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7 Sep 01
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Chi Rho Connection
Vol. II, No. 20
7 Sep 2001
‘Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a
garage makes you a mechanic.’ Unknown
Welcome once again
to the Chi Rho Connection, the
electronic newsletter of Chi Rho Press. Thank you for
passing this Chi Rho Connection on to others.
.To
join our list, send an e-mail message to
mailto:ChiRhoPress-subscribe@yahoo.com.
Please
visit our Web site at http://www.chirhopress.com
to see
our entire lines of books, handouts, tchochkas, and
stained glass.
Direct all other
e-mail to Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
See
the end of this eNewsletter for a complete list of
e-mail addresses at ChiRhoPress.com.
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Contents:
1. Featured
Book Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse
2. The First Step
3. Upcoming Chi Rho Press Events
4. Become an Angel On-line!
5. New Promissory Notes Available
6. Don’t Forget These Exciting Products
7. Adam's Last Word
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1. Featured Book Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse
‘Steps
to Recovery from Bible Abuse’ by Dr. Rembert
Truluck. This book is remarkable for many reasons
from a publishing standpoint, it is our largest book to
date with over 550 pages. And it is the fastest selling
and most popular book Chi Rho Press has ever produced.
The reasons for the popularity of ‘Steps’ are clear.
Dr. Truluck speaks
the language of ordinary people of
faith, his book is written in plain language that all
can understand, and concentrates on the basics, God’s
creation, love, and redemption of ALL humanity.
He has identified
an important and lethal trend in the
religious community, the tendency to be legalistic and
judgmental and to use the faith and the Bible as a weapon
to hurt people rather than a source of healing and love.
He concentrates on
the Good News of the Bible, Good News
that is for everyone, not just heterosexual white men.
Too often LGBT commentators concentrate on defending
their position that the Bible doesn’t really say anything
bad about homosexuality. This is true, and Dr. Truluck
does devote four chapters to the pitifully few verses that
have been used to condemn LGBT people. He effectively
counters those who insist that the Bible condemns Gay
people.
But most of ‘Steps
to Recovery from Bible Abuse’ doesn’t
dwell on a rebuttal to those who use the Bible to attack
LGBT people, but rather concentrates on those many
passages of the Holy Scripture which speak words of love,
understanding, tolerance, and joy for God’s lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgendered people and those who love them.
Dr. Truluck proves that the Bible is our friend!
Lastly, Dr. Truluck
offers a 12 Step program to counteract
a history of Bible abuse in effective and joyful ways.
The 12 Steps, plus a concluding thirteenth step, lead
people through the pain inflicted on us by misunderstanding
of the Bible and legalistic, judgmental religion, and on
into the peace of God’s love and acceptance. ‘Steps to
Recovery from Bible Abuse’ leads people from hate to love,
from fear to confidence, and from pain to joy. It is a
remarkable journey!
We invite you to
take this journey with us! Buy ‘Steps
to Recovery from Bible Abuse’ on the Chi Rho Press Web
site, http://www.ChiRhoPress.com, using your
credit card
on our secure shopping cart, or by sending $28.45 ($24.95
plus $3.50 shipping and handling) to Chi Rho Press, P.O.
Box 7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898.
And join us in the first Step in the next article.
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(From Chapter 6 of
‘Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse,’
by Dr. Rembert Truluck)
The First Step: Admit You Have Been Hurt by Religion
Preparatory Bible
Reading: Read Matthew 23:1-15, 24-28,
and 33 to see how Jesus viewed religious abuse.
Jesus came to set
people free from sick and abusive
religion.
For many people,
this step is the hardest one. Religious
abuse begins early in life and often is caused by parents,
pastors, and teachers. We accept abuse as acceptable or
deserved. Abuse is not acceptable and is not deserved.
Many people see rejecting their childhood religion as
being like rejecting their own grandmother. Our deep
emotional ties with our childhood make it very difficult
for us to be objective about the way in which religion
was used to control and sometimes abuse us.
Abuse is the use
of power by the strong to control and
oppress the weak.
What is sick and
abusive religion? Sick and abusive
religion is the judgmental legalism that Jesus came to
destroy and to replace with himself. People can become
addicted to abusive religion.
Have you ever been
abused by religion? What is your
earliest memory of religious ideas or religious experience?
How would you describe the religion of your parents when
you were a child? Can you recall any particular time when
religion was used to punish or control you? How has
religion affected your self-esteem? Answering some of
these questions may be disturbing to you but may also help
you to gain insight into why it is so difficult for you to
face the damage that abusive religion has done to you.
Discussing and sharing
these questions with others like
yourself in a small group can be an enlightening and
learning time of growth for you. You will discover how
others have gone through many of the same problems and
hurts regarding religion just as you have.
Jesus said, ‘All
who came before me are thieves and
robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. The thief
comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that
you might have life and have life abundantly.’ (John
10:10). ‘Thieves and robbers’ are words that Jesus
used for abusive religious leaders.
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3. Upcoming Chi Rho Press Events
Sept. 15, Adam DeBaugh
will be teaching a beginners
stained glass class at Holy Redeemer MCC, College Park,
MD, (www.holy-redeemer-mcc.org),
at 10 am. Each
participant will have the opportunity to make a small
piece of stained glass, a sun catcher like a cross or
other design. Another larger work in progress will be
there on the site for people to see and even work on.
The cost will be $5.00 to cover the cost of materials.
If you are in the Maryland, DC, or northern Virginia
and would like to sign up, please write him at
Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
Sept. 16, Adam will
be participating in a training of
Scripture readers in worship services at Open Door MCC,
Boyds, MD, at 11:30 am, following the 10 am morning
worship service. www.opendoormcc.org
Sept. 23, the Chi
Rho Press Traveling Bookstore will be
at MCC Richmond, VA. www.mccrichmond.org
Nov. 9 and 10, the
last Mid-Atlantic District Conference,
Hagerstown, MD. Chi Rho Press will have a book table in
the Conference Book Store, selling books, handouts,
stained glass, videos and tapes, and other items.
www.mcc-midatl.org
Nov. 25, Traveling
Bookstore at Imago Dei MCC, Media, PA.
www.imagodeimcc.org
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Chi Rho Press continues
to develop an effective on-line
connection with its fans by making its latest change to
the ministry’s Web site, http://www.ChiRhoPress.com.
We
are now able to take contributions on-line.
The changes to the
Web site reflect the Press’ efforts to
build a stronger financial base from which to realize its
mission. Chi Rho Press is an ecumenical, grass roots
ministry that provides resources to lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgendered, and seeking people of faith and their
friends and family.
Over the summer,
Chi Rho Press launched its Guardian Angel
Individual Sponsor Program and has since received the
support of Angels far and near. The support of Guardian
Angels will help the Press to publish new books and build
the ministry.
To make it easier
to contribute to the ministry of Chi Rho
Press, it is now possible to put contributions on your
credit card, using our secure shopping cart on our Web
page.
Go to http://www.chirhopress.com/frame_sponsor.html
Highlight the numeral
1 in the box and type in the amount
you want to contribute (for instance, $150 to become a
Guardian Angel). Click the Add to Cart link to the right
of the amount box and the Shopping Cart will come up
and you can either continue shopping or click on Check Out
Now, which will take you through the check out process,
asking you for your credit card number, etc. Be sure to
give us your mailing address as well as e-mail address so
we can send you your welcome gifts.
If you have specific
questions about the Guardian Angel
Program, you may e-mail us at Angels@ChiRhoPress.com,
or telephone us at 301/926-1208.
Thank you for your support!
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5. New Promissory Notes Available
The Chi Rho Press
Board of Directors has authorized the
issuance of new Promissory Notes. We have recently paid
off the first four of the 17 Notes that are outstanding,
and the Board feels it is timely to offer additional
notes to continue our full capitalization program.
As before, $1,000
Promissory Notes are available from
Chi Rho Press, at 8% simple interest, repaid in eight
quarterly payments over a two year period.
Write Adam@ChiRhoPress.com
for the text of the Promissory
Note, or send your check for $1,000 (or $2,000, $3,000,
or even $5,000!). We will send a signed Note after the
receipt of your check.
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6. Don’t Forget These Exciting Products
‘The Road to
Emmaus’ an inclusive daily devotional by and
for LGBT people of faith, $9.95 each, six or more copies
for $7.50 each, plus shipping and handling. Please order
it on our secure shopping cart on our Web site at
http://www.ChiRhoPress.com. (Subscribers to
the Chi Rho
Connection also receive the Chi Rho Reflection at the
beginning of each week, featuring a reading from ‘The Road
to Emmaus’ from that week.)
Chi Rho Press author
and Pennsylvania activist Roberta
Krieder is now featured in a new video produced by
John Davis. The new video, 'Family Stories: Journeys of
Spirit in Mixed Orientation Families' produced by John Davis,
featuring Roberta Kreider (compiler of ‘From Wounded
Hearts’) and Mary Lou Wallner, with an introduction by the
Rev. Peter J. Gomes. VHS format, color, 35 minutes,
$29.95, shipping and handling included. It is only
available through the mail. Please send your check or
money order for $29.95 to Chi Rho Press, P.O. Box 7864,
Gaithersburg, MD 20898. Pre-paid orders only please.
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Religion. Why do
we even bother? So much evil has been
perpetrated in the name of religion. Humans have an
amazing capability of ascribing to God all their worst
impulses.
In the Middle East,
peace is just a dream as Palestinians
and Jews alike use terror, violence, and hate as tools of
religion. The so-called Holy Land is become an unholy
place of violence, intolerance, and hard-line extremism.
India and Pakistan
are two countries who owe their
independence and freedom to one of the Twentieth
Centuries true saints of non-violence, Mahandas Ghandi.
But what have we seen since independence? Indian Hindus
and Pakistani Muslims locked in a bitterly violent struggle
fueled by religious and ethnic fanaticism.
In Afghanistan, the
Muslim government is not content with
blowing up Buddhist shrines and temples, they are now
prosecuting Christians. Afghan citizens who are found
guilty of proselytising for Christianity face the death
penalty.
And lest we smugly
think that Christians have escaped
faith-based hate, just look at Northern Ireland where
a watching world has been treated to the disgusting
spectacle of Protestant adults cursing, spitting, throwing
stones and bottles, and on Wednesday a bomb at Catholics.
And were those attacked Catholic para-military troops from
the IRA, or even Catholic politicians and leaders, or
priests? No. The targets of these sincere, passionate,
'holy' Protestants are little girls and their mothers,
on their way to a Catholic elementary school.
I have never been so disgusted in my life.
Of course, this is
all happening overseas, isn't it?
Americans would never be guilty of this kind of extremism.
NOT!!
It was newly arrived
American Christians who committed
genocide against the native peoples whose only crime was
that they were here first. It was good people of faith
who brought Africans in chains to this country to live as
chattel in slavery. It was American Protestants who put
up signs that read 'Irish and Dogs Forbidden.' It was
good Christian Americans who perpetrated the sin of
segregation against African Americans and fought against
the Civil Rights Movement, even bombing Black churches.
And it is religious people who are in the vanguard of
the war against sexual minorities in this country.
Jesus wept!
What is it about
religion that brings out the worst in
people? Why does belief result in intolerance? Simply
because I believe in Jesus Christ, why would I want to
kill people who don't happen to agree with me? Yes, Jesus
Saves. But some of Jesus' followers have been known to
kill, if you are not saved.
I am a person of
faith. I am a Christian. I am a
Protestant. I am a member of Metropolitan Community
Church. I am an active member of Holy Redeemer MCC,
College Park, Maryland. I am proud of my church and
proud of the message of tolerance and love preached
there.
But when I read the
news from around the world I am
dismayed at what people of faith can do in the name
of their religion. These atrocities are as far away
as Afghanistan, the Indian Subcontinent, and Northern
Ireland, but also as close as Fred Phelps' web site
(www.GodHatesFags.com), the
Southern Baptist Convention,
certain polyester patriarchs among the television
evangelists, and the church down the street, the
fundamentalist Christian at the office, the bigoted
relative.
The God I know and
worship is a God of love. Like
Queen Victoria, I am sure God is not amused at the
religious violence all around the world. My Jesus
would truly weep over the spectacle of Protestant
Christians throwing epithets and stones at little
Catholic girls.
I know, I know. Most
Muslims, most Hindus, most Jews,
most Christians are good, God-fearing, non-violent
people. They are following God in the right way, the
way of peace, justice, and love. I am confident I am
right about God being a God of love.
But it is difficult
to be confident about being right,
with so many people of faith around the world being so
wrong. As for me, give me Jesus Christ. Religion, I am
not so sure about.
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We are glad
you are partners in ministry with us here at
Chi Rho Press. We are eager for your comments, your
suggestions, your assistance with selling our books,
and your own purchases! And of course, we covet your
prayers for this ministry.
Grace and peace,
Adam DeBaugh, Director
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If you've received our Chi Rho Connection as a result of the good offices
of
someone passing it along to you (which we certainly encourage) and would
like to
receive it directly from us, please follow the directions at the end of
our
Connection to subscribe.
For
orders, please write to us: Orders@ChiRhoPress.com.
If you have
questions, please write to Question@ChiRhoPress.com.
For comments and
suggestions about this eNewsletter, please write Connection@ChiRhoPress.com.
To learn about our Guardian Angel Individual Sponsor Program, please write
Angels@ChiRhoPress.com. For
all other correspondence, please write Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
Our snail mail address is:
Chi Rho Press,
Inc.
P.O. Box 7864
Gaithersburg, MD 20898
Our telephone and fax number is 301/926-1208.
Our Canadian
friends can order using credit cards on our web page or through
our Canadian distributor, MAP Enterprises, Mary Ann Pearson, Box 340,
54
Centre St., Odessa, ONT., Canada, K0H 2H0; e-mail: mapenterprises@home.com;
phone or fax: 1-613-386-5711; or toll free (leave a message) 1-877-245-9569.
Copyright 2001, Chi Rho Press, Inc.
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R. Adam DeBaugh,
Director, Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
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Visit the Chi Rho Press Website http://www.ChiRhoPress.com