Forest Church
Gallovidian
Shipmate
I've recently stumbled across this concept, which at first sight seems to fit quite nicely with my own recent exploration of connections between spirituality and awareness of/respect for nature. More research needed at this stage!
Does anyone have any direct experience or helpful insights?
Does anyone have any direct experience or helpful insights?
Comments
As @Raptor Eye says, there is a Grove booklet (a highly appropriate name!), so maybe this is an area of growth (see what I did there?).
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http://www.wyedoreparishes.org.uk/PewSheet.pdf
(see the first item - *Hedgerow Communion*)
These churches are in rural Herefordshire.
I'm generally pretty dubious of experimental or Fresh Expressions type forms of worship as I fear they could become faddish.
But I'm resolved to become more tolerant. If this stuff helps people to connect with nature and with God then who am I to cavil?
Sounds like you are answering your own question @Gallovidian by connecting groups in South West Scotland who do this sort of thing.
Sorry for delay. Fierce means very tough, e.g., 16 hour days meditating. One of the ideas about suffering is that meditation hurts, and gives the opportunity to get to the root of suffering, directly.
Some of these outdoor acts of worship do indeed require a certain amount of physical effort ISTM, though they're surely none the worse for that. Advice to *dress for the weather* indicates that some hardihood (as well as a waterproof hood) might be needed!
One significant downside could be that *Forest Church* might not be all that accessible to disabled people, but no doubt churches that go in for That Sort Of Thing have thought of this, and make whatever provisions are possible.
There is a certain village church in Our Town's Deanery which is on the very edge of the built-up area, with woodland immediately adjacent. It also has a convenient car park at the end of the lane leading to the church, and has level access into the church building itself.
IIRC, they have occasionally held outdoor services near the church (a previous Curate-in-charge and his wife had some radical ideas - they built up a small congregation until the church was packed for the main Sunday service, and their Christmas Crib Services had to be held in triplicate...), but, on checking their website, I don't think any outdoor services are currently planned. In summer, though, things may change!
Sure, and they got it from the Eastern Mediterranean of course.
I think I may have started an asceticism thread in the past.
The Orthodox don't tend to go in for hair-shirts and self-flagellation, but they do see their lengthy services and standing through them - if you are able - as a touch of asceticism.
I'm not sure that contemporary 'Forest Church' proponents have asceticism in mind. I get the impression it's more to do with connecting with the natural world etc.
Maybe you or someone who knows more about Buddhism could help me understand this, but I thought that in his semi-legendary biography, the historical Buddha, prior to his enlightenment, became an ascetic during his quest to understand suffering and how to end it and nearly starved himself to death before accepting food from the farmer’s wife Sujata. He would later teach that Buddhism, particularly for monastics, should be a middle path between asceticism and sensual indulgence. Traditional Buddhist monks, as far as I understand, must beg for food (which the Buddhist laity are eager to give) and can eat only until midday then fast the rest of the day, but they do not believe that wasting away or even death from starvation (as some Jains believe) is spiritually beneficial.
I know that all religions have tremendous diversity within them and often have practices that appear to differ greatly from the teachings of their founders. Tantric Buddhism in particular, which I do not associate with the Thai Forest, Theravada Tradition, at times seeks an awareness of non-duality through the (often distasteful) opposite of whatever spiritual goal a practitioner might have. I am also aware that rigor in meditative practice is promoted by many strands of Buddhism. But rigor, even extreme rigor that may be very uncomfortable, is different than deliberately inflicting bodily harm or starvation on oneself for spiritual gain as ascetics in some other religions do.
I've heard of Forest Gump.
I'll get me coat ...
Some indigenous Christians like Richard Twiss mentions this concept. Bear Heart wrote about it quite a bit, syncretism and even Omnism, with a focus on nature .
Stewardship Theology will often touch up on it.