Living the Questions

We've recently completed our first encounter with the study course "Living the Questions" (www.livingthequestions.com) and are now rerunning several sessions for those who missed those sessions the first time around. LtQ has been so well-received that we've acquired LtQ2, which is the new edition of the course, intending it for this winter. LtQ2 is organized a 3 7-session courses rather than the single 12-session course of the original LtQ.

LtQ is an introduction to Progressive Theology, and the "faculty" (presented by DVD) includes such folk on the current theological scene as Borg, Ammermann, Crossan, Sample, Townes. The challenge students to consider how they feel and what they truly believe about numerous issues--questions--of the past century so they can decide how they choose to live in this century. Some of the questions discussed are "biblical authority," "biblical authorship," "facts about the historical Jesus," and what our scripture, history, and doctrine call us to in the 21st century.

At one point, Crossan summarizes the focal issue for us, "It has begun. Are you with the program?" The "it" is the imperative Jesus presents to us in our day to live both as a people of faith and as a faithful people. For the "faculty" of LtQ and for us, the questions relate less to "what do you believe?" but "how do you live?" Another faculty member provides one answer to those who inquire, "Come see how we live and work--see what difference this makes in our lives."

These and other issues continue to be living concerns for those of us who take the Bible "seriously but not necessarily literally." What questions of life and living keep you awake at night? Do you have a secure and safe place to discuss your questions? Are there people you can trust to hear you and work with you to engage those questions as you examine potential answers? If not "in church," where? Churches which offer LtQ (or LtQ2) as part of their curriculum are very likely places such as this. Pilgrims' (www.pucc.info) is one.