Reprint: A Timeline of an ex-Boston Movement Member

I recently was contacted by an old friend from the early '90's ... we were both members of the Tallahassee Church of Christ, which was part of the "Boston Movement."

Back in 2007, I had written a brief timeline of my life to illustrate my before, during, and after experience with the ICoC and religion in general -- this was published on dailyskew.com. I've decided to republish it here, just to give people I knew back then a quick update on where I've been since I left church:

A Timeline of an ex-Boston Movement Member

There are plenty of great articles and opinions out there about the Boston Movement written by exmembers. You can go here or here for some highlights.

I am choosing a more concise approach, just so you can get the general idea of what one person went through, from the time of joining the church through 12 years after being asked to leave.

As a sidenote: although I've been wanting to do something like this for years, only now has the right time arrive.

1974-1991

Grew up in NYC. We attended a Baptist church that my father helped found. The church became Pentecostal in the early 80's.

We moved to Florida in 1990. I attended a Baptist church, while my parents eventually started attending a Presbyterian church.

Went off to FSU in 1991 ... and stopped attending church. Partied and wasted my time a lot. Had a bad first semester.

January, 1992

A girl a liked who had rejected my advances became a disciple. I was talked into attending a bible talk, and then doing bible studies.

February 12, 1992

Was baptized.

March, 1992

Bore fruit -- friend was baptized.

Summer, 1992

Went home to Miami. Attended church there.

Fall, 1992 and spring, 1993

Went back to Tallahassee. Continued to reach out and helped convert a married couple.

Summer, 1993

A new preacher took over. First sermon was bashing homosexuals. I thought we were supposed to hate the sin, not the sinner, and was offended. My discipler told me I should apologize for questioning the sermon. I did. Two weeks later, at a one-on-one meeting with the preacher, I was asked to leave church for two weeks.

This, to me, was tantamount to a death sentence -- like a fish being asked to breathe on land for two weeks. I was crushed. My buddy Jon drove me home, and I cried the whole time. He tried to console me, but....

I met someone in my Calculus class who was having trouble with formulas. I helped him out ... and I eventually ended up moving into his townhouse. I was afraid of staying in the apartment with the brothers. I cannot say that I knew why I was afraid, but I was. I felt ashamed for being asked to leave. I felt I was a
failure.

I found myself reading the Timothy Zahn Dark Force Rising Star Wars book at this time. I guess I will always believe in the Force! My solace was far, far away.

Fall, 1993

I moved back to Miami. I couldn't imagine staying in Tallahassee another minute. Any time I saw a disciple, my heart sank. They looked so sad when they saw me; I was close friends with many people at the church. I couldn't take it. I had to leave.

1994 - 2001

Let's see ... I didn't go back to school. I worked full-time, sometimes two or three full-time jobs. I dated ... finally lost my virginity somewhere along the line. Was engaged ... broke it off ... was betrayed by a friend who tried to steal my identity ... more dating heartbreaks ... made peace with my old pre-church friends, some of whom were angry with how I acted while I was at church.

For about five years, I could not stop thinking about church. At first, it was a constant river of memories and thoughts. The river became a stream, then a trickle, then finally ... it was gone. I was able to forget. Five years.

I didn't pursue religion seriously for about four years because part of me still believed the ICoC teachings. Then I started exploring new age stuff like Course of Miracles, Marianne Williamson ... and this led to discovering the Enneagram (thank you, Damian. Isn't it funny you bought that book before we went in to
see The Phantom Menace?)....

I tried to move back to NYC in 2001, which didn't work out. After 9-11, I met my future wife in Florida.

2002 - 2005

Married now, with two kids. Going to school again ... real close to graduating ... so busy ... I find myself burning out a lot.

I think about how energetic I was at church ... I do a search, and find out that the ICoC website is gone, and that the Boston Movement has splintered. Looking back, I am not surprised.

I think back to Tallahassee, and what could have been. I think of all the friends I had, and how I was instantly cut-off from them. I think of the good people I knew who were part of a misguided larger whole. I think of how Kip Mckean = The Realtor. I think of the reality that I bought ... only to have it repossessed.

I think of my friend Damian ... how we had traumatic, albeit different, experiences at college that haunt us.

I love my family. I'm glad that part of my life is over.

I hope the friends I left behind are okay. I Google search them occasionally, but I can find none.

Thank Odin for skeptics like Michael Martin. Thank Zeus for Ockham's Razor. Thank the Unseen Hand for Theravada Buddhism -- the only philosophy/religion that comes close to what I believe.

And now, a tribute to those friends I left behind whom I miss:

Franklin -- would you believe I became vegetarian four years ago?
Marco -- if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't appreciate Ratt or Stryper!
Jon -- Sega Genesis, X-Wing, your wonderful family ... and you were there at the end.
Rodney -- I wonder if you still think about the snapping fingers.
Chris -- that crazy green Volvo station wagon, listening to that Doo Doo Brown song.
Deana, Kim, Kama, Carla -- The real Fantastic Four.
Tammy -- I owe Jimmy Buffett to you.
Dan -- did you really think I was prideful? Hahaha.
D. Coates -- J. and I still talk about you on occasion.
Kevin -- Self-effacing humor is my secret to humility, in case you were wondering. You were the best
leader in a crazy situation.
Kent -- whitenessing.
Felicia -- talk about bad timing!

There are others ... my memory sucks ... anyway, you get the idea.

***

Reading this again, I thought I'd clarify a couple of points:

- I am eternally grateful for my time as a member of the Church of Christ. Those two years set me straight during my time in FSU, and, quite frankly, kept me from becoming an alcoholic or worse.

- Pride comes before a fall ... but the prideful believe they can handle the fall.

- However, some pride in yourself, call it self-esteem or self-respect, is necessary in this life. I'm glad I followed my instincts and objected to that first sermon I heard by the hard-line preacher.

- I want to thank Marco for contacting me on Facebook and helping me find so many people I knew from back then. I feel like part of me has come back to life -- something long buried and forgotten. As you said on your profile, Marco, church should just be part of your life and not your entire life.

- Jon Yoon -- drop me a line at numbersix@dailyskew.com. I have a Wii. I'm just sayin'.