I'm about halfway through this book by Anne Lamott. It has been challenging. I find myself cringing a lot: cringing at some of the things Anne says, then cringing at my own reaction to it, if that make sense. Discerning truth from error while not judging someone is difficult - it takes wisdom, and lot more of it than I presently have.
Anyway, Anne's book has been good for me to read, despite our differing views on just about everything. She's a gifted writer and at certain points I believe she is being totally transparent and honest.
Still, much of it appears false and contrived, as if she's taken on the mantle of "Christian" only to drop an f-bomb so she can seem hip in comparison to stodgy-types who wouldn't use "such language". It has the vibe of someone who claims to be something so they can disavow it to impress others - like the Dixie Chicks lead singer "apologizing" for America's Texan president to an audience in England. "Yeah, I'm a Christian, but I'm not like *those* Christians....".
Again, I haven't finished the book and can't judge Anne's heart (nor should I). I'm just commenting on my impressions thus far.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
Muslims express fury over Pope's remarks - Yahoo! News
Muslims express fury over pope's remarks - Yahoo! News
This is ridiculous. The guy was quoting something somebody said 6 hundred years ago.
And the question is never asked: "Does Islam condone spreading "the faith" by the sword?". No - the Pope, whom I disagree with on all sorts of theological issues (5 solas come to mind immediately) - is simply castigated for merely repeating a statement that is viewed as politically incorrect. The veracity, or truthfulness, of what he's saying is never brought into the discussion. Any question is simply squelched by the steamroller of Political Correctness.
The suppression of honest inquiry is the hallmark of tyranny, whether secular or religious in nature. If Islam doesn't teach what this 16th century emperor says it does, then Muslims should respond by simply saying "That's not the case". When they take to the streets in mobs they give credence to the very notion they so vehemently disagree with.
Jews believe one thing, Christians another, Buddhists another, and Muslims yet another. And in believing different things, they're bound to come into conflict. One test of the worth of a religion, then, is how it responds to those who disagree with it. Christ said to bless those who curse you, so we who are Christians have been given our marching orders and anyone who kills another human in Christ's name is doing something other than what Christ commanded.
So the question remains, when Muslims take to the streets in fits of rage to burn flags and scream threats and spew hatred are they acting in accordance with, or against the teachings of their faith?
This is ridiculous. The guy was quoting something somebody said 6 hundred years ago.
And the question is never asked: "Does Islam condone spreading "the faith" by the sword?". No - the Pope, whom I disagree with on all sorts of theological issues (5 solas come to mind immediately) - is simply castigated for merely repeating a statement that is viewed as politically incorrect. The veracity, or truthfulness, of what he's saying is never brought into the discussion. Any question is simply squelched by the steamroller of Political Correctness.
The suppression of honest inquiry is the hallmark of tyranny, whether secular or religious in nature. If Islam doesn't teach what this 16th century emperor says it does, then Muslims should respond by simply saying "That's not the case". When they take to the streets in mobs they give credence to the very notion they so vehemently disagree with.
Jews believe one thing, Christians another, Buddhists another, and Muslims yet another. And in believing different things, they're bound to come into conflict. One test of the worth of a religion, then, is how it responds to those who disagree with it. Christ said to bless those who curse you, so we who are Christians have been given our marching orders and anyone who kills another human in Christ's name is doing something other than what Christ commanded.
So the question remains, when Muslims take to the streets in fits of rage to burn flags and scream threats and spew hatred are they acting in accordance with, or against the teachings of their faith?
Thursday, September 14, 2006
From the New Attitude Blog
Na: "This concept of humble orthodoxy grew out of our experience as believers in local church communities. It made such a difference in our own lives that we wanted to share it. Our hearts constantly tend to redefine truth to suit our own purposes or to remake them in our own image. But we don't think our role should be to show up and change truth, we should let truth change us. "
I think this is what the folks meandering through the emergent church movement are trying to get at. Yet instead of submitting to the truth, they wring their hands and say they're "not sure" what the truth is. Frustrating and sad.
I think this is what the folks meandering through the emergent church movement are trying to get at. Yet instead of submitting to the truth, they wring their hands and say they're "not sure" what the truth is. Frustrating and sad.
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