Disappointed and bored

Dear Editor:

Re: “Don’t let me speak to empty seats,” by Phil Collins (Focus on Faith, April 13).

I think if Aimee Semple McPherson were alive today her “extravagant divine dramas” would fall short of attracting crowds as they did in 1920.

People in almost all societies today are saturated with entertainment. The growing hunger in many people is for a deeper, more meaningful, realistic religion, a religion of actual experience. The empty seats are a truthful statement that ‘tradition’ is not addressing that spiritual hunger.

But that is not to infer that God has been cast aside. I know of thousands of people who use online Google study courses to interact with people across the globe and to find answers to the questions they are asking. The Urantia Book study courses not only stimulate deep thinking and a responsible brotherly love, but give the readers a satisfying 600-page journey through the life and teachings of Jeshua Ben Joseph as opposed to the 36 pages of his ministry found in the bible.

It reminds us that the mission of this creator son was to free people from the slavery of religious tradition and awaken the memory in them of God as a loving Father, one that calls us sons and brothers and not sinners.

Today the internet gives any curious mind a look at how the bible came to be compiled, something that A.S. McPherson did not have access to. But we do today thankfully and as a result of so much critical historical information we have greater expectations for a new and more mature religion.

There are still many lines from the bible that ring true today and one that I really like is “that God is no respecter of persons”. He will speak to and through anyone who is humble enough and well balanced enough to ask and listen. Given that thought, Sunday morning services could and should be a shared responsibility with the pastor with anyone from the congregation that is willing to do some research and original thinking. We need to learn about each other and from each other which sitting silently in a church seat does not allow.

A little cross pollination could go a long way as well to stimulate a learning adventure. I have visited five churches in my area, wanting to learn first and how worship and church life have changed in the 80 years since I was a child. I am sad to say I came away disappointed and bored.

I look forward to hearing from Pastor Collins in his Saturday column, just how many ways his prayer for a “better way” has been answered.

Patricia Kristie Penticton