u/veggie_hoagie

I am seeking guidance on how Episcopalians understand the general resurrection. Please share your own thoughts or suggest sources that you have found helpful.

A central tenet of Christianity is the promise of the general resurrection -- that all will be raised and given pneumatic (incorruptible) bodies.

At times I can accept the resurrection of Jesus (for what it's worth, I'm an agnostic/seeker drawn toward theism and Episcopalianism). But I'm also asked to believe that God will at some point resurrect everyone and redeem all creation.

Simply put, I find this so inconceivable as to be a stumbling block to faith. I understand that God is meant to be loving and just, so a just and loving god would not allow his creatures to be forgotten. I understand that Jesus' resurrection is meant to preview our own. I understand how a classical conception of god can support this kind of belief, but I find it so at odds with our modern understanding of, well, everything, that I just can't begin to fathom it. We -- everyone human who ever lived -- is going to live forever, zipping around the cosmos in superbodies?

From some of the research I've done, Jesus and the Pharisees may have borrowed this idea from the Persians when the Jews were in exile (with 'Pharisee' itself being a derivative in some way of 'Farsi'). [Note that the Sadducees do not believe in an afterlife, resurrection, etc.]

So on the one hand, I think one could say Jesus and his followers were preaching their ideas about eschatology, the afterlife, etc. to the best of their ability, but may have been wrong. On the other hand, that view could lead one to immediately cast doubt on many other important ideas. Maybe there is no general resurrection and we just inhabit a spiritual afterlife forever? Maybe..., or maybe..., or maybe actually...

Anyway, I'll leave it there. How do y'all think about it? Do you believe it? Do you interpret this promise differently? I understand that Episcopalians often have a range of views on matters of doctrine and theology, even though they affirm the classic creeds.

(I have edited the post to comply with rules for this subreddit.)

I just joined this subreddit this morning.

The second I clicked 'join,' I received this pop-up.

Please tell me this is a joke.

https://preview.redd.it/2eg650q3ha2h1.png?width=2794&format=png&auto=webp&s=36a7195f532dd139bae30d4aa476b7072e4e9102

Hello,

I (38, M) am looking at possibly joining an Episcopal church in my area (southeastern US). I am a lifelong atheistic/agnostic who has increasingly been persuaded by classical theism and drawn to certain features of Christianity (especially patristic, mystical, and universalist). I of course still harbor some doubts (who doesn't?), but I feel I have gone far enough in my initial studies and want to dive into the Christian way.

I filled out a contact form for a nearby Episcopal church and was of course offered to attend a Sunday service.

My question I suppose is this: What is the "normal" way to inquire about a church? Is it typical to first show up to a Sunday service? Or is it also "normal" to first meet with clergy (or some representative) so that I can discuss my thoughts and intentions before I attend service?

I ask because I do have a desire to speak with someone first, just so I can articulate what I've been thinking and feeling and perhaps see how much current views fit with those of the Episcopal church generally or the local clergy specifically. From my understanding, the Episcopal Church is quite open-minded theologically, so I doubt I'd be told my views are "problematic." I am also progressive culturally/politically, as the Episcopal Church also seems to be. I suppose I just want to talk to someone to see whether the church is indeed a good "fit" for me and simply to get some things off my chest (or, more accurately, out of my head for clergy to react to).

Thanks all.