Comments on: A Rebel Without a Clue

By: keddaw

keddaw — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:43:13 +0000

Without reading your book I see nothing in your eprsonal journey that would make you treat Jesus’ story as any different from that of, say, Ghandi. The messages are similar but there is none of the messiness or supernatural to go along with it, let alone a paternalistic church.

By: Kim Wilkens

Kim Wilkens — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:18:41 +0000

keddaw
Opinions are always welcome. Sorry for the late response, I’ve been traveling. How I re-found religion is long and winding path and I write about it pretty extensively in the book I co-wrote with my dad – “Un-American Activities: Countercultural Themes in Christianity.” I know it’s a long title, but there’s also a subtitle that might help explain more, “a modern father and a postmodern daughter reflect on their pilgrimages of life and faith.”

Here’s a new insight I gained while starting to read Donald Miller’s new book, “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.” He talks about every life being a story and that often we wonder if our story is worth telling, much less living. I guess I found that living my story in corporate America was not worth it. I had/have a longing to be part of a better story. As I began to understand my postmodern sensibilities and then started to come in contact with like-minded people in the emerging church community, I discovered that the story of Jesus was actually this radical call to peace and justice. That’s a story I want to be part of. I know this story isn’t for everyone and I know institutional religion has screwed up this story for so many. I don’t think Christianity is the only religion telling this story and I know it is also being told outside religious circles. I don’t really see myself “aligning” with one group or another. I would rather co-exist and get on with the story of living out peace and justice in the world.

By: keddaw

keddaw — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:24:56 +0000

Kim, if my opinions are not welcome please let me know and I will not respond again as I am a guest on your site, but you say you rebelled against most things including religion (which I consider good) but you do not say how you re-found religion. This confuses me, I thought that a rebellious attitude would require a reason to leave their rebellion however irrational the rebellion was.

I find it strange that people such as yourself, seeking fairness and equality for women, will not align yourself with the one group that is most in your camp (on that one issue) which is [most] atheists. An atheist will not see a racial, social or gender difference between people. No-one is equal, but everyone should be given an equal chance. Religion, whichever one you choose, is unlikely to have this view.

I appreciate your strength, your indefatigability, your wish for equality but would like to know what made you return to your religion (not church!) If you gave up your religion, what was it, other than the community aspect, that made you return to one specific brand of a christian god?

By: Kim Wilkens

Kim Wilkens — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:29:30 +0000

Thank you all for your comments. It’s good to know there are kindred spirits out there. Godspeed on your journeys to wholeness.

Marnie – the quotes are both from The Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd.

Krista – you may also enjoy the book, A Mary Heart in a Martha World

By: Krista

Krista — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:31:38 +0000

Thanks for this honest and inspiring post. As a new mom, I find wholeness lacking more than ever in my life. Integrating the roles of wife, mom, writer, revolutionary, friend, daughter, homemaker, activist seems to be a task for someone with more stamina and a shorter to-do list than me. But your words are refreshing and hope-giving. They pulled me a little closer to center and challenged me to again find the Mary in the midst of all my Martha-ness.

By: Debbie J.

Debbie J. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:26:43 +0000

My own history is remarkably similar, and I’ve come to the same conclusion about wholeness. This type of personal integration seems to be the theme for spirituality in the second half of life. Possibly we “rebels” are not so much rebellious as we are determined to be fully ourselves in a world that doesn’t always value authenticity. We are “protagonists of history” as Colleen Carpenter Cullinan puts it. Thanks for sharing your journey.

By: marnie

marnie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:32:47 +0000

This really struck me: “My new cause is wholeness. ‘There is nothing more important than being fully where we are, in the plain ordinary events, day in and day out. I think women understand that we create change as we live out the experiences of our souls in the common acts of life.’”

Really powerful. Where does the quote come from?