One of the reasons I began teaching at an Adult Literacy class was because of the enjoyment reading brings and the impact which books can have on us all.
Reading gives access to new ideas and feelings, which is why it can be so dangerous and so liberating.
For me, a student teacher in Coventry in the early 1970s, a book by the Methodist minister Dr Leslie Weatherhead was a turning point in my spiritual life.
Loaned to me by a sympathetic minister who recognised the distress of someone, sitting in his vestry doubting their faith, it helped me to let go of the heavy load of dogma and creed which I just couldn’t believe.
Dr. Weatherhead served as a minister at the City Temple in London for nearly 25 years and died in 1976. The book, The Christian Agnostic, was written in 1965. In the book Dr. Weatherhead suggests that the theological demands of Christianity are a barrier to many who would like to be part of a church community.
Back then I had never read or heard any ideas like his expressed by people in the church and I was excited by the idea that you might write your own creed, based on your own experience, and think that the miracles, Virgin Birth, Resurrection etc. were irrelevant to the main issues concerning the leading of a Christian life. Here was the idea that the value of the Gospel story is not in its historical accuracy but in the value of its teaching – the idea of Jesus’ embodiment of all that is best.
The background to my spiritual quest started in South Wales, the youngest of four children with a father and grandfather who were Baptist Ministers.
Church life was the centre of our family, but there was also a healthy interest in sport, politics, TV comedy shows and education. Humour and moderation were threads running through Dad’s sermons – Honest to God getting an airing on a few occasions. The love, patient support and routine of church life which were characteristics of our home encouraged my belief and I enthusiastically put myself forward for baptismal classes. This was an emotional and spiritual highpoint – feeling completely in tune with God, Jesus and the whole church family. The warmth and completeness of the occasion is still memorable. People talk of ‘coming home’ and I think that’s what I felt.
Through the young people in our church I was introduced to an evangelical housegroup. This was the beginning of a questioning which led some years later to the meeting in the minister’s vestry in Coventry.
Following the example of Jesus was one thing: accepting the idea of eternal damnation and the whims of an all powerful God was another.
Coming to Warrington eight years later I joined a local ‘Open Forum’ group, attached to a Methodist church, which explored ideas of various faiths, agnosticism and atheism. I now belong to this church where I find people who are able to accept a wide variety of seekers and recognise the importance of the Open Door. The ‘Forum’ was made up of different faith traditions and none. The Don Cupitt’s Sea of Faith series on TV was mentioned and some years later I found an ad in the paper for the Sea of Faith magazine. I read the magazine, joined the Network and now convene the NW Group meetings.
The magazine brings me back to where I started.
My life is enriched by reading and sharing the poetry, words and experiences of others and helps me appreciate the variety and insight of fellow travellers on the spiritual journey.
So I attend church even though I have a metaphorical take on the Bible and belief. The church challenges me to act and be involved in doing as well as thinking, for example supporting the work of overseas charities and working alongside Ugandans who have a vision of a better future for their children.
The example of those leading the work is an inspiration and I’ve been glad to have a part to play.
Being part of the SOF Network keeps me in touch with others who find institutional religion a bit tricky or irrelevant, but recognise that searching is what makes the journey interesting.
Ann Eggboro is the convenor of the North West SOF group.