Anyone familiar w/the Christian metaphysical church?

[Tallison]

Just got back from a service in Arlington, VA - the 1st to which I've ever been, and it was absolutely stunning. I've always considered my spiritual beliefs 1/2 Catholic, 1/2 Buddhist, and this service seemed to meet my affinity for both traditions. Wow. The sermon was on supernaturalism in mainstream Christianity vs. the pantheistic nature the metaphysical Christians believe in. Now, I know many Christians would take one look at this church's belief structure and dismiss outright as non-Christian, which is why I'm posting here and not in the Christianity forum. But I'm so excited about what I've so far learned. I don't know that it makes sense, so much as it fits where I seem to be right now in life.

Is anyone else familiar with the metaphysical Christian tradition? I'd love to hear people's experience and perspective on it.
Thanks all,
Tallison

[Eloriel]

1. Not familiar with this, but

you touch on one of the reasons I was and am so mad at the Church. Well, the much bigger reason is its misogyny, but that's another thread and perhaps another forum.

There are some very mystical roots and branches in the church, but they keep that part a secret (for the most part). I had to go read PAGAN literature and teachings to learn why they use vestments, incense, candles, mantra (rosary and others), something about ritual (which the church all but tries to KILL instead of properly utilizing), etc. INFURIATING!! Absolutely infuriating. I've always wondered how far up in the hierarchy you'd have to go to find anyone who actually knew these things, let alone had been taught them by the church. The priests and nuns certainly didn't seem to know.

Then too, there are some very metaphysical "religions" or sects that are rather Christian -- Unity School of Christianity, which calls itself "First Century Christianity," and Church of Religious Science. There may be other similar. These may not be anything like what you've experienced, especially since you'll see no hint of Catholicism in either of them, but they're lovely alternatives for those of us with a distinctly metaphysical bent.

What was the service itself like?

Is it modeled on anything to do with the teachings of Matthew Fox, who was ex-communicated for HIS mysticism? I've never read any of his work, but there's even at least one magazine devoted to his teachings.

[Tallison]

8. Yes, exactly! I had no idea

the magnitutde of the esoteric tradition within Christianity or that any contemporary movement maintained it. During his sermon (the main pastor is a man) Rev. Brown said that the Christian metaphysicists are to mainstream Christianity what Kabbalists are to mainstream Judaism. Now, while I know little about Kabbalism, I know of it, and the parallel never occurred to me before.

Today's service was organized very similarly to a Protestant Christian one. It consisted of:

Prelude
Call to worship
Opening Hymn #103 (out of United Methodist hymn book)
Prayer and invocation & Lord's prayer
The invitatory
Responsorial
Scripture reading (this week Acts 17:22-29)
Homily (this week "God - The Panentheist Perception")
Hymn #111 "How Can We Name a Love"
Offertory
Announcements
Silent meditation (about 7 minutes)
Benediction
Closing Hymn #670
Postlude

Another very enjoyable aspect of the service was the music. There's a congregant who sings opera, another who plays the piano very well, another who plays harp, and there's a genuine pipe organ that one of the ministers plays during the call to worship/opening hymn. Big part of the ambiance. Very pleasant!

[KittyWampus]

2. I'm A Member Of An Esoteric Order. Yes, Pantheism's The Spirit Of The Word

:)

I left the Church at a young age, followed Buddhism for a time, touched on Hinduism for a while and then came back to the Church/Temple.

It's amazing how all faiths say essentially the same thing when you go beneath the Exoteric teachings.

And Esoteric Philosphy melds quite well with Science too. :)

[Tallison]

10. I'm going to reread Elaine Pagel's "Gnostic Gospels"

which I first read for a religious studies class in college. Another book on my list is "A History of God" by the former RC nun turned Oxford University literature professor Karen Armstrong. Right now I'm busy with "The Last Temptation of Christ" by Nikos Kazantzakis, for which the Orthodox Church nearly excommunicated him; it's very eastern and mystical in its revisionist characterization of Christ's life.

If you're aware of any other good books/sources on the esoteric tradition within Judeo-Christian history, please, do share! :)

On edit: Is "pantheism" any different from "panentheism" to your knowledge? "Panentheism" is the term the Arlington Metaphysical Church uses in its literature, and I'm wondering if this is just an alternative spelling convention.

[hvn_nbr_2]

12. Pantheism vs. panentheism

They're two different things, but the difference may seem a bit subtle to some. To avoid having to take back my words, I won't try to explain the difference from memory. I think that many people use "pantheism" when they mean "panentheism." Until recent years hardly anyone had ever even heard of panentheism. My impression is that people who believe in panentheism and know what the difference is tend to be a bit sensitive about the difference and don't like being called pantheists. I believe in panentheism (I could tell when I read about the difference) but don't have that sensitivity since I can't myself tell you the difference clearly off the top of my head.

[Digit]

3. The one on Wilson Blvd/8th Rd?

I used to sled down 8th Rd as a child, so was surprised as an adult to see a metaphysical chapel appear on the spot.
I regret I never made it to one of the functions, and now I live out of state.

I had posted about it on this forum before, asking if anyone had ever been, but nobody replied.

If you look at their calendar, you will find such varied subjects as:
Developing Your Intuition with the Tarot
Numerology, How is Your Life Adding Up
Angelic Feng Shui-Experiential
Applying Metaphysics to Everyday Life
Spirit Speaks - Are You Listening?
and alot more...

Here is their website
http://www.arlingtonmeta.com/

[Tallison]

7. Yes, that's the place

It consists of a white wood clapboard main building that looks like a traditional chapel (complete w/stained glass, pews, alter, pipe organ, center aisle, except each window contains a symbol of a different world religion/major spiritual tradition); a guest house, and another building in which I believe they conduct workshops. Also two big yards in which they hold outdoor events. The neighborhood is otherwise completely residential.

[Tallison]

9. BTW Digit,

Small world, huh? :hi:

The chapel appeared somewhat old to me; are you saying it didn't exist there until fairly recently? Where to you live now?

[Digit]

11. It is an old building, .... the useage as a metaphysical chapel I suspect

is what came later.
I lived near Va Square Metro from 1980-1997. I meant to visit the chapel during these years, but you know how time gets away from you!
I now live near Raleigh.
Yes, small world indeed!

[FreedomAngel82]

4. I've never heard of it before

Sounds interesting.

[Cathyclysmic]

5. Do they have a link online?

I like being Catholic, but I know from when I studied Paganism and Buddhism that it's not the whole story.

[Tallison]

6. Yes, their homepage is

www.arlingtonmeta.com. When I first heard about the church through a friend, I didn't realize it identified with the Christian tradition. To find out that it did was a very pleasant surprise. Since reading Living Buddha, Living Christ, I always thought Christ made a great figure around which to develop a spiritual life, though not in quite the same way most conventional denominations conceived of him. To have found a place that apparently embraces both pagan/esoteric tenets and the life of Christ is so intriguing and exciting to me.