Front Pagemiscellany
good religion, bad religion
Submitted by revurban on Fri, 11/17/2006 - 11:21. connection miscellany rest sabbathThis post is similar to the one that I wrote just a few days ago, but the weariness of the people around me has been unrelenting. It seems that every time that I answer the telephone the person on the other end is stressed, tired, hurting, and guilt-ridden. And most of these folks have some bad religion to thank for it all. I thought that I would write a few thoughts to remind myself - and anyone who stumbles across these ramblings - that good religion exists, and that it invites us into the fullness of life and the wholeness of being.
Thoughts on "Doogie" and other things
Submitted by BLG2319 on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 23:25. miscellanyWhen I was growing up back in the 80s and early 90s I thought I was pretty smart. I could not wait to be an adult. I think that is why I became a huge fan of "Doogie Houser M.D.". There was something about a 16-year-old genius doctor acting most of the time like an adult that appealled to me. Of course I knew I was no genius so I was destined to take a much longer road. But a boy could dream right?
taking the bible seriously means i can't read it literally
Submitted by revurban on Sat, 11/04/2006 - 02:15. bible faith interfaith miscellany rantTonight I shared Shabbos dinner with friends. As is always the case when I spend time with them, conversation makes its way to Christianity and to perceptions of Christianity. Throughout the evening we talked about the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit that is currently in Seattle and Christian misappropriation of the scrolls. The resignation of the Rev. Ted Haggard from his church and from his leadershop role within the National Association of Evangelicals also came up. When things like this happen, I find myself having to explain that Christianity is not a monolithic institution and that the Evangelical Right and progressive Christianity share very little in common except a profession of faith in a God as revealed in and through Jesus of Nazareth. Here is where most of our commonality ends. And it is here that progressive Christians need to learn to proclaim who we are and not only what we we aren't.
continue reading "taking the bible seriously means i can't read it literally"
Just Sad Really...
Submitted by BLG2319 on Fri, 11/03/2006 - 12:07. miscellanyI found this story today:
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/15815494.htm
This is my favorite part:
Quote:
The preacher believes that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is sin and abortion is murder. In one of his Hell House sketches, a "demon" tour guide performs a marriage between two men. The skit fast-forwards to a hospital room where one of the partners lies dying of AIDS."We're not saying if you have AIDS or an abortion you're going to hell," Roberts said. "There is forgiveness."
Loss of Certainty
Submitted by BLG2319 on Wed, 11/01/2006 - 09:00. miscellanyI saw this story yesterday:
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/31/061031235233.s0l4o4wy.html
This this story seems to confirm what has been talked about here frequently. The move a Post-modern society. My youngest brother who I have mentioned before, fits the new worldview to a T. We talked at length about God this weekend and I was stunned to learn just how far from the orthodox view he has moved. He told me the Israel god looks a lot like Zeus or the other supreme gods of antiquity. We didn't get into what the implications of thinking that way are.
The Religion of Self
Submitted by BLG2319 on Sun, 10/29/2006 - 16:36. miscellanyQuote:
The message of the Gospels seems to me to be constantly returning to this theme: those who set themselves up as arbiters of moral correctness, the men of the book, the Pharisees, are often the furthest from God. Rules can only go so far; love does the rest. And the rest is by far the most important part. Jesus of Nazareth constantly tells his fellow human beings to let go of law and let love happen: to let go of the pursuit of certainty, to let go of possessions, to let go of pride, to let go of reputation and ambition, to let go also of obsessing about laws and doctrines. This letting go is what the fundamentalist fears the most. To him, it implies chaos, disorder, anarchy. To Jesus, it is the beginning of wisdom, and the prerequisite of love.
THE GREAT WALL OF DOUBT
Submitted by BLG2319 on Wed, 10/11/2006 - 21:34. doubts miscellanyDoubt is something I have lived with for a long time. Even when I was not able to put it into words I sensed that the story I was being told as a child had holes in it. As I have grown older, I have learned I had good reason to doubt. Unfortunately, vindication does little for a person when what they need is hope.
TERRELL OWENS
Submitted by BLG2319 on Fri, 09/29/2006 - 12:10. miscellanyBeing a Dallas Cowboy fan and living in North Texas can be a mixed blessing. This week has been no exception.
For anyone who doesn't know, Terrell Owens is a very controversial wide reciever for the Cowboys. His exploits are many and well documented. His behavior has earned him a infamous reputation. Many love him, but just as many HATE him. Here is a synopsis of the latest incident:
CULT OF FAMILY VALUES
Submitted by BLG2319 on Thu, 09/28/2006 - 12:21. miscellanyI just recently got Karen Armstrong's book "Buddha". I have not made it very far do to time constraints, but I have read enough to be intrigued by something. The original Buddha (I cannot remember his name) apparently abandoned his family, a wife and an infant son, to set out on a spiritual journey. Armstrong claims that this fits in with Jesus' teaching that one should leave their families in order to be one of his disciples. This notion clearly doesn't square with the current doctrine of family values that so many Christians teach.
