Some Interesting Protestant Blogs I Am Putting on The Blog Roll

For some "Protestants" that happen by please don't be offended. I realize that some hate the word "Protestant" /I am not even sure in some cases this is a proper word to use anymore as to all non Catholic and non Orthodox.. It is sort of like the word heretic. True we view many ideas heretical still but we no longer call most modern people who practice these faiths "heretics". There are many people still "protesting" but many are not protesting anything anymore. Still it is a word that many proudly proclaim soI still use it.

I have a couple of Non Catholic blogs on the Catholic/ Christian section of the blogroll. Those are two Episcopal Blogger. One is IN HOC SIGNO VINCES that is a Louisiana blogger from the Anglo/Catholic tradition. The other is also a Louisiana blogger that is from the Anglican tradition called Drell’s Descants .

I have a interest in a movement called the "Emerging Church". What is is this? Well it is difficult to put one label on it. The Catholic blogger Historical Christian states in this post:

Emerging Church is a term for a very loose-knit movement coming out of the Evangelical megachurch world. Young evangelicals who grew up in their parent’s marketing-driven megachurches are tiring of the environment, and want something smaller, more connected, more real. They are meeting in small groups in homes or other small places, and some would rather see new small meetings form than grow into large groups or traditional churches.
They are tired of a gospel of salvation where, once saved, one just goes to church once a week and feels good, and instead are taking an interest in incarnational spirituality, how to bring the kingdom of God to earth and live it on earth, in all environments, not just church, 24 hours a day. They reject the secular/sacred split in culture, and reject that there is such a thing as secular “space.” All things, all space, public and private, is sacred, and they are looking for ways to express that.
They are hungry for something more connected historically, and so are looking at historical and traditional Christianity. Some of them are experimenting with liturgical worship, or praying the Liturgy of the Hours. They are tired of all the denominational bickering, are crossing denominational boundaries by studying the doctrines of other Christian traditions, including Catholic and Orthodox, and are very open to dialogue, with open minds and a real desire for understanding. They are using terms such as “post-evangelical,” and even, what to me is a real historic milestone, “post-protestant.”
No two groups are exactly alike and none of them fit into neat categories. They are very experimental; some of them very freewheeling. They exist all over the English-speaking world (US, England, Australia) and in Europe, and look and do things differently depending on their local cultures and needs.

I think that is a pretty good description of a movement that has a lot of facets. I think it is a fascinating movement. I have enjoyed watching them explore such topics as liturgy, early church history, the concepts of sacraments, living based on Monastic principles, and other topics. Some do not take this path but many do.

Are these future Catholics perhaps? I expect some will be. The decison to swim the Tiber sometimes takes years to make. Many will not become Catholics, even thought their journey is exposing them to a lot of Catholicism and Orthodoxy. This journey appears to be different than the average Catholic convert makes. Mainly because it is done in "community" whether real flesh like or online if needed. I do note that many seem to be going to "Anglo Catholic " traditions often. That in itself is exciting. In fact they focus and live aspects of the faith that the Catholic Church begs us Catholics to do. A prime example of that is the Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office that is the main prayer of the Church. At the very least we are finding more of a common spirtuality, vocabulary , and outlook. That has great benefits for true ecunemism between Catholics/Orthodox and a part of the Protestant world.

I find reading this blogs helpful often , because they are introducing me to Catholic themes of Spirtuality that I was not even aware of or at least contemplated with much deep thought.

Here are a few I enjoying checking in on.

Bryan Sherwood
His blog is a great one to visit. I suppose I like it because some of the personal struggles he goes through mirror mine. Bryan came from the Baptist tradition. His has a great love for the Liturgy of the Hours and Monastic life. He is now in what I call a Anglo Catholic tradition. His insight and questions are some that I see often as to the emergent Church folks on the web. I am trying to root my prayer life again the Liturgy of the Hours. I find him at times a sort of prayer partner in that

Vindicated
This blog as can tell is very Anglo/Catholic. He too enjoys certain aspect of the Emergent Chruch movement eventhough he sees himself as a Anglo/Catholic. Still he touches on them and is very associated with them in many ways. On the Emergent Church he says:
"The “Emerging Church” is not a movement, or an organization. It’s simply a phrase, a more or less useful shorthand for discussing what God seems to be doing in the midst of his people. Among the Christians who identify themselves as emerging, one would find a variety of descriptions of just what God is up to, and many of them contradictory. Hence, it’s not a cohesive “movement” by any means. I can’t speak for other “emerging” Christians, only myself and the communities with which I am involved. It’s only in that context that I can offer a definition. Emergence is a process that’s occurring now: ancient Christian orthodoxy and the practice of transformation in God’s new community have been buried in our Western religious culture, and they are surfacing again through an act of God’s love and power. There is nothing new here".

Mike Noakes
I have blogged my thoughts on this this interesting young man before. He is also it appears to be in a Anglican Catholic tradition. I am not sure if that was the faith he was raised in.

I find the topics and the people that often interact in the comments sections very informative. Are all these Emerging Church folks? Well, that is diffcult to say since it is hard to put your finger on what it is. However they seem to operate in that realm often. I find many of these emergent Church bloggers are better defenders of a more "Catholic " tradition to many of their fellow seekers than Card Carrying Catholics . This is partly because they are seen as people without a agenda or hardcore bias. Many are also not in the position to have to defend or advocate for everything Catholic. Frr instance Catholics find a question about Liturgy becomes a question on the inquistion in 5 minutes.

I shall add some more later. Especially some that are not yet so Liturgical or "catholic" in their worship or thought later.