Archive for the ‘Religion’ Category
Leave a CommentParadise Now
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We watched "Paradise Now" tonight, a great movie about two Palestinian men who have been chosen as suicide bombers in an operation in Tel Aviv. The men have to decide whether they go through with the whole operation, knowing what the cost will be (death) and dealing with what it will do to their families after they are gone.
Much of the film focuses on the internal struggle that one of the men faces as he is confronted with the reality of going through with the bombing. Questions of "will this change anything", "will my family be safe when I’m gone", and "what will happen to me once I’ve died" all run through his head.
It’s fascinating to see how the whole operation is organized and executed (I’ll try not to give too much away). The thing that really stuck out to me and Stacy as we talked about the film was the structure surrounding these bombers that set up their operation. It’s not like they were just a couple of guys with some C-4 just laying around, looking for something to blow up for God (Allah). It was more about a nationalist movement, at least it seemed the film was portraying it as such. The Palestinians felt that death was their only option in a world where they consider themselves dead already due to the occupation. Living peacefully, making slow non-violent changes, seems to have lost its appeal. When hope is lost, these last resort efforts become more enticing and easier to justify.
The part of it that was for religious purpose was present, mostly in the ideas of reward as they would become martyrs. I think I’m naive enough to believe that there are just these fundamentalists out there who are religious wackos and are only acting on their skewed religious agenda. This film brought the whole life of the Palestinians into perspective. The religious devotion is there, but as we all know, our religious life is interconnected with our cultural and social life and the ways we serve our God are often played out in how we are choosing to serve our culture for His good. For example, people are out on mission trips this time of year, helping people who society often overlooks (hurricane victims, the elderly) because they are the ones in our society that need aid and God calls us to help those who are in need.
Tying this all together, I think "Paradise Now" helps me see the freedom fighter’s perspective, their need to act out against the oppression as both a religious and cultural response. Cultural in that their actions confront the needs of the people (freedom from oppression). Religious in that ultimately this service is traced back to sacrificing for their God and their sense of duty to that faith. Maybe here is where I begin to see some of the clear differences between the Christian and Islamic gods. (I had a discussion with some friends last night on the possibility of the same God by different name, but this makes me think otherwise. Or at least the way each religion views God is very different because the way we respond to him is so contrasting.) But I have to ask myself whether I say that my God would not condone such violence because I’m not in a situation where I am confronted with violent action as the only answer to ending my suffering.
Religious. Cultural. Historical. All forces which pull on us and drive our decisions. Our desires. Our beliefs. Let our pursuit of God’s truth be above all three.
Rent "Paradise Now", uhh….now.
Pluralism
Comments (1)"A healthy pluralism is needed. We don’t want to force everyone into the same mold. Uniformity is different from unity. Unity means pluralism, with everyone respecting how others think, and among all of us, creating a unity that is greater than just my way of thinking."
Archbishop Oscar Romero
May 29, 1977
Unwitting Spokesman
I’ve been asked to expand on a previous discussion on some of the cultural changes we are seeing in the church as we move into a post-modern era at small group this week. The Emergent Church, the post-modern Christianity ideology, these are things I like to read about, but by no means do I have the authority or knowledge to comment on them with anything but a blurry misconception. So, I figure I should blog out some of my thoughts, to help formulate what I might say as an Unwitting Spokesman. (Please, never ask me to be the spokesman for something, because even if I like it, I’ll probably screw my explanation up.)
A lot of my knowledge of the changes the Church is beginning see and experience comes from two authors: Brian McLaren
Both authors, and others surrounding this developing theological movement address the inklings of change that rustle in the pews of the Church. Much of the discussion that I’ve read deals with how we, Christians, are at an impass where re-envisioning the way church looks in action, the way we approach God, and the way the cold absolutes of modernity have left us feeling disconnected victims of a Gospel that was less about Spiritual Formation and more about Sin Management (Willard).
Instead of continuing to look at God in the same way, I seem to see a pattern of review in the works of the postmodern theologians I’ve read. It’s about re-examining our buildings, our worship, our "orthopraxy" (correct practice) and our orthodoxy (right teachings) in light of the failures that the Church in its current disarray have left us with.
One point that is difficult to reconcile in this reawakening is the seeming departure from the absolute truths of God and His nature. In my opinion, I’ve never looked at the analysis and critique as something that questions God’s nature or His truths (salvation, His omnipotence, His creation). I view this discussion as a rethinking of how WE perceive those aspects of God. How the church views Creation, in light of scientific evidence, is incredibly important to reconsider, for example. When we found out the earth wasn’t flat, they argued and burned people, and then finally came to accept this change. Heretics they may have seemed, but these people who claimed it was round actually helped people see God’s Creation from a new perspective and in a new light that allowed God to become bigger in the minds and hearts of His people.
So what do we do with these new ideas, sometimes dangerous ideas that wreck the way we’ve done things for centuries? Beats me. Seriously, I’m not sure that any of the people out there, talking about this new Church, the Emergent Bride, will ever come to an answer in their lifetimes. And that’s really the beauty. I think one of the coolest things about this movement towards rethinking and rediscovering Christianity is the amount of trust its followers have to place in prayer, study, and the Holy Spirit. Because we could just go in circles trying to figure out new answers, or we could just define a new systematic theology that reflects a postmodern worldview, but that would still leave us in the same place as we are with the modern church. It’s not about an answer, a formula. I really believe, at least in what I’ve seen and experienced, it’s about leaving the door open just a little wider for the Holy Spirit to really work in our lives and show us new ways to see God.
Like I said, I hate even trying to answer even one question about what this movement means to me. All I know is that thinking about new ways to experience God and church excite my heart in a way that it has never been. To think there is a community that is OK with not having the answers is really reassuring. So don’t let me be a spokesman for anything, just let me be a sojourner (buzz-word alert) on the path to pursuing God. Let me try to show you what I’ve seen and let’s move together, because I know He’s got tons of good things for us to find ahead.
Post-Books and Beer, Round 1
We had the first installment of the "Books and Beer" series last night at my place. Jesse, Nick, Brian, Sean, and myself all gathered to eat good food, drink good beer and discuss a great book, Christianity Rediscovered. We had a very good discussion, touching on salvation, missions, the raw gospel, among plenty of other things.
Highlights:
Hearing what each guy thought about Vincent Donovan’s approach to African and world missions.
Being challenged to think about this text in a different way than I had when I read it myself.
"Let’s just say Pat Robertson…wait, let’s not name names…let’s just say some crack-pot…"
I feel like our discussion was productive in that it allowed us each to flesh out some of the bigger ideas and implications of Donovan’s work, especially his interpretation of salvation and the purpose of missions. Some of the ideas expressed last night were pretty difficult to chew on (universalism, the essential truth of the gospel, cultural interpretation of Christianity), but by talking them out a bit, we all are able to walk away with something to think about and a desire to learn more.
The concept of a continuing dialog pervades this type of meeting. The conversation that took place last night was not something foreign to us, nor is it something that came to a conclusion with our parting. I think we are like many communities of believers, who meet to discuss and learn about God and His interaction with our lives, but never seem to pin down all the answers or really even address all our own questions. That’s why this dialog is so important. We know that coming in, we won’t be able to walk away with a solution, but we know we will learn things that help us continue our pursuit.
I appreciate the guys, the Brotherhood, and their willingness to open themselves up to criticism and debate. We’re not always easy on each other, but everything is said in a loving spirit, a spirit that desires growth and maturity from our brothers. I thank God for giving me a place to be open about my thoughts, a place where none of us are going to burn each other at the stake (although we probably should sometimes).
"The experience of discovery such as I am describing is rather more like the loneliness of a person who has climbed to a mountain peak and sees spread out around him the most beautiful panoramic vision and vista and finds it completely impossible to describe that vision, or even to discuss it, except with someone who agrees to climb that peak in turn."
– Vincent Donovan
To more great views and the larger mountains that follow…
The Secret Message of Jesus
I know this blog is new. I know that in truth, there’s probably only 10 (if I’m lucky) people who look at this blog with an consistency. I hope that doesn’t figure into their criteria for picking who gets to review the book. And while being a fellow marketer of books and publications, and while I know that search engine ratings can be influenced (we hope) by gaining links to your site from blogs and other popular, high traffic sites, my hope remains that while my blog has no search engine ranking, they will grant me the chance to read this book anyway.
You who read my blog: Stacy, Jesse, Sean, Lisa, Brian, and who ever else might be so kind out there to take a few minutes – wouldn’t you say that I’d have something valuable to contribute to a review of Brian McLaren’s newest work? Wouldn’t you say that my theology is shaped by some of the same ideas we’ve all read in his previous works? And wouldn’t you also say that I’m fairly critical of some of the things he says, while very willing to discuss and hopefully learn from our disagreements? Maybe you would.
I hope this isn’t coming off as shameless self-promotion or as a plea for a free book. I’ll buy it, don’t worry. I just think it would be pretty stinkin’ cool to be an advance reviewer, an early-adopter (as I’m often NOT). We’ll see.
How about if I don’t end up getting picked for the review, I’ll write my own anyways. You’ll all have to wait until the book has been out for a month or so to get my review of course. It wouldn’t be in a timely, "wow, that sounds so good I’ll go out and buy it on the day it releases" kind of thing. But I’ll do it.
What do you think? Should they let me review The Secret Message of Jesus? I write product descriptions all day, so maybe I’ve got a shot.
Find out more about The Secret Message of Jesus
Bono at the National Prayer Breakfast
Earlier this week, Bono spoke at the annual National Prayer Breakfast to President Bush and members of Congress, along other religious leaders from various affiliations. He focused heavily on the idea of Jubilee and aid to victims of AIDS in Africa.
His voice is significant at this time and place because he is not holding back in talking about the real problems that face the people of the forgotten continent. It is also important to see his recognition of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian calls to action on behalf of the poor. By making this issue more than a Christian issue, more than an American issue, but a global/universal issue, it makes it clear how necessary it is that we all take action.
Remembering the concept of Jubilee (not remembering, but actually acting upon) seems like an impossible task in our world of loans, debt, and interest payments.
God mourns for the deaths of the innocent. God judges those who forget the "least of these." I pray that prophets like Bono or Jim Wallis or others would continue to stand on the street corners and cry out for the much needed redemption.
I pray that my complacency will break as well.
Read the full transcript of Bono’s speech
