Divine Nobodies.... or Institutional Somebodies?

I recently read the first book by Jim Palmer, entitled 'Divine Nobodies'. You will note that this is currently the #1 on my list of worthwhile books to read. Seriously, an absolute must read! You can read and extensive review of the book here.

Usually books that grips you has some kind of a connection with your own journey. Much of Jim's book is exactly that to me.... especially his journey out of institutionalized (mega church) religion towards a non-dualistic Jesus centered real-life relationship with God.... and with people! And maybe it is this second aspect that really overwhelmed me in his book: the fact that relationships with ordinary, everyday people (like yourself, hopefully) are just as important as your relationship with God! You cannot confess a relationship with God with your mouth and not be truthfully interlinked with people in real, honest relationships.

The subtitle of the book is a sentence that I so much connect with: "Shedding religion to find God... and the unlikely people who help you."

Here is my honest opinion at this stage of my journey: I firmly believe that you cannot shed religion while you are part of / involved in / a member of an institutionalized church - no matter how 'open', 'renewal-minded', relational, missional, charismatic, pentecostal, reformed, 'out-of-the-box', contemplative, hip, post-modern, cool or free you are. Because, unfortunately, where there is institutionalized church, there are 'Divine Somebodies', instead of 'Divine Nobodies'.

To understand what is meant with "divine nobodies', you have to read the book (or at least the review).

As for what is meant with "institution", I like most the following definitions within the context that I see it play out in church and religion:

• Social constructs that are based on "rules of the games" and thereby both enable and constrain behavior by applying those rules. By enabling the individual and organization to understand and predict behavior, they facilitate economic and social interaction. ...www.microinsuranceacademy.org/glossary

Other definitions that is helpful in understanding the institutional phenomenon, are:

• Location of research. Retains ultimate responsibility for human subject regulation compliance.www.serrg.com/resources/glossary/


• Institutions are structures and mechanisms of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institution


• an establishment consisting of a building or complex of buildings where an organization for the promotion of some cause is situated wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn


• a custom that for a long time has been an important feature of some group or society; wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

As this post is getting too long, I'll rather go into my institution-issue next time....