rants: an outsider’s look to protestantism

First off, read the following DISCLAIMER. I’m not a theologian and I’m merely expressing my barely educated views in a constant comparison to my corrupted understanding of Christianity influenced by Neopaganism.

After four (4) years going to a Protestant church, I’m still an outsider looking in — from within, no less. I was welcomed to the Presbyterian Church (FAPC to be exact), but I’m still lost at best.

Protestantism is all branches of Christianity outside the Roman Catholic Church, which came about after the Great Schism (1054). As such, Protestantism is not a philosophy against the Orthodox Church of Alexandria. As a matter of fact, I don’t cover the Orthodox Church of Alexandria (east) in this post due to my total lack of understanding, education, social and/or political background. Hence my ignorance to this division of Christianity demands most of my respect. As such, analyzing the western branch of Christianity comes easier.

The way I see Protestantism (most likely wrong) as five sub-groups.

1. Calvinists (Reformed) in which one’s predestined to salvation, completed at Christ’s death
   

   “Calvinism (also called the Reformed tradition or the Reformed faith) is a major branch of Western Christianity that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice of John Calvin and other Reformation-era theologians. Calvinists broke with the Roman Catholic church but differed with Lutherans on the real presence of Christ in the Lord’s supper, theories of worship, and the use of God’s law for believers, among other things. Calvinism is a misleading term because the religious tradition it denotes is and has always been diverse, with a wide range of influences rather than a single founder. The movement was first called ‘Calvinism’ by Lutherans who opposed it, and many within the tradition would prefer to use the word ‘Reformed’ rather than ‘Calvinist.’ Since the Arminian controversy, the Reformed (as a branch of Protestantism distinguished from Lutheranism) are divided into Arminians and Calvinists, however it is now rare to call Arminians Reformed, as many see these two schools of thought as opposed, making the terms Calvinist and Reformed synonymous.”
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism

2. Lutheranism (1521), in which one’s saved by Grace alone
   

   “Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther’s efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Roman Catholic Church launched the Protestant Reformation. Beginning with the 95 Theses, Luther’s writings were disseminated internationally, spreading the ideas of the Reformation beyond the ability of governmental and churchly authorities to control it.
   The split between the Lutherans and the Roman Catholics began with the 1521 Edict of Worms, which condemned Luther and officially outlawed citizens of the Holy Roman Empire from defending his ideas. The punishment decreed for Lutheranism was seizure of all property, with half going to the Imperial government and half given to their accusers. The divide centered over the doctrine of Justification. Lutheranism advocates a doctrine of justification ‘by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone,’ which went against the Roman view of ‘faith formed by love’, or ‘faith and works’. Unlike the Reformed Churches, Lutherans retain a high respect for the authority of the Church Fathers, as well as many of the liturgical practices and sacramental teachings of the pre-Reformation Church, with a particular emphasis on the Eucharist, or Lord’s Supper. Lutheran theology significantly differs from Reformed theology in Christology, the purpose of God’s Law, the divine grace, the concept of perseverance of the saints, and predestination. Like most denominations, Lutheranism is split between Liberal and Conservative/Confessional camps.”
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism

I find these two philosophies very similar. I understand these two movements fought against the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church. Such acts led the Roman Catholic Church to condemn and excommunicate Calvin, Luther and anyone else who had the balls to criticize the Pope and the status quo. As an outsider, I still can’t tell the differences between the two. Surprisingly (as I’ve mentioned several times) I’ve also questioned the Roman Catholic Church in a naive and uneducated curiosity since I was a little kid.

The other three are

3. Primitivism — an attempt to live Christianity before the Great Schism, preferably about the time the Gospels and other books of the New Testament (NT) were written, which has included Puritans and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
   

   “Christian primitivism, also described as restorationism, is the belief that Christianity should be restored along the lines of what is known about the apostolic early church, which restorationists see as the search for a more pure and more ancient form of the religion. Fundamentally, ‘this vision seeks to correct faults or deficiencies [in the church] by appealing to the primitive church as a normative model.’ The term ‘restorationism’ is sometimes used more specifically as a synonym for the American Restoration Movement. The term is also used by more recent groups, describing their goal to re-establish Christianity in its original form, such as some anti-denominational Charismatic Restorationists, which arose in the 1970s in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In comparable terms, earlier primitivist movements, including the Hussites, Anabaptists, Landmarkists, Puritans, and the Waldensians have been described as examples of restorationism, as have many seventh-day Sabbatarians.
   Efforts to restore an earlier, purer form of Christianity are often a response to denominationalism. As Rubel Shelly put it, ‘[t]he motive behind all restoration movements is to tear down the walls of separation by a return to the practice of the original, essential and universal features of the Christian religion.’ Different groups have tried to implement the restorationist vision in different ways; for instance, some have focused on the structure and practice of the church, others on the ethical life of the church, and others on the direct experience of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. The relative importance given to the restoration ideal, and the extent to which the full restoration of the early church is believed to have been achieved, also varies between groups.”
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restorationism

4. Charismatic — led by the Pentecostal Church, whose members speak in tongues (as the disciples did, Acts 2:1-13; 10:1-17 & 23-28)
   

   “2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

   10:1 There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

   23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the morrow after they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” (Acts 2:1-13; 10:1-17 & 23-28 KJV)

   and often do amazing acts led by faith as curing the sick by touch (hands a mere vehicle for the Holy Spirit); although the fastest growing denominational group(s) in South America especially Brazil (56 million, 10:1), still much too disorganized for my liking.

   “Charismatic Christianity (also known as Spirit-filled Christianity) is a form of Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and modern day miracles. Practitioners are often called Charismatic Christians or renewalists. Although there is considerable overlap, Charismatic Christianity is often categorized into three separate groups: Pentecostalism, the Charismatic Movement, and neocharismatic movements. In 2011, Pentecostals and Charismatic Christians numbered over 500 million, a quarter of the world’s 2 billion Christians.
   The term charismatic derives from the Greek word (‘gift,’ itself derived from ‘grace’ or ‘favor’). This is the same origin for the word charismata, another term for spiritual gifts.
   Charismatic Christianity is diverse, and it is not defined by acceptance of any particular doctrines, practices, or denominational structures. Rather, renewalists share a spirituality characterized by a worldview where miracles, signs and wonders, and other supernatural occurrences are expected to be present in the lives of believers. This includes the presence of spiritual gifts, such as prophecy and healing. While similar in many respects, renewalists do differ in important ways. These differences have led to Charismatic Christianity being categorized into three main groups: Pentecostalism, the charismatic movement, and neo-charismatic movements.”
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismatic_Christianity

5. Others & Questionables — which include the much debatable and often most controversial forms of Christianity such as Mormonism (nothing against LDS as my youngest sister’s a practicing member); many including other doctrines and/or practices too bizarre for Mainstream Christianity.

Needless to say (type), each group refers to itself as the correct way to worship God and sees all others as false prophets — deception from the devil. The latter has always been the Roman Catholic stand against non-Catholic regarding of its numerous scandals and never ending corruption. As part two of my DISCLAIMER and related to the previous paragraph, I do openly criticize the Roman Catholic Church as I grew up In it. I’m neither ashamed of my opinion nor scared of its consequences. Besides, most of my friends consider themselves Catholics and my eldest son’s a devout Catholic.

interesting: the home church for the mental ill — waiting

Now that I’ll start psychotherapy and a much deeper discussion about my psyche, I must wonder what makes me so bizarre. Is it a syndrome like autism, the textbook trauma or mere stupidity?

“Psychotherapy is a general term referring to therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client, patient, family, couple, or group. The problems addressed are psychological in nature and can vary in terms of their causes, influences, triggers, and potential resolutions. Accurate assessment of these and other variables is dependent on the practitioner’s capability and can change or evolve as the practitioner acquires greater experience, knowledge, and insight.
Psychotherapy aims to increase the individual’s sense of his/her own well-being. Psychotherapists employ a range of techniques based on experiential relationship building, dialogue, communication and behavior change that are designed to improve the mental health of a client or patient, or to improve group relationships (such as in a family).
Psychotherapy may also be performed by practitioners with a number of different qualifications, including psychiatry, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, clinical or psychiatric social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, hypnotherapy, play therapy, music therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, dance/movement therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatric nursing, psychoanalysis and those from other psychotherapies. It may be legally regulated, voluntarily regulated or unregulated, depending on the jurisdiction. Requirements of these professions vary, but often require graduate school and supervised clinical experience. Psychotherapy in Europe is increasingly being seen as an independent profession, rather than being restricted to being practiced only by psychologists and psychiatrists as is stipulated in some countries.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotherapy

I’ll be in no way tested for IQ. My intelligence might be measured some other day by Mensa. It’ll be only a matter of digging into the dungeons of my mind where my demons abide.

“Mensa is the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardized, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test. Mensa is formally composed of national groups and the umbrella organization Mensa International, with a registered office in Caythorpe, Lincolnshire, England.
Mensa means ‘table’ in Latin, as is symbolized in the organization’s logo, and was chosen to demonstrate the round-table nature of the organization; the coming together of equals.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mensa_International

I do want to be tested got autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other conditions that cause hyper-sensitivity.

“Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum (ASDs), the other two being Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (commonly abbreviated as PDD-NOS), which is diagnosed when the full set of criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome are not met.
Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by rare mutations, or by rare combinations of common genetic variants. In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes, such as heavy metals, pesticides or childhood vaccines; the vaccine hypotheses are biologically implausible and lack convincing scientific evidence. The prevalence of autism is about 1-2 per 1,000 people worldwide, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report 20 per 1,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with ASD as of 2012 (up from 11 per 1000 in 2008). The number of people diagnosed with autism has been increasing dramatically since the 1980s, partly due to changes in diagnostic practice and government-subsidized financial incentives for named diagnoses; the question of whether actual prevalence has increased is unresolved.
Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child’s life. The signs usually develop gradually, but some autistic children first develop more normally and then regress. Early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help autistic children gain self-care, social, and communication skills. Although there is no known cure, there have been reported cases of children who recovered. Not many children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, though some become successful. An autistic culture has developed, with some individuals seeking a cure and others believing autism should be accepted as a difference and not treated as a disorder.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
(incomplete, biased, government-approved explanation)

In other words, I’ll be told why I’m so fucked up, who did me so and how to drown the deepest desires of revenge. Yet I’ve got my doubts if psychotherapy, specialized pastoral care or other forms of brain picking really get the demons out of my head or, at least, keep them in check.

“Pastoral counseling is a branch of counseling in which psychologically trained ministers, rabbis, priests, imams, and other persons provide therapy services. Pastoral counselors often integrate modern psychological thought and method with traditional religious training in an effort to address psychospiritual issues in addition to the traditional spectrum of counseling services.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_counseling

As I mentioned the place I’ve chosen (or rather, chosen for me) is called Blanton-Peale Institute and Counseling Center (Blanton-Peale, for short) located at Marble Collegiate Church.

“The Marble Collegiate Church, founded in 1628, is one of the oldest continuous Protestant congregations in North America. The congregation, which is part of the Reformed Church in America, is now located at 272 Fifth Avenue at the corner of West 29th Street in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was built in 1851-54 and was designed by Samuel A. Warner in Romanesque Revival style with Gothic trim. The facade is covered in Tuckahoe marble, for which the church, originally called the Fifth Avenue Church, was renamed in 1906.
The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1967, and in 1980 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Collegiate_Church

interesting: the home church for the mental ill

This past Saturday, I finally went to see a mental clinic (aside from a $150/hr doctor I saw about three weeks ago, explained in more detail below). The intake process took about an hour. Now I’ve got to wait for them to find me a good match.

The place is called Blanton-Peale Institute and Counseling Center (Blanton-Peale, for short) located at Marble Collegiate Church, which has an interesting history as quoted below.

“Marble Collegiate Church is the oldest place of worship of the Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New York, organized in 1628 under the Dutch West India Company when Peter Minuit was Governor of New Amsterdam. The first minister was Jonas Michaelius, who appointed Peter Minuit as Elder and Bastiaen Jonaz Krol as Deacon. It is the oldest Protestant organization in North America with continuous service for 382 years.
The earliest organized services of the congregation were held in the loft over a gristmill on what is now South William Street. The first church building was erected in 1633 on what is now 33 Pearl Street.
In 1696, when New Amsterdam was under British rule and renamed New York, King William III granted the church a Royal Charter, which was confirmed in 1753 by the Legislature of the Colony of New York and continued in force by the Constitution of the State of New York. It is the oldest corporation in America. Its denominational affiliation is with the Reformed Church in America, known in earlier days as the Dutch Reformed Church. The church has served under three flags: Dutch, British and American.”
http://www.marblechurch.org/AboutUs/History/OurOrigin/tabid/86/Default.aspx

“The Marble Collegiate Church, founded in 1628, is one of the oldest continuous Protestant congregations in North America. The congregation, which is part of the Reformed Church in America, is now located at 272 Fifth Avenue at the corner of West 29th Street in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was built in 1851-54 and was designed by Samuel A. Warner in Romanesque Revival style with Gothic trim. The facade is covered in Tuckahoe marble, for which the church, originally called the Fifth Avenue Church, was renamed in 1906.
The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1967, and in 1980 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The church congregation was founded in 1628 as the Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church and was affiliated with the Dutch Reformed Church, a Calvinist church in the Netherlands. During its first 150 years, Marble shared its ministers with the other Collegiate congregations as they developed in the city. This pooling of pastoral ministry was abandoned in 1871. The name ‘Collegiate’ remains as part of the heritage of the four such churches in New York City today, and they participate in an administrative unit that oversees physical properties and investments held in common. The other congregations are Middle Collegiate, West End Collegiate, and Fort Washington Collegiate.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Collegiate_Church

“The Dutch Reformed Church (in Dutch: Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk or NHK) was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. Growing out of the Roman Catholic Church, it came into being in the 1570s and lasted until 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. At the time of the merger, the Church had 2 million members organised in 1,350 congregations. A minority of members of the Church chose not to participate in the merger. These former members re-organized as the Restored Reformed Church.
It was one of the many local churches reconstituted across Europe during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. While the Dutch Reformed Church was based in the Netherlands, other churches holding similar theological views were founded in France, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, England, and Scotland. The theology and practice of the Dutch Reformed Church, and its sister churches in the countries named, were based on the teachings of John Calvin and the many other Reformers of his time.
The Reformation was a time of religious violence and persecution, and many leaders of the newly established Reformed congregations fled abroad. The first Synod of 23 Dutch Reformed leaders was held in October 1571 in the German city of Emden. The Synod of Emden is generally considered to be the founding of the Dutch Reformed Church, the oldest of the Reformed churches in the Netherlands.
The first Synod in the Dutch Republic itself was held in Dordrecht in 1578. This synodical meeting is not to be confused with the better known Second Synod of Dort of 1618, during which Arminians were expelled from the Church and the Canons of Dort were added to the Confessions. The Canons of Dordt, together with the previously adopted Belgic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism, were called the Drie formulieren van Enigheid (Three Forms of Unity). In fact, most conflicts and splits in the Church were brought about by disagreement over the substance and interpretation of these doctrinal documents. The government of the Dutch Republic, which had instigated the Arminians’ expulsion, subsequently prohibited the Reformed Church from assembling synodically. No Synod was held in the Netherlands until after the end of the Republic in 1795.
Before the demise of the Dutch Republic in 1795, it enjoyed the status of ‘public’ or ‘privileged’ church. Though it was never formally adopted as the state religion, the law demanded that every public official should be a communicant member. Consequently, the Church had close relations with the Dutch government.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Reformed_Church

The idea of a mental clinic ran by Christians (a church, no less) was something that I’d never thought of till someone from outreach program in NJ brought it to my attention. To satisfy my curiosity, I asked one of the ministers at FAPC who referred me to the psychoanalyst who then referred me to the clinic. I’d have never known about this clinic had it not been by a stranger (now friend) in NJ, a minister at FAPC and a doctor I met.

Strangely enough, Marble Collegiate Church is one of the few churches I had planned to visit for the past three years or so, but I’d never done so. I even considered making it my home church from all the good reviews and information I’d read for years about it.

Sunday series: 02/28/2010 (#75)

Where: Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church at 11am

Bible reading:

“7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.” (Acts 20:7-12 KJV)

Comments then:

1. Second Sunday in Lent
2. feeling easily distracted [and/or falling asleep, no memory of sermon or anything else],
3. sitting in of the front rows on the right side of the sanctuary.

Comments now:

1. Marked on the bulletin that on 03/08/2010 the Performing Arts small group would start and immediately joined in.
2. This is where I made friends who are in different fields of the arts (except for writing) — some living paycheck to paycheck (flesh-and-bone starving artists).
3. I had to drop out to be with my then nine-year-old to avoid what’d later become numerous medical surprises.

rants: not feeling well today… back at 60%

I still feel as if someone’s kicked my in the ribs. As precaution and curiosity, I checked for broken ribs to avail.

The pain was so debilitating that I couldn’t even move since any effort usually meant an increase in respiration. I even wondered if it was a mild case of thrombosis.

Two days latter (today), I still have trouble breathing, limited lung capacity, but I’m much better than this past Tuesday.

I haven’t slept well though. I woke up about six (6) times last night in bed till the pain would wake me up and then sleeping on an office chair with my head on a pillow against a wall. It was a tiring cycle but it was the only way I could rest. At least, it was better than the night before when I woke up in so much pain that I couldn’t breath or move and stayed gasping for air for a good five long seconds.

Needless to say (type), if today I feel any worse, I’ll drag myself to the nearest good hospital — either (in order of preference)

1. Long Island Jewish Medical Center (20.5 miles, 34 minutes),
2. NYU Langone Medical Center (4.6 miles, 12 minutes)
3. or New York Presbyterian (3.5 miles, 11 minutes).

Of course, the latter would include a $600 bill for the ambulance ride. NYDF/EMT makes a lot of money on the hurt and dying.

Maybe it may really be time to get those forms for Advance Planning For End of Life Services ready.