Young Methodists, Environmentalism, and New Churches
Mark Oppenheimer
New York Times
MINNEAPOLIS — Growing up in nearby Eden Prairie, Minn., Tyler
Sit felt called to be a minister. But he was not sure what kind.
Sit felt called to be a minister. But he was not sure what kind.
“I was a cradle Methodist,” said Mr. Sit, 26, who is
half-Chinese, half-European and all-Minnesotan: sweet, smiley and Protestant.
“I went to church camp, did Sunday school, was youth-group leader, was in the
choir, sat on worship committees.”
half-Chinese, half-European and all-Minnesotan: sweet, smiley and Protestant.
“I went to church camp, did Sunday school, was youth-group leader, was in the
choir, sat on worship committees.”
So Mr. Sit went searching. “I spent a lot of time with
Buddhists in Zen circles, studied in India, did a mindfulness retreat with
Thich Nhat Hanh,” Mr. Sit said, in a conversation that began in the May Day
Café and wandered several blocks to his apartment. Then, in May 2014, visiting
the Taizé Christian spiritual community in France, he decided to return to his
roots.
Buddhists in Zen circles, studied in India, did a mindfulness retreat with
Thich Nhat Hanh,” Mr. Sit said, in a conversation that began in the May Day
Café and wandered several blocks to his apartment. Then, in May 2014, visiting
the Taizé Christian spiritual community in France, he decided to return to his
roots.
“I realized that Christianity has within itself a deep
internal religion, and also a deep ethic of social justice,” Mr. Sit said. “I
don’t need to outsource to Buddhism.”
internal religion, and also a deep ethic of social justice,” Mr. Sit said. “I
don’t need to outsource to Buddhism.”