December 2004 Bookshelf
A collection of books on Christianity and homosexuality, a good piece of mind-candy, and one of my favorite sets of authors returning to the question of universalism.If It Isn’t Infallible and Inerrant … What Is It?
The difference between blind belief and tension between mysticism and rationalism is the difference between looking into a mirror and looking through glass. If Divine inspiration is true, then we are looking through a glass that is cloudy. We may not understand it all, but we can trust the teachings. If we are looking at a mirror, all we are left with is ourselves. We must make this world better; we must own our own problems of family and self. We must collaborate, participate and help our fellow man; God has so desired it. We must mourn the loss of easy belief if we are to help our fellow man. Regardless of where you and I may find ourselves on the teaching of Divine inspiration of Scripture, we both engage in probing and questions about which teachings in the Bible apply to us and how they are to be best applied. My question put most simply is how do we decide how far is far enough in this probative effort?Does God Love How We Love?
Regardless of what you and I believe about life after death, pondering the question of whether or not God loves as we love is critical to our own spiritual maturity. Within this question we will find a deeper respect for those whose self-delusion, pain and mistakes have led them to make horrible decisions. We will see these people as hurting, regardless of how heinous their sin, and we will reach out to them. I care some for theological debates about the truth of universalism; I care much more for what wrestling with this issue could mean for me as an individual. I am confident that as I ask myself to love as God loves, I will come to know Him more fully.Let’s Talk About Sex - Introduction & Part 1
Over the past several months I have wrestled with the issue of homosexuality, reading books that analyze the issue technically within Scripture, those that approach it culturally within the setting of ancient Israel and Rome, and those that deal with it personally - sharing the pain of those who have known this struggle more personally and intimately than I have thus far. While reflecting on what I have learned, I have come up with eight questions and challenges that I have to my Christian family and friends. I will be addressing each of these questions over the next month in a series of eight essays. These are questions that I believe will lead to greater peace, dialogue and grace in what has become an unnecessarily contentious issue.Why Rumsfeld Matters
Within an administration whose objective is to create an identity and mold a personality, introspection rates no higher than dissent. Dissent requires a strong leader who can accommodate personal growth and change. During his administration, Bush has shown no capacity for either. Should Rumsfeld be asked to step down? I see that as at best a white-wash of deeper policy and leadership problems. Rumsfeld leaving would have value only if it were the product of Bush recognizing his policy errors and seeking a group of people who are better suited to admit mistakes and who represent new ideas that offer some hope for a positive resolution to the Iraqi crisis.November 2004 Bookshelf
Two great books on the world's religions, one on the development of religion anthropologically, and an excellent book on FDR and Churchill are all a part of November's bookshelf.Get SAVED! All the popular kids are doing it!
We use these codified beliefs to make more clear who fits where; who is a potential threat? Who might destabilize the community? These statements, I believe, are reasonable realizations that should come from our study of organized religion. The movie SAVED! develops this idea as it presents what for many will be an unknown picture of the life within Christian schools. This community-within-a-community has its own customs, its own language, its own rites of passage, and its own ethic.About MysteriousFaith
“If anyone can show me, and prove to me, that I am wrong in thought or deed, I will gladly change. I seek the truth, which never yet hurt anybody. It is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance which does harm.”
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