FYI: Spiritual Progressives Conference May 9-20

[lady lib]

Spiritual Progressives: A Dialogue on Values and Building a Movement

May 9th-May 20th, 2005

Religion and Politics
Religious fundamentalists have become a dominant voice in American politics—so much so that the word “religion” has become synonymous with the conservative political perspective. Because of this perception the progressive movement has been reluctant to embrace religion of any stripe, seeing it as counter to values such as compassion, freedom and trust.

Progressivism, in general, has not recognized the millions of Americans who possess a strong and vibrant faith that complements their progressive political views. The voices of these Americans have yet to be heard in significant numbers. The Spiritual Progressives conference is a step towards a remedy.

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We want to explore the common ground between spiritual and secular progressives—to talk about who we are and why we believe what we do. What do spiritually progressive values have to say about policy issues like the environment, healthcare and war? How do spiritual progressive frame their beliefs? What unites the progressive movement? Why has this unity been so difficult to achieve? And what action can we take to promote our shared values?

Together we will come away from this conference with a renewed sense of unity and fresh sense of purpose. Please join us for this exciting experience—we have much to learn from each other! Find out more below, and keep checking back with this page--more details will be available soon.

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Read more...
http://forum.rockridgeinstitute.org/?q=dialogue05

[Tux]

1. Religion vs Spirituality

One divides, other unites. One is dead, the other is alive and adapts to the times. One is based on a strict father family model, other is based on a nurturing family model. Which is conservative and the other progressive?

[lady lib]

2. Absolutely, I agree with you.

I was pleasantly surprised when I went to the Rockridge website for the first time tonight.

Click on the "issues" section along the left (first clue!).

[carnie_sf]

3. I always heard

religion was for people who were afraid of going to hell, and spirituality was for people who had already been there.

[lady lib]

4. Yes.

For example, Dave Mustaine uses it in this interview http://www.ugo.com/channels/music/features/davemustaine/default.asp

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"...The truth is, when my arm got damaged, I really took a hard, cold look at my whole understanding of things religious in nature and spiritual. Religion is for people who are afraid to go to hell, whereas spirituality is for people like me who have been there. I finally realized that I don't need religion to have a relationship with God, because he has all the answers and I'm just guessing. I turned up the jets on this quest and I've made more commitments to live a peaceful life."

<snip>

The quote:
Religion is for people who are afraid to go to hell, whereas spirituality is for people like me who have been there.
It's a popular quote and I think perhaps there's some truth to it in that spirituality is borne of life's most difficult challenges, but I don't think religion and spirituality are necessarily mutually exclusive as the quote seems to imply.

[aneerkoinos]

5. Yet

The realization about nature of memomy and time shows that if I think I've been to hell, I'm still there...