Front PageA New Kind of Conversation
Submitted by bill on Wed, 08/31/2005 - 19:30. Emerging Church postmodern
Brian McLaren, Mabiala Kenzo, Bruce Ellis Benson, Ellen Haroutunian and Myron Penner will be blogging a new book titled A New Kind of Conversation, Blogging Toward a Postmodern Faith. You can sign up to be part of the conversation at anewkindofconversation.com
In an email to the list, Hunter Barnes, a Co-editor, included the following.
Quote:
There are a lot of you out there who are already engaging in good talk over important issues. Hopefully this will add to and enhance these discussions. Our topics of discussion will include: The Bible, Theology and Postmodernism · Postmodern Apologetics? · Postmodern Ministry · Theology and (non) (post) Foundationalism and, What is a Postmodern Evangelical? Again, welcome to the conversation. I’ll keep you posted of any new Developments. In the mean time, let your readers know. Hunter Barnes Co-editor anewkindofconversation.com
I can't say that I understand what this is exactly. What I do understand is that when you sign up at the page given above, your name goes into an email list for notification. And that the blog conversation starts on September 15th, according to the sign up page. How the blog format gets used, I can only guess.
They may write the book in real time—so to speak—as Reido is doing with Church Without Walls, inviting readers to comment. Or, perhaps they intend to post pieces of the book for discussion as Chris Anderson is doing at The Long Tail. Either way, it seems that those most likely to participate already know about “Blogging Toward a Postmodern Faith.” And the writers themselves, will likely learn something from fellow bloggers about the subject, I suspect. However it proceeds, I plan to follow and add some to the discussion.
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When will it Air?
Submitted by reid o (not verified) on Sat, 07/29/2006 - 09:06.
Kent
This documentary would interest me. Do you have any idea when it would air on public tv, etc?
Yes, I agree with Bruce regarding idolatry in its various forms. Much of it stems from the tendency to focus on the symbol rather than what it symbolizes. Personally, I found that asking myself real and deep questions about the origins of these beliefs had a great degree of mental anguish and fear. This anguish is IMO the cumulative effect of reification.
This is not to say that all such concepts are evil, as I think there is a lot of good to be learned as well.
reido
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Rebellion of Thought documentary... when will it air?
Submitted by Kent C. Williamson (not verified) on Sat, 07/29/2006 - 16:47.
Reido, etc. -
Rebellion of Thought is currently set to make it's World Premiere at the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville on October 28th, 2006. Other festivals appearances will follow as we prep for distribution.
It should be available for purchase in late October at www.PaladinPictures.com... as far as broader distribution... we'll have to wait and see which major distribution entity picks it up. The website will let you know.
Interesting point you made about focusing on the symbol rather than what it symbolizes... this begs the question, "how do we keep this from happening?"
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Rebellion and Process
Submitted by reid o (not verified) on Sun, 07/30/2006 - 09:48.
Kent
"How to keep this from happening?"
I am no expert. You and your brother are venturing into the real questions that are being asked by PMs, so your own perspective will be valuable. Perhaps part of the solution and the problem at the same time will be rebellion of thought as people free themselves to seek. As I see it, developmental process slows as concepts become more concrete in the minds of adherents. The troubled waters of rebellion will bring that into question and synthesize new thinking.
The problem is, that too, is process, and mistakes will be made just like they were in the past. But then there is value in learning from mistakes and I believe development works that way.
Im keeping eyes and ears open for your documentary.
reido
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Rebellion & Questions
Submitted by Kent C. Williamson (not verified) on Mon, 07/31/2006 - 19:27.
reido -
I am no expert either... this film has been in the works for 5+ years now and I'm still no expert... what my brother and I have learned along the way is that before answers can be found, questions must be asked... and that we're willing to do.
We're hoping that Rebellion of Thought will become a springboard for conversations to take place. As more and more people enter the dialogue answers will be argued, debated and eventually found. You're right, mistakes will be made along the way, but the sooner we attempt and fail, the sooner we can try again and succeed.
This is a journey we are on. There are peaks and valleys and fabulous views along the way. There are struggles and places to fall and plenty of opportunities to quit altogether. I feel like I've been in a valley for a long time, yet today I press on. I'm confident there's an amazing view not too far around the bend.
Kent
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Similarities Among Transitional Thinkers
Submitted by reido on Wed, 08/02/2006 - 11:26.
Kent
Your comments sound so much like many of the ones we have discussed here. That is what excites me about your Documentary, and why I want to see it get the kind of air time it deserves. My hope is that others will see the similarities in their own journeys as well, and realize that they truly are not alone in their questions.
Also I believe they will find they are not alone in the struggles of development. Foundational truths are under question and ultimately we will find freedom from those who intend to control us, but the cost may be that many of us will venture into behaviors that will hurt us physically and spiritually. Those who have all the answers will herald our failures in exercising personal freedom as proof that humanity is unable to function without their direction, and that Relativism is its own undoing. But I feel that people are already free...they just don't know it. Whether we live under the banner of "Truth" or just plain live, we make choices and exercise them to our own betterment or failure continuously.
reido
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Bruce Ellis Benson Quote
Since Bruce Ellis Benson is part of the New Kind of Conversation project, I thought you might be interested in this...
While editing a section of the film Rebellion of Thought called "Creating God In Our Own Image," I included this quote from our interview with Bruce Ellis Benson regarding Christian Idolatry...
"...we affirm as Christians that God does exists, and that our conception of God is not purely a kind of idolatrous conception of God. Now of course, there it gets a little difficult, because as Christians, I assume that our conception of God is probably never completely pure, that is to say, our conception of God is never completely free from idolatry. It's very easy for the conception of "Jesus, Lord of my life," to morph into, to change into, "Jesus, who is the granter of my desires." That's not a very big step, as it turns out, and indeed I assume that many of us live, in a sort of practical way so that Jesus is the granter of our desires, first and foremost, rather than the Lord and Master of our lives."
What are your thoughts on this concept of Christian idolatry?
To learn more please visit the blog Rebellion of Thought and/or www.PaladinPictures.com