A Look Into Jewish Traditions

This weeks episode of Speaking of Faith on Public was a great listen. I was driving home and was tired of the 3 CDs I had and turned to public radio. Keeping the Sabbath Holy is why NPR stations normally play this program on Sunday mornings and I was lucky enough to be driving at Sunday and tune it at the right time. There are so many things I didn't know and Scott-Martin Kosofsky is very insightful and learned. So if you have time learn a little something new.

Jesus Made Me Puke (Rolling Stone)

The excerpt I read made me want to share this with you, I'll be reading the whole thing and let you know what I think. You do the same.

Jesus Made Me Puke: Matt Taibbi Undercover with the Christian Right

Whoring out the Faith.

You know I don't think people ever learn. After being fully embarrassed to call myself a christian as the Creation Museum was being built, I now find another reason to blush. In Tennessee there is a Bible theme park proposed. This would be "historical" as the men in charge of the project say. I just say this is ridiculous, and I think all the readers know why. The article even quotes the supports as comparing people who do not support the project to telling a bookstore to stop selling the bible because they are making money off of it. This is crazy. Selling a manuscript that is a crux to a faith is very, very, VERY different than a million dollar theme park that will probably be poorly done, and a financial disaster. I say wait ten years, and if the creation museum has not been turned into the headquarters for an insurance company, or the largest strip club in Ohio, then talk about this. But even then I say this is a stupid idea.

FIX: linking issue

Sorry about that kurfuffle(sp?) When I picked a new design for the site a while back I didn't look into the way it colored links, but all should be good now. If you see a link it will look like this now.

Review of Language of God

I finished a great book call "The Language of God" by Francis S. Collins the head of the human genome project. This was a book that mainly describes the authors view of theistic evolution (not intelligent design) or as he calls it biologos. His views are probably the closest to mine. He also gives some compelling arguments against things that Dawkins has said, and how Dawkins thinks he owns Darwin. More that those arguments, his argument against creationism and the AIG group is pointed and witty. This book may not be for the evangelistic atheist (see below post) but it was a good read for one who knows that it is stupid to place science and faith against each other. I, like Collins, see science as a way to bring more awe to my understanding of God, and my faith is a driving force to encourage science as well as the amazing mind for discovery that mankind has.

Also there are tons of links in this. For some reason Jeph does not have them highlighted, but run your cursor over this and find the many places I take you.

Evangelistic Atheism

I longed to produce a large article about why there is not much different between evangelistic christianity and evangelistic atheism. Well, John Gray has done it better than I could have ever hoped for in an article for the guardian. It is incredibly long, but I read all of it, so you should take time to sit and read it. If one is even reading this blog then there is probably and interest in this subject, and seeing how I am sure there are more atheist readers, I think a critical view of this type of atheism is important. The only critique I have is in the closing paragraphs of the article. After pointing out that atheism can claim acts of immoral atrocities, he then states briefly how religion is still bad (or really implies it). I would just like to point out that there is a difference in the doctrines that I believe make up my faith, and how people who have stolen the name of my faith act. But I guess that can be a subject for a later post. You have a lot of reading to do in that article, so get to it.

Who Would Jesus Vote For?

This article is a little long, but that is because it is from a real magazine. So get ready to read four good pages. This says a lot about voting and religion that I would say. Good stuff. (oh, and the answer, if you are asking me, is Obama. At least that is who I voted for).

RESPONSE: New Monasticism

This is just some of my thoughts on the article Nathan mentioned in the previous post

I find this whole movement pretty interesting and kind of exciting. I have to agree with these people that the mega-church culture is sort of out of control. While some people find benefit in it, having an alternative is always good.

But my first reaction was to think that these people where going backwards, reverting to older forms of worship in Monasticism, the "lice...on God Almighty's fur coat" as Martin Luther called it according to the article. (Which BTW having grown up Lutheran, Marty is only now becoming a more interesting figure now that all the good bits about him are coming to light).

But as I continued the article they made a point that these people are still retaining normal jobs, rarely ever taking a vow of celibacy and more or less refraining from the isolation and solitude that has become some clique when one thinks of "monks". Which leads me to wonder why they even choose the term New Monasticism?

I can't really knock what they are doing, they have established a community of like minded individuals to help and support them while at the same time dedicating themselves to public service. I would be hard pressed to say it wouldn't be good for most people to take up this position. But at the same time where does the Monasticism come in? I guess they live in a community and admire certain Saints and Catholic Church figures, but if I think a particular line in a Grateful Dead song is inspired and worth remembering does that make me a Dead Head?

To be quite honest, I hope not.

It doesn't wholly matter because for the large part I like what is going on here. I have to laugh when you have quotes from regular "Protestants" accusing these people of getting "into bed with the apostate Catholic Church". Or jumping with fear that they might be breeding a "interspiritual, interfaith, one-world religion, where it all blends together." Is that so bad!?

So I say more power to them, I don't really agree with basics of your religion, but as long as you are finding support with each other and helping those around you, how can I complain?

Although, the article does end rather amonously with a quote from William Shea, director of the Center for Religion, Ethics, and Culture at the College of the Holy Cross, "...but I would hold back and ask, where might this lead?"

One word, Waco.

You know that's what he means.

New Monasticism

Check it out on my blog.

Something I've Been Thinking About

I'm not very far in The God Delusion, but so far it's pretty enjoyable. But, it's reignited a debate I've been having withing myself, and I figure here's a good of a place as any to bring it to others.

The question is of specificity. Specifically, the word "atheist." I wonder if those who are actually atheists don't want a different word?

The word itself is centered around "theist," obviously, but it seems strange to me to be labeled so explicitly by what you are not. Would "humanist" not be better? It's the way I feel like I'm leaning, but I feel like my reasoning for it is less of a "not theist" position and more of a "pro people" ideal.

Words are what English majors think about.