M u s i n g s - o f - a - G e n t l e - C y n i c

M u s i n g s - o f - a - G e n t l e - C y n i c
Staying actively engaged in the interpretive process of renogotiating our lives

An Invitation to the Practice of Gentle Cynicism


This gentle cynic invites you to take a tour of his episodic public journal (blog)--if you wish--where he share his practice of gentle cynicism. This practice does not follow the modern concept of cynicism, but a philosophical way of living with ancient biblical, classical and medieval roots. It takes the form of a dynamic filter between one’s full self (to include one's community) and the world, like shifting chaff from wheat. Moreover, it is a search for what is best (or simply good) rather than what is simply accepted, and what it means to actually participate with or work toward God’s Shalom while differentiating what misses the mark (illusions). By "Shalom", he seeks a vision of God's promised and emerging wholeness, peace, grace, wellness, wisdom.

Gentile Cynicism is thus a way of training the whole self (soul, mind, body) to actively discover and experience more fully the vibrant, flowing, and invigorating reality of God's creative energy and purposes, and less the draining emptiness and forthcoming bitterness of a fragmented world. It is a way of moving through (not stepping away from) tensions where there is a complex array of easy-to-get-to thin practices, answers and ideals on one side; while on the other, profound, thick sources of questions and insights that invite persistent souls toward the way of becoming more fully human.

Currently Reading

Dj Seifert's currently-reading book recommendations, reviews, favorite quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists

Some Musings of a Gentle Cynic

A gentle dealing with the limitations of my world juxtaposed with the social and moral issues of the day filtered through the Christian narrative and social ethic--the church of Jesus Christ

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

The Emerging Church in my Sights

Since my last post, my journey has been given to listening to voices in the Emerging Church conversation, while the gentleness of my cynicism keeps me in a mainline church without making an impulsive and uninformed exit to something else. I remind myself that I came as a traveler to this mainline denomination, and that in the end, it has helped me in various ways. Nonetheless, I am listening for the movement of the Spirit of God who overcomes any cynicism and is leading me through insight to undertake a period of discernment that may well lead me elsewhere while gaining some new level of orthoparadoxy. I will continue to appreciate and delight in the beauty of the liturgy and the wonder of the space of the church I attend, even though it is overly conservative and structured with an outdated, inherited style of culture. Though they seek fresh change at some level, it will be slow in coming. Since I am not of their tradition, I am not sure I can wait. In the meantime, I am energized to look seriously at the emerging church “movement”. Some of the sites that have been browsing and networking with are below (for starters).

http://www.dwightfriesen.com/

http://www.emergentvillage.org/

http://www.frwy.ca/

http://www.allelon.org/main.cfm

http://www.ecclesiahouston.org/v2/index.php

http://www.btinternet.com/%7Esmallritual/index.html

http://www.precipicemagazine.com/

http://www.brianmclaren.net/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerging_Church

Posted by Daniel Seifert at 7:22 AM 0 comments
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Daniel Seifert
Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States
Reared in Hamilton OH, served as an altar boy, excelled as a Boy Scout, an aviation enthusiast, and a golfer; joined the U.S. AF in '77 and stepped out in a lonely world. In '80 I encountered the Story of Jesus in a big way which began to transform me in all aspects. Aware of God's kingdom, I discerned a call to ministry and studied at Trinity College. Married in '87, taught mid. sch. English. Later I began pastoral work in Richmond, VA, was ordained in '92 in a Baptist trad. In '93, I encountered ministry with a meta-church structure until '97, when I took a sabbatical and followed a path of enrichment, taking on classic spiritual disciplines and the broadening of my theological horizons while applying doubt to my advantage. Moved in '98 to Harrisonburg, VA, and consulted in two industries. '03 I worked out some significant formational projects at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (MDIV) seeking to inch my way into something missional in purpose while responding to the ongoing emerging church conversation and being more cognizant of God's Kingdom coming non-violently into a chaotic, fragmented and violent world filled with harsh realities and challenges.
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