Petition Text: 22412-DI-NonDis-O

I propose that The United Methodist Church at its 1996 General Conference establish a mechanism that will prepare the Church to enter the approaching millennium with new programs that will take account of the doubt, skepticism, and despair so prevalent in the 20th century. This would require, in part, a program for distilling from the works of modern theologians and philosophers ideas for use among the general congregation. This certainly should emphasize our not really knowing for sure many ideas people have and think are true. It should also make clear to people the disagreement among Bible scholars as to exactly what the Bible means, develop a new Christianity consistent with modern knowledge and our uncertainty as to what we know and believe, and be ready to assist those who need help as these changes are made. To transform the Church into a body more in tune with the modern ideas of present-day people will require much time and effort.

I think that a good way to start is for religious people to agree that no human being has access to God's mind. Realizing that we do not have access to God's truth, we can start shaping a new world based on what we think is the best knowledge and wisdom human beings have acquired over the centuries.

Once we get past the Bible, perhaps then we could make additional changes, perhaps an Axiom 2 also not subject to proof. It is tragic when someone loses faith because of some terrible event in his or her life that makes it seem as if God does not care. Why not just assume that God does not care and let humanity learn to care and do the caring? Axiom 3: God loves everyone the same.

I do not like to be critical of The United Methodist Church, in particular, or the Christian church, in general, but I do wonder. Is it really Christian to create this rather complicated system of beliefs, which, I believe, causes many people much pain and suffering? Many theologians and preachers seem to have worked it out so that they can cling to and proclaim old beliefs with a clear conscience, but are they being honest when they proclaim doctrines that seem one way to their congregations while they themselves think of these doctrines in an entirely different manner? In church on Sunday, we solemnly proclaim creeds as if these creeds are absolutely true. Perhaps it would be more honest if these creeds were preceded by these words: "We do not know, and we cannot prove as true, but we believe..." and as an ending, we add for emphasis, "...but we do not know."

What I am suggesting is not too different from the way we actually live. I am merely suggesting that we bring into the open what we really believe instead of pretending to believe what we don't seem to believe.

General Conference Index | PETS Index | Petition Information Index

General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn

Petition Text: 22412-DI-NonDis-O
1996 United Methodist General Conference