January 09, 2004
Friends, Neighbours, Countrymen....
...lend me your cursors! Allow me to point out a really neat liturgy/service pattern written by a guy named Corey Aldrich (perhaps not new to you, but new-ish to me) who is the bald man blogging. He's pretty hard on himself in this and subsequent posts, but I really enjoyed it, myself. I wish I could have been present for the actual service.
...lend me your cursors! Allow me to point out a really neat liturgy/service pattern written by a guy named Corey Aldrich (perhaps not new to you, but new-ish to me) who is the bald man blogging. He's pretty hard on himself in this and subsequent posts, but I really enjoyed it, myself. I wish I could have been present for the actual service.
Interesting Article
...on community in the 'post-individual' era:
So, what might the unnamable future look like for the Church if it is to regain its prophetic voice in this post-individualistic culture? Simply put, we need to seek diversity in and among our churches. A true witness to our fragmented, postmodern culture requires church unity across ethnic and socio-economic divides. Any group can create a community when everyone is the same; but, only through the power and the peace of Christ, can different cultures unite while maintaining their diverse identities. We can achieve this by planting multicultural churches, by creating local partnerships between different ethnic churches, and by establishing local cross-denominational ministry networks. This also means intentionally crossing socio-economic and class divides.
...on community in the 'post-individual' era:
So, what might the unnamable future look like for the Church if it is to regain its prophetic voice in this post-individualistic culture? Simply put, we need to seek diversity in and among our churches. A true witness to our fragmented, postmodern culture requires church unity across ethnic and socio-economic divides. Any group can create a community when everyone is the same; but, only through the power and the peace of Christ, can different cultures unite while maintaining their diverse identities. We can achieve this by planting multicultural churches, by creating local partnerships between different ethnic churches, and by establishing local cross-denominational ministry networks. This also means intentionally crossing socio-economic and class divides.
The DaVinci Code
So I finished this book in a record two days or so. It is a rather compelling, easy read, chock full of explanations of the symbolism rampant in Christianity, paganism, and many other religions. I was disappointed by how the book seemed to write for the lowest common denominator - literally there wasn't a whole lot of stylistic difference from any other novel found at an airport bookseller. I was expecting something a little more literary or cerebral - or even objective?
The central thesis of this book is that there is a secret society based around France's Merovingian families which protects the 'real holy grail' and a secret within, which if released would threaten to bring down the entire church - by this I'm assuming the Roman Catholic church, because even in Brown's so-called 'true history,' he writes nothing about the protestant church while simultaneously lumping all of Christendom into one Roman Catholic bin.
Dan Brown demonizes the Catholic church but particularly a renegade sect called Opus Dei (I think - I've already lent my copy out). From this point, the author proceeds to blame every evil and injustice in the modern world on the Catholic church with some pretty flimsy evidence.
I was pretty insulted at one point in the book, but I can't tell you which part because I don't want to spoil it! You'll know it when you see it. The book redeems itself right at the end, however with a somewhat wishy-washy, drawn out finale.
If you're the kind of person who doesn't enjoy having the foundations of your faith questioned for sport, you probably don't want to read this book. I didn't mind it, but don't feel all the hype is warranted. You might want to pick up a copy when it comes out in softcover just so you'll know what everyone is talking about around the watercooler.
So I finished this book in a record two days or so. It is a rather compelling, easy read, chock full of explanations of the symbolism rampant in Christianity, paganism, and many other religions. I was disappointed by how the book seemed to write for the lowest common denominator - literally there wasn't a whole lot of stylistic difference from any other novel found at an airport bookseller. I was expecting something a little more literary or cerebral - or even objective?
The central thesis of this book is that there is a secret society based around France's Merovingian families which protects the 'real holy grail' and a secret within, which if released would threaten to bring down the entire church - by this I'm assuming the Roman Catholic church, because even in Brown's so-called 'true history,' he writes nothing about the protestant church while simultaneously lumping all of Christendom into one Roman Catholic bin.
Dan Brown demonizes the Catholic church but particularly a renegade sect called Opus Dei (I think - I've already lent my copy out). From this point, the author proceeds to blame every evil and injustice in the modern world on the Catholic church with some pretty flimsy evidence.
I was pretty insulted at one point in the book, but I can't tell you which part because I don't want to spoil it! You'll know it when you see it. The book redeems itself right at the end, however with a somewhat wishy-washy, drawn out finale.
If you're the kind of person who doesn't enjoy having the foundations of your faith questioned for sport, you probably don't want to read this book. I didn't mind it, but don't feel all the hype is warranted. You might want to pick up a copy when it comes out in softcover just so you'll know what everyone is talking about around the watercooler.
Ecumenism(?)
This from Sweet and McLaren's A is for Abductive: (via jordoncooper.com)
At the Asian Bishops Synod hosted by the Vatican in 1998, the bishops of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei listed what the church could learn from other religions. Here are the "gifts" they suggested we could receive from our neighbors, if we were humble and hospitable enough.
From Muslims the Church could learn about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
From Hindus the Church can learn about meditation and contemplation.
From Buddhists the Church can learn about detachment from material goods and respect for life.
From Confucianism the Church can learn about filial piety and respect for elders.
From Taoism the Church can learn about simplicity and humility.
From animists the Church can learn about reverence and respect for nature and gratitude for harvests.
The Church can learn from the rich symbolism and rites existing in their diversity of worship.
How many of us bristle at the thought of "learning" from other faiths? How many of you, dear readers, had a little heart flutter when you read the above and the thought, 'pluralism!' flashed in your brain in big lights?
But I wonder, would it really be so bad? Every time I come across a news story about a particular religion speaking up for their right to worship, maintain their traditions, or even celebrate their own holy days, I think of how much I admire people of ANY kind of faith... these are the people who are willing to suspend disbelief and step into an understanding that is beyond empirical evidence. I still think that Jesus is the true way, but I admire that people of other faiths have responded to the hunger of their souls at all in a spiritual way, instead of trying to feed that hunger unknowingly with consumerism, food, alcohol, greed or any number of things.
And since when do Christians have a corner on Spiritual disciplines? This passage reminds me of a story I read about Christians teaching the gospel using the Qu'ran to Indonesian Muslims, because the concept of God is the same. I can't remember where I found this article, and I'm not sure I completely agree with it, but it's an interesting thought.
I really like that all kinds of people live in the Vancouver area. I think it's neat. (and hey, who needs to be an overseas missionary when you've got cross-cultural experiences in your backyard?!) Anyway, no real point to this post other than I wish more Christians would open their eyes a little wider and use as much good as they see in their world to expand the way they seek God.
This from Sweet and McLaren's A is for Abductive: (via jordoncooper.com)
At the Asian Bishops Synod hosted by the Vatican in 1998, the bishops of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei listed what the church could learn from other religions. Here are the "gifts" they suggested we could receive from our neighbors, if we were humble and hospitable enough.
From Muslims the Church could learn about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
From Hindus the Church can learn about meditation and contemplation.
From Buddhists the Church can learn about detachment from material goods and respect for life.
From Confucianism the Church can learn about filial piety and respect for elders.
From Taoism the Church can learn about simplicity and humility.
From animists the Church can learn about reverence and respect for nature and gratitude for harvests.
The Church can learn from the rich symbolism and rites existing in their diversity of worship.
How many of us bristle at the thought of "learning" from other faiths? How many of you, dear readers, had a little heart flutter when you read the above and the thought, 'pluralism!' flashed in your brain in big lights?
But I wonder, would it really be so bad? Every time I come across a news story about a particular religion speaking up for their right to worship, maintain their traditions, or even celebrate their own holy days, I think of how much I admire people of ANY kind of faith... these are the people who are willing to suspend disbelief and step into an understanding that is beyond empirical evidence. I still think that Jesus is the true way, but I admire that people of other faiths have responded to the hunger of their souls at all in a spiritual way, instead of trying to feed that hunger unknowingly with consumerism, food, alcohol, greed or any number of things.
And since when do Christians have a corner on Spiritual disciplines? This passage reminds me of a story I read about Christians teaching the gospel using the Qu'ran to Indonesian Muslims, because the concept of God is the same. I can't remember where I found this article, and I'm not sure I completely agree with it, but it's an interesting thought.
I really like that all kinds of people live in the Vancouver area. I think it's neat. (and hey, who needs to be an overseas missionary when you've got cross-cultural experiences in your backyard?!) Anyway, no real point to this post other than I wish more Christians would open their eyes a little wider and use as much good as they see in their world to expand the way they seek God.
