ABOUT MY CHRISTIAN BELIEFS

​My faith stance is as a progressive Christian, informed by the "Social Gospel" movement - which goes beyond literal interpretations of the Bible to ask what would Jesus say and do about contemporary situations. Love is the operative word of God's will for us, as to how we should act - and how God does act towards us. I seek to be "open & affirming" of LGBTQ+ people and as an advocate of minority civil rights. I have been actively involved in community interfaith events - including "Evenings of Sacred Storytelling" with Jewish and Muslim storytellers. I seek to live a life of responsibly striving - even fighting to make it a better world. How we 'fight' is best done through creativity - and the way I do that is through
​art & storytelling.

One of the most significant Christian theological insights in the modern era was by Rene Girard who described "single victim mechanism" (scapegoating) as an unconscious process we humans do for resolving conflict, followed by "redemptive violence". Jesus exposed this vicious cycle, when he was unjustly condemned himself - and triumphed over it, freeing all who seek to follow his way of undefeated forgiveness and love. Walter Wink contributed to this concept, emphasizing Jesus' "Third Way" as a "countermyth" (to the "myth of redemptive violence" which he characterized as good guy vs bad guy stories - westerns, Star Wars, and Popeye cartoons, etc...). Through Biblical storytelling, I have found Jesus gave us an outline for that countermyth in the Beatitudes. Not simply a list of blessings, they emerge as a neverending story that begins and ends with God's Kingdom - or "beloved community". ​ Therefore in my Biblical interpretations, translations, and recitations, I practice culturally inclusive language. I also allow for finding emotional truths in the telling of these ancient texts - even to discover that God through Christ has a sense of humor...