latest book by Rev Dr Durrell Watkins
Saved
From Salvation by
Durrell Watkins, DMin (2014). Saved From Salvation chronicles a journey
from fundamentalism to a ministry of spiritual humanism. The book is divided
into three sections: (1) "The Winding Road Between Absurd Certainty &
Infinite Possibilities" (2) "Sexuality & Spirituality" and (3) "So What, Now
What? A Humanistic Spirituality".
The
first section shares an interreligious journey from fundamentalist Christianity
through Catholicism, the arts, Pentecostalism, Buddhism, Goddess/Nature
spirituality, Anglicanism, Energy Healing, and "New Thought" all leading to
blended and inclusive ministry in Metropolitan Community Churches. The second
section tackles homophobia and heterosexism, looks at the bible and human
sexuality in general and homosexuality in particular, and the spirituality
of celebrating one's innate nature. The final section looks at non-theistic
religion, progressive Christianity, liberating language, prayer, and the
ministry that affirms the sacred value of all people and that seeks to build
community rather than enforce stale, antiquated dogmas. The final pages offer a
real hope, a genuine faith, a practical spirituality that can be shared by
believers and skeptics, Christians and non-Christians, seekers of truth and
makers of meaning of every type.
The
author affirms on the penultimate page of the final chapter, "I am so committed
to the church of honest inquiry, the cathedral of fearless searching, the chapel
of mind expanding ideas, the temple of indomitable hope, that I have spent my
life so far believing in and building up worship communities, churches of the
free spirit, churches of the open mind, churches that affirm and depend on human
potential..."
Saved
From Salvation is for anyone who has been through the religious wringer and
still hopes to be part of a thriving, thoughtful, inclusive, spiritual
community,and for all who have found such a community and wish for it to be a
shining model of what shared spirituality can achieve.
2 comments:
Love the title, love the concept! I’m excited that your journey includes the arts, Buddhism, Goddess/Nature spirituality, and New Age spirituality as well as the more common paths. I’ve read other tales of transition from fundamentalism to LGBT-affirming progressive Christianity, but none of them include these other paths, which have also been important in my own life.
The title reminds me of an experience that Audrey had when we first joined MCC around 1986. Neither of us had any experience with Christian fundamentalists. We attended a “Womanspirit” gathering where everyone was brainstorming about what subjects we should address at future meetings. Audrey innocently suggested “salvation” as a topic -- and everyone else immediately attacked, launching into angry diatribes about how they had been wounded by fundies preaching salvation. It was shocking and mystifying to us. Now I understand that they needed to be saved from salvation.
I also want to salute you for the quote, “I am so committed to the church of honest inquiry, the cathedral of fearless searching…” I just read it out loud to Audrey, and she loved it too. You have a really wonderful way of putting it in words.
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