[earle58]

Originally Posted by thevicarofblue

BTW, I am glad to see some apologies on this thread. Seems Christianity is one of the few things left that is unacceptable to claim...


As a Christian whose faith is the undergirding of years of social justice work and activism--and as one who lived outside the US in a country so "new" to itself because only in the last few years has this country been out from the HUGE influence of Colonialism and Imperialism--the US being the last of the Imperialism, I've seen, up close and personal, a really ugly side of the US--AND a very ugly side of the Christianity of US Imperialism--even though both my husband and I were there as Xan missioners.

Yes, well, there IS a piece of the truth (as Gandhi said) about Xanity being "unacceptable" in the light of the atrocities of Western Xianity particularly in light of the past nearly 8 years of a very violent theocracy. In the US, it seems that we've taken it for granted that "we" were/are Christian and in parts of the US, a one way of being Xan. When I think of the present conflict within Anglicanism (for example), I think that so much of what is being called "traditional" Xanity (by the Bible etc etc etc) was literally forced on peoples all over the world by Xan missionaries. I won't go on and on about eons of bad, wrong, misinterpreted, horribly translated via culture and power that is, at least for me, THE primary reason Xianity is considered so "unacceptable." In my lifetime, "bad" Xianity has been used to defend racism, sexism, heterosexism, murder, torture, death penalty, economic injustice...from the Civil Rights years to the Black Muslim movement to Vietnam to chemical mega agriculture, the oil industry, to immigration rights to the atrocities of US intervention in Latin America, to GLBTQKQ rights, to 9-11 and the aftermath of war, and on and on... that's a whole lot of baggage and intolerance all under the name of a masculine Christian G/god.

I think it really shows a sensitivity and awareness for those of who are ARE Xan to be respectful of other cultures and other faith traditions. And to that hospice using the language of different faith traditions in the world today as a way to connect to families, patients/clients, and the rest of the world, I give you great HURRAHS!! And for all of us Xan to make ourselves aware of other faith tradition ways and days of celebration and sacred days--says that we really DO honor a Holy One who loves All. I don't know about any of the rest of you, but Christianity is my "way" into paganism and Earth/environmental activism.

Please, to the hospice chaplains comfortable enough to "do" memorial services and life celebrations of other faith traditions, I send a great big THANK YOU!

bleu

bravo, bravo, bravo!!!
finally...
someone who gets it.

thank you, blue...
THANK YOU.

leslie

[Stanley-RN2B]

Speechless...

[czyja]

Originally Posted by aimeee

My job is to do active listening and be alert for the layered meanings in what they are saying. I might give a non-committal response such as "I have imagined what heaven might look like....sounds like you've been thinking about this....(pause for them to say more and if they do not, extend an invitation) "what's on your mind about heaven and hell today?"

masterful! thank you!

[finn11707]

Gardener--you do deserve to be welcomed with open arms into this intense and beautiful work. Be prepared...the experiences..the journeys...the moments you will witness in this work will change you forever. Good luck. Be prepared for growing pains..we all experience them in the beginning of our work in hospice.