Love one another even as I have loved you. John 13:34

"Doubt is not the antithesis of faith. Doubt is an essential element of faith. Without doubt there is no faith, only dogma."
Paul Johannes Tillich (August 20, 1886 – October 22, 1965)
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A FABLE

Once upon a time, long ago and far away, on the outskirts of a crowd gathered to hear a great teacher speak, two men fell into conversation with each other. “I can’t hear what he is saying, but I know that he is a miracle worker, and that the hand of God is upon him,” said the first man. The second man responded enthusiastically, “I know you speak the truth, for I once was blind, but now I see. He cured my blindness!” The first man exclaimed, “Really!” and launched into a detailed explanation of how he too had been cured of blindness by the same holy man. Both men were excited and animated in telling their versions of how they had been cured of blindness.

It soon became obvious that the men were in disagreement about the nature of the miracle worker’s technique. One man insisted that his blindness had been cured when the holy man gathered some soil from the ground which was mixed with saliva and formed into some sort of mud pack, and then placed upon the man’s eyes. The other man was equally adamant that no mud had been used at all, and that the miracle had occurred when the holy man placed his hands on him and simply declared him healed. Thus began the first theological split in Christianity, between the Muddites and the Non-muddites.

The two men gathered about them those who agreed with their particular version and the two groups began to say terrible things about each other. Both groups were convinced that God was on their side and that Satan inspired the other group. Soon there were suspicious plots, dirty tricks, political power plays, and on one occasion an actual fist fight. Many of the people who claim to follow Jesus have been living that way ever since.

The moral to the story:

Love cures blindness. Dogma can cause blindness.

Board of Directors for The Theological Center in Naples

Board of Directors for
The Theological Center in Naples

Seated L to R: Rev. Sam Sewell – Rev. Michael Harper – Father Joe Shaheen –Rev Stephanie Munz Campbell
Standing L to R: Rev. Bunny Sewell – Rev Bruce Frogge

Contact: Revs. Sam and Bunny Sewell
SamS@BestSelfUSA.com
239-591-4565

Naples, FL) – The Theological center in Naples has new Leadership. Rev. Michael Harper, immediate past president welcomed the 2010 members of The Board of Directors.

Rev. Sam Sewell, President – Rev. Sam is Director of Best Self USA and Gifted Child Coordinator for MENSA

Rev. Stephanie Munz Campbell, Vice President – Rev. Stephanie is Director of Grace Place

Father Joseph Shaheen, Treasurer – Father Joe is Priest of St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church

Rev, Bunny Sewell, Public Relations Director – Rev Bunny is Pastor of Church Without Walls

Rev. Bruce Frogge, Member at Large – Rev. Bruce is Senior Pastor at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ

Rev. Kathleen Kircher, PhD - Founding Member – Rev. Kathy is a Priest at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church and President of the Greater Naples Ministerial Association

The Theological Center in Naples (TCN) is a 501(c)3 non-profit Florida Corporation offering theological education and support services for faith based communities in Southwest Florida.

TCN just finished the twelfth Annual “Lenten Soup for the Soul” series. Over the years this ecumenical event featuring messages from local pastors and a simple luncheon has been hosted by many churches. Attendance this year was over five hundred members from a wide diversity of local congregations.

TCN also sponsors adult religious education opportunities. The current project is a Biblical Scholarship Series led by Revs. Sam and Bunny Sewell.

Biblical scholarship is not the same thing as Bible study. Those who want Bible study can find high quality Bible study programs at almost every church in town. The Church Without Walls Biblical Scholarship Program aims to provide the public at large with the curriculum that must be mastered by clergy at accredited seminaries.

Next semester the TCN Scholarship Series will cover Comparative World Religions. For more information contact Public Relations Officer Rev Bunny Sewell: bunnysam@bestselfusa.com
Peace and Blessings,

Rev. Samuel Sewell
President, TCN