I'm only human

Jason Sadler left a comment on a post below... the Make More Mistakes/Howies one, and as I normally do I followed the link... and this is what I found... I'm not sure whether it is a community blog, a mutual therapy site or what really... its called "Only Human" and  describes itself as,

A community where people share stories about mistakes they've made in life and their advice to others.

... what that blurb misses out is that it seems the main thing is about reflecting on mistakes and taking away new learning not teaching others how to live... valuing the mistakes as human growth... something I believe strongly in.  There is a Religion section, though at the moment it only has two stories, here's an excerpt from one...

As I became clear that I did not have all the answers I learned the greatest lesson of my life, how and when to ask for help. What I learned is that there was help everywhere I turned; all I had to do is open myself to it.

My spiritual journey has brought me close to so many people. As I sought answers, I spoke to many, many people, all wanting their paths to be heard, to be witnessed, and to be of value. The essence of this site actually.

Our journeys to self and to God come in so many varieties. Sometimes it is a quick jaunt to the all night market, other times it is an all out trip to the moon. What I now is that I need to leave the safety of my couch and get the hell out. Explore and witness others, myself, the universe.

I really love the philosophy behind this site and I may well sign up and have a good look around... it may be self indulgent, it may be preachy... but at first glance it has some real potential... maybe this is the way we do Web 2.0 learning, not knowledge banks but interactive story telling.

Thanks for coming by Jason.

Technorati Tags: Blogging: Culture: Web 2.0: Spirituality: technology

Comments

[David]

So you won't be a fan of Augustinian theology then?

Look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

[Mark]

I'm no expert... but I've never been a big Platonist, so I guess not really... The Hippo's theology all feels way to dualistic to me, and his personal obsession with "lust" still seems to have left us with a heirarchy of sin (with sex at the top!)I have always struggled with his statement "There is no salvation outside the church" and I think people fudge it now to fit with modern thinking.. oh he meant the Church Spiritual not the Church Corporeal! No, he meant "The Church of Rome", which in his day was understandable... but I'm not sure it has the same significance now... to say nothing of his justification of violence as a tool for maintaining "orthodoxy"!

I am in sympathy with his hermeneutic of scripture and science hand in hand, one has to understand scripture in tandem with our context and understanding of the world... though pradoxically he believed in a "young earth" in the face of scientific evidence to the contrary!

[David]

I am not well read on this either, but I was alluding to the doctrine of original sin - still loved by some Calvinists. The belief that children are born evil and bound for hell until baptised/saved.

I like the idea though. So much of life in the Church has been about not making mistakes and feeling terrible about it when we do. This is releasing and challenging.

[Mark]

Oh ok, in that case.... no, well not in a Calvinist way anyway!