I can't believe I made it through another year ~ especially this last one.  Let's see what this next one has in store...

 I came across this term for the first time today ~ well, I've heard the word before, but never really considered it.  We were discussing various religions in my ethnic diversity class tonight and Secular Humanism came up.  I discovered that I really have a lot in common with this philosophy, but because secular humanists tend (as a whole) to reject the idea of God, it doesn't quite fit me.

Still, it intrigued me, so I "googled" it tonight when I got home.  That's when the term "Christian Humanism" came up.  Basically, it's the idea that being a Christian is separate from the mythological and theological "baggage" that has accumulated since Jesus'  life and death.  To be a Christian is not to simply say the "sinners prayer" and magically go to heaven.  Rather, it is to examine the life of Jesus (as far as possible) and live according to those teachings. 

In other words, being a Christian means "to live as Jesus lived and to teach as he taught, to honor truth and show compassion, to stand with the victims of this world against their oppressors, to stand with the weak and the powerless against the abusers and the comfortably powerful, and to maintain one’s integrity no matter the cost. In short being a follower of Jesus meant then and now to be faithful to the spirit of Jesus and his teachings. That is both the meaning and the cost of Christian discipleship."

I got that from this website http://christianhumanist.net/intro.aspx.  While I don't agree with everything I found there, the articles certainly made me think.

So many people that call themselves Christians (I'd say the majority) seem to take the position that being a Christian means having the correct theology.  I realized a long time ago that I would never figure it out, though I honestly did try.  Thus, my progression through so many different religions over the years - each one leaving me less convicted than before.  Because of this apparent wishy-washyness, many people have questioned my faith and wondered whether I really believe in anything.

What they have failed to see, however, is the fact that who I am in Christ has remained constant throughout this journey.  What I believe, doctrinely speaking, has had little or nothing to do with what I value and the ethics I ascribe to.  

For the first time in my life I feel comfortable in my skin - in who I am in regards to my beliefs.  

Really.  

I have spent most of my life searching and questioning and trying my best to figure out which religion was "true".  I could find truth in each - but alongside beliefs I just could never fully embrace - much as I tried.  I have always felt as if something was wrong with me for questioning basic doctrines and theology - I mean, nobody else seems to.  Or at least they tend to stop before getting too deep.  I figured I just wasn't smart enough or righteous enough or maybe that I simply didn't have enough faith.

Suddenly I realize that none of those things really matter.  Only what I do with the knowledge God HAS given me - basically just to do my best (albeit far from perfect) to emulate Jesus and live a life that honors Him.