I think a major rival of "church" is 12-step programs, because 12-step programs actually make you practice what is preached, provides you with a sponsor (i.e., spiritual mentor) to help keep you accountable, and a very tight knit community which gets together regularly and doesn't pretend you, me or life is perfect now that you're in the program. Instead, let's share what our lives are really like, and share some ideas on what / how to do what needs to be done. That we're all walking this path together. I've been in Al-Anon for over 20 years, and I still go every week. I also go to church, but the real message is often at Al-Anon. It's visceral there.
That is not to say that I haven't attended some fabulous churches: the one I attend now, a Congregational Church, is wonderful. I also attended an Episcopal church for a while, where the service I attended (due to my job) was on Wednesday morning, which was primarily made up of elderly and dying. That was visceral, too. No squeamishness, but getting down to brass tacks about life here and life hereafter. Now that I'm elderly myself, it's even more clear how amazing that service was.
Oh, and the 12 steps are a non-judgmental way of life that isn't about damning anybody at all. Including ourselves.
Thank you for sharing all of that. I appreciate the time and thought you put into it. I really like the idea of a spiritual mentor. I do believe that is going to be an absolutely critical component for clergy in the future. More spiritual direction and/or coaching with less preaching.
I think a major rival of "church" is 12-step programs, because 12-step programs actually make you practice what is preached, provides you with a sponsor (i.e., spiritual mentor) to help keep you accountable, and a very tight knit community which gets together regularly and doesn't pretend you, me or life is perfect now that you're in the program. Instead, let's share what our lives are really like, and share some ideas on what / how to do what needs to be done. That we're all walking this path together. I've been in Al-Anon for over 20 years, and I still go every week. I also go to church, but the real message is often at Al-Anon. It's visceral there.
That is not to say that I haven't attended some fabulous churches: the one I attend now, a Congregational Church, is wonderful. I also attended an Episcopal church for a while, where the service I attended (due to my job) was on Wednesday morning, which was primarily made up of elderly and dying. That was visceral, too. No squeamishness, but getting down to brass tacks about life here and life hereafter. Now that I'm elderly myself, it's even more clear how amazing that service was.
Oh, and the 12 steps are a non-judgmental way of life that isn't about damning anybody at all. Including ourselves.
Thank you for sharing all of that. I appreciate the time and thought you put into it. I really like the idea of a spiritual mentor. I do believe that is going to be an absolutely critical component for clergy in the future. More spiritual direction and/or coaching with less preaching.