, and I would love to get your thoughts if you have a few minutes to spare. Here’s the first question:
Were you raised in a religious tradition?
(Any religion.)
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Organized religion places a lot of emphasis on certainty, and attaches shame on those who have questions.
I want you to know that your questions, your doubts, fears, uncertainties, frustrations, and curiosities are valid. All of it.
Your faith, your spirituality, however you describe it, is yours to explore and define.
I’m excited to read your responses to this survey and learn more about what faith and spirituality means to you.
Be encouraged.
John
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John Pavlovitz is a writer, pastor, and activist from Wake Forest, North Carolina. A 25-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry, John is committed to equality, diversity, and justice—both inside and outside faith communities. When not actively working for a more compassionate planet, John enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, cooking, and having time in nature. He is the author of If God is Love, Don't be a Jerk, A Bigger Table, Hope and Other Superpowers, Low, Rise, and Stuff That Needs to Be Said.
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Copyright (C) 2023 johnpavlovitz.com. All rights reserved.
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