Methodists take heed,

Methodists take heed

when church creeds,

again ignore human needs.

It's happened before! The formal doctrines of many/most/all churches, developed by the hierarchy, fail to take into consideration the changing dynamics of their members who seek to live a life of commitment to the welfare of ALL humanity. At 93 years of age I distinctly recall a previous example that occurred in the Methodist Church just over 200 years ago. Obviously I wasn't living then, but I know well the stories of the schism – one far less dramatic than the present one. It well illustrates the present dilemma and trauma of religious institutions.

Jacob Albright, born in 1759 was the son of German immigrants. As a devout Lutheran, he failed to find solace in the teachings of that church in the death of all but three of his ten children. But he was so inspired by Circuit Riders of the Methodist Church that he wanted to share his "Good News" with fellow Germans of his community. In 1793 he was accepted as an itinerant preacher in the Methodist Church. However he soon discovered that his limited ability to use the English language, coupled by the inability of his listeners to understand English, made it obvious that this preaching would be more effective using the German language. However that was contrary to the ruling of the hierarchy of the church, English must be used! Thus he struck out on his own in 1800 by going from house to house, from community to community to console and bring the moral teaching of Jesus to communities. In seven years the first steps were taken to form a new Protestant denomination, The Evangelical Church. I know because in 1925 I was baptized into that denomination and remained in it until it reunited with The United Methodist Church in 1968.

Methodists take heed

when church creeds,

again ignore human needs.

It's happened before! The formal doctrines of many/most/all churches, developed by the hierarchy, fail to take into consideration the changing dynamics of their members who seek to live a life of commitment to the welfare of ALL humanity. At 93 years of age I distinctly recall a previous example that occurred in the Methodist Church just over 200 years ago. Obviously I wasn't living then, but I know well the stories of the schism – one far less dramatic than the present one. It well illustrates the present dilemma and trauma of religious institutions.

Jacob Albright, born in 1759 was the son of German immigrants. As a devout Lutheran, he failed to find solace in the teachings of that church in the death of all but three of his ten children. But he was so inspired by Circuit Riders of the Methodist Church that he wanted to share his "Good News" with fellow Germans of his community. In 1793 he was accepted as an itinerant preacher in the Methodist Church. However he soon discovered that his limited ability to use the English language, coupled by the inability of his listeners to understand English, made it obvious that this preaching would be more effective using the German language. However that was contrary to the ruling of the hierarchy of the church, English must be used! Thus he struck out on his own in 1800 by going from house to house, from community to community to console and bring the moral teaching of Jesus to communities. In seven years the first steps were taken to form a new Protestant denomination, The Evangelical Church. I know because in 1925 I was baptized into that denomination and remained in it until it reunited with The United Methodist Church in 1968.

The last thing young pe

The last thing young people want

from someone 93 years of age

is a sermon.

However, my years of experience as an educator have proven to me that young people are eager, yea yearning, to see dramatic societal changes in the American lifestyle. As a historian respecting the knowledge of the world and life that science has brought over the past 500 or so years, I would compare the need for change today to that wrought by Martin Luther 500 years ago when a religious world was shaken by the Protestant Reformation. And I as a layman see it as a question of Faith vs. Works.

What is needed today

is another Reformation of the church!

And for me this begins with a realization that, "like all religions, Christianity is man-made."

I realize that this "sermonizing" is a far cry from my usual "ranting and raving." Yet I find it necessary to be perfectly honest and admit that it is a topic that has long held my interest. However in reading the last chapter of Warren L Hickman's book, "Can Religion Survive Worship" I was mesmerized by that statement, "like all religions, Christianity is man-made.

Unfortunately I found the first 26 chapters of the book quite tedious, soI can't recommend its purchase.  But the last chapter blew me away.  It succinctly drives the message home to the non-– theological reader. From checking Amazon's assessment of reader interest in books, it might appear that I'm the only reader of the book. But because I am so struck by its relevance I'll have more to say about it in the next few of my Raves. Perhaps this blurb from Amazon might even whet your interest so there will be a surge on the market.

"Will main line churches disappear within twenty five to forty years as religious authorities now predict? What is behind this crisis so suddenly facing religious communities? Why does the chance of survival of religion decline as a nation becomes more highly developed? The book Can Religion Survive Worship clarifies the difference between worshiping the messenger and studying the message. If rituals, processes, and procedures are put aside, what is to become of churches and clergy that have existed primarily to preside over those rituals, processes, and procedures? What, if any, will then be the vehicle carrying the message? Warren Hickman has thrown down the gauntlet. It needs to be picked up.