Nate’s Original Post

NATE’S ORIGINAL POST (that prompted the creation of The Culture Forum)

So, I’ve been pondering something for several years now and, in light of current events, I’m wondering if it might be time to explore this idea.

There’s been a lot of recent conversation in my circles regarding the nature of Christianity in America and regardless of what you think about the religion, it seems that this country is (to borrow a phrase from Flannery O’Connor) “Christ-haunted.” What I mean by that is that we see a significant amount of Christian phrases, ideas and iconography woven into the fabric of this nation (for good or for ill) but we may not actually fully understand why or where it all comes from, particularly if we don’t have a robust understanding of both American history as well as Christian ideology throughout the ages.

I personally find myself in an interesting position where I am fully immersed in the arts and culture sector of my community while simultaneously having a Biblical Studies degree and having spent most of my life in some form of Christian ministry.

All of this to say, while I understand that it is a fraught landscape when it comes to politics and religion, I feel that it is all the more necessary for us to find ways to come together in conversation, to learn and grow from disparate perspectives, and to increase in a gracious understanding of where we’ve come from, where we are now, and where we want to go from here.

As for my part, since I have a degree in the Bible (as well as some linguistics training), I’m wondering if anyone local would be interested if I curated some opportunities to have thoughtful dialog about the Christian religion (regardless of whether you ascribe to it or not). As I do not trust the internet, these would be in-person gatherings and I’d definitely want to set some ground rules to ensure that everyone feels comfortable expressing their perspective while respecting the differences of others who may disagree.

This group would not be affiliated with any church and would not expect anyone to believe anything specific. Christians, agnostics, atheists and everything in between would be welcome. The only purpose of the group would be to have respectful conversations that help us gain a better understanding of what Christianity is and has been historically, how the Bible is put together so we can more effectively navigate it, and how to traverse a complex religious reality with grace and love rather than fear and hatred.

Lend me your thoughts if this would be of interest to you! And please be respectful to each other in the comments of this post. Thank you!