Screen Preacher

In Today's News

2006-07-12T16:29:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since I've posted here. Apologies! A couple of articles today are worth reading:

Court Has No Place in Dispute Between Rabbis, Ruling Says: A New York court has ruled that a civil court cannot be leveraged against the internal administrative workings of a religious organization. How a church makes decisions -- perhaps later changing them -- is up to those involved in the church.

Pastor's Sermons to Test Viability of Paid Podcasts: Bishop T.D. Jakes will make his sermons available via Audible, testing a paid-podcast model vs. an ad-based model.

What's on your religious news radar?

Can't Have a Cow, Man

2006-05-04T14:23:00.000-04:00

A Hindu family living in the "tiny rural village" of Angelica, N.Y., cannot continue to maintain a small herd of cattle in their yard, ruled a state supreme court. The court points to a law that indicates you cannot keep livestock on properties smaller than 10 acres (The family has but two and a half acres.). And the family claims religious persecution.

What's your take?

Road Tripping

2006-05-03T21:23:00.000-04:00

On Aug. 5, Craig Gross and JR Mahon of XXXchurch -- and authors of the forthcoming book Starving Jesus -- will embark on a 40-day, 40-city tour of the U.S. And they'd like your help!

We need your church, youth group, college or parking lot. The tour begins in Northern California and concludes 40 days later in New York City on September 13th. The tour is designed to help churches meet the needs of people in their cities. The tour will also be an encouragement to people to act out their faith. E-mail us and we will come.

Check out the schedule online, and if they'll be in your area -- and you can help -- don't hesitate to contact them. Seems like a promising project!

Intelligent Redesign

2006-04-28T20:27:00.000-04:00

Biblical Archeology Review magazine was recently redesigned by the crackerjack folks at Auras Design.

The fifth redesign of the 30-year-old [magazine] added brighter color and easier navigation but plays up the feature well -- always the meat of the book. A web site contents page moves readers to the Internet.

Does anyone read the magazine regularly -- and have you noticed any difference?

On the Judas Gospel

2006-04-22T21:43:00.000-04:00

There's a great article on the Gospel of Judas in the May issue of National Geographic.

Judas' Second Betrayal

2006-04-13T17:56:00.000-04:00

Also in the news, the revelation of the Gospel of Judas is coming under fire. Not so much for its content, which has yet to be challenged in any meaningful way -- but for how the National Geographic Society obtained the text.

Angelic Alternatives

2006-04-13T17:44:00.000-04:00

Today's Wall Street Journal features an excellent article on the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community in Pittsburgh. Led by two tattooed seminarians steeped in Methodism and Presbyterianism, the new-style church approaches worship from several different angles:

The congregation welcomes everyone, including drunks and street people
Its liturgy is in the form of plays in which congregation members act
The congregation numbers 300-plus most Sundays
Its purposely located in a yet-to-be-gentrified neighborhood
Its two leaders got their tattoos at a Christian tattoo parlor

Another great example of innovation within the emergent church movement.

Urban Evangelism

2006-03-16T21:04:00.000-05:00

Evangelism may be historically rooted in the south and rural areas, but evangelism can also thrive in large urban areas like New York City. Case in point, Rev. Timothy Keller.

Rest in Peace

2006-03-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

Rabbi Yehuda Chitrik, a legendary Lubavitcher storyteller, died in mid-February.

Past the Balcony

2006-03-16T20:58:00.000-05:00

Late last month, the Times also reported on a slave gallery at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church. For about four decades, the gallery, which had been "reserved" for blacks during the time of slavery, remained unused and unexplored. It is only now that they are again recognized as sacred spaces.

Math Is Hard Theology

2006-03-16T20:54:00.000-05:00

The New York Times reports that a mathematician has won the esteemed Templeton Prize for his work exploring how natural constants made the world particularly well suited for the emergence of intelligent life. The Templeton Prize, worth $1.4 million, exceeds that of the Nobel Prize and recognizes "progress or research in spiritual matters." Also of interest: Charles Darwin is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Change Is God

2006-02-25T20:53:00.000-05:00

Inspired by Michael Bird's recent post about updates to his blogroll, I've updated that of Screen Preacher. I've removed some less-active blogs, added some new blogs Michael brought to my attention, and incorporated a change of address.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to share a new platform I've come across: Squidoo. Squidoo is a new service that helps people create one-page Web sites using Lego block-like modules that fulfill different functions. There are already several impressive religion-related lenses -- what Squidoo calls its pages -- including:

Regardless of whether you already have a blog or Web site, a lens seems to be an easy way to share what you know and love quickly and easily. And it seems especially well suited for people who might not be apt to put the effort needed into making a high-quality blog or Web site. Think of it as plug-and-play Web site building!

And if you'd like to include Screen Preacher as an RSS feed in one of Squidoo's RSS modules, feel free to do so!

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 47-48

2006-02-25T20:23:00.000-05:00

The book of Ecclesiastes is a fascinating followup to the books of Psalms and Proverbs. Its format is extremely different than the previous two books, and its presentation as a sermon or address of sorts has called its authorship into question -- not in terms of challenge but in terms of clarification whether the words are Solomons, or a later interpretation.

Regardless of its provenance, it's a fascinating read. At times seeming to challenge Solomon's teachings while also supporting them, it's a more straight-forward sharing of the primary ideas and ideals of the wisdom books, almost like the later letters in the New Testament. At times, the book is almost Buddhist or Taoist, with its contention that wisdom, pleasure, toil, advancemen, and riches are meaningless.

But the book is perhaps best known for chapter 3. This chapter inspired the popular folk song written by Pete Seeger and performed by the Byrds. What a beautiful passage!

I was also struck by chapter 12, which expands on how and when we should turn our attention to God.

Hot on the heels (literally!) of Ecclesiastes is another book related to Solomon -- but radically different than the ones that came before. The Song of Songs, or the Song of Solomon, is some of the best erotic writing I've read in a long time. It's not overly explicit, but as Lambert Dolphin's analysis Keys to the Song of Solomon attests, the book is but one of more than 1,000 songs penned by Solomon to survive -- and details the early love story of the king and Shulamite.

Presented almost as a dialogue, the book -- like that of Job -- eavesdrops on a conversation between the lovers and Shulamites friends, who seem to be trying to get Shulamite's attention... while she's preoccupied by Solomon.

Can anyone recommend any interesting interpretations of the Song of Songs? It sticks out like a sore thumb.

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 45-47

2006-02-25T19:21:00.000-05:00

Continuing The Bible in 90 Days, I was surprised -- given my subtle dissatisfaction with the book of Psalms -- that I appreciated Proverbs so much. Similar to the sayings of Confucius and Chinese proverbs, this wisdom book contains a wealth of knowledge and advice. Previously, I'd thought that proverbs was best taken in small doses, but it wasn't until reading the book in one sitting that its importance and impact became obvious. Roger Hahn offers an excellent Proverbs Bible study, which I plan to delve into at a later date, but for now, here are some of my impressions.

While Proverbs isn't thematically organized, you don't need to read many to pick up on multiple underlying themes. The book, ostensibly containing proverbs of Solomon -- as well as a couple of other people -- touches on why wisdom is worth seeking and why it's valuable, the pitfalls of adultery, the importance of hard work and dedication, how loose lips can sink ships, the wages of sin, the need to respect the poor and not covet wealth, invitations to avoid anger, the snares of alcohol, and the importance of honesty.

One thing that confused me was the almost-encouraging attitude toward bribery. Compare Provebs 17:8 -- "A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds." -- and Proverbs 21:14 -- "A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath." Isn't bribery -- offering or accepting -- a sin? Can someone explain why Proverbs accepts it, if not encourages it?

I was also extremely impressed by the sayings of Agur, especially Proverbs 30:15-31. The Catholic Encyclopedia online indicates that "nothing is known of Agur." Yet the style is so drastically different than the preceding chapters! Can anyone recommend further resources on those verses?

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 44-45

2006-02-25T18:31:00.000-05:00

I wouldn't say that it's been a disappointment, but I must admit that reading the entire book of Psalms as part of my study of The Bible in 90 Days has left me wanting. David Malick's outline indicates that this poetic book is divided into five sections, and I'm not surprised that it wasn't until today that I kind of hit a stride in reading the Psalms. For today's were the Psalms of praise and reflection.

For the most part, Psalms is largely repetitive, and only a handful of the chapters stand out as absolutely beautiful. Today's reading included many sections that neared such a state, however. Psalm 113 struck me with its simple call to action. Psalm 117 might very well be the shortest chapter in the book. Psalm 119:57-64 contains a personal pledge to follow God. Psalm 121 indicates how God helps those on the walk. Psalm 139 celebrates that God is always with us. And Psalm 148 shares the many forms of praise.

In fact, Psalm 119 is what is called an acrostic psalm -- and is broken into sections headed by letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Turns out that there's some grassroots interest in self-made acrostic psalms. One author, Ray Evans, is even working on a book of acrostic psalms, encouraging people to submit their own for possible inclusion. While his are more in the style of basic arostic poetry, the form can have impact, and even the shortest can contain almost haiku-like beauty.

What's your favorite Psalm?

News from the Pews

2006-02-22T13:27:00.000-05:00

Archbishop Paul Marcinkus, a Vatican banker involved in an early-'80s scandal, died Monday. He also served as governor of Vatican City.

In New Zealand, Roman Catholic bishops are urging a boycott of South Park because of an episode that depicts a bleeding statue of the Virgin Mary. The episode, which aired stateside late last year, was also criticized by American bishops.

And Edward Rothstein's essay on iconoclasm is worth reading.

Head Code

2006-02-18T12:09:00.000-05:00

Sony Pictures has taken a fascinating pre-emptive strike against criticism of the forthcoming Da Vinci Code movie -- and actually provided some fuel to that fire in the name of marketing (bad news can be good news) -- by launching a wide-ranging Web site that provides a host of critical writing on the book and its contents.

The DaVinci Dialogue enlists a number of religious scholars and leaders from liberal and conservative camps alike, and the site includes information about key references in the book, the historic figures mentioned in the story, and ministry resources, including "educational resources, Da Vinci Code sermon topics and outlines and opportunities for community outreach." And the News Tracker on the home page can help you keep up with the buzz about the book, the movie... and the site itself.

See Change

2006-02-18T11:52:00.000-05:00

When conservative and evangelical Christian groups become politically active, they usually do so in a conservative way, embracing right wing ideas and ideals. So it's refreshing and heartening to learn that Rick Warren and other evangelical leaders are organizing to help raise awareness about climate change and global warming.

Despite protest from their peers, the group is taking a cue from engaged Buddhism and Christian activism to support the Evangelical Climate Initiative, which aims to find "cost-effective solutions ... that will also create jobs, clean up our environment, make us more efficient, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, thereby enhancing our national security."

Chaste Jewry

2006-02-18T11:44:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that Reform Jewish groups are having trouble holding onto young men. While young women continue to be involved -- just as would-be women priests are in Christian churches -- men are increasingly getting involved in other interests.

So it's surprising to me to also read that Reform Jews are working to discourage mixed marriages. Sure, there's some sense in thinking that limiting who someone can marry will keep them closer to their core community if they marry within it. But at the same time, limiting who someone can marry could cause that person to look further afield in rebellion and response.

I wonder what the middle way is.

More Band Banter

2006-02-07T21:59:00.000-05:00

Remember the band that practices in the church I walk past? They still do.

I just met them as they left said edifice. Here's our exchange: "Are you the band that practices in the church?" "We are." "What are you called?" "Penelope." "What?" "Penelope." "We have a Web site."

Indeed, they do. Good for them! Pick up their CD for $10.

Mighty Men You Might Have Missed

2006-02-03T15:49:00.000-05:00

Rich Johnston and Thomas Nachlik have come out with a new graphic novel focusing on the life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino, a 17th century priest who could levitate and float while in an ecstatic trance.

Joseph's story is strikingly similar to that of certain special superhero -- or vice versa. Word is that the first European printing has already sold out, and the entire comic is available for download -- within about 48 hours of hitting the stands. Might be worth checking out!

Spelling BC

2006-02-02T22:24:00.000-05:00

PJ Williams on why spelling matters...

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 19-43

2006-02-02T18:36:00.000-05:00

Over the last week, I've caught up to where I should be in The Bible in 90 Days. Despite the binge-and-purge approach to this -- I've read 300 pages of the Bible in recent days -- I should be able to complete the curriculum in the time allotted. And I encourage you to do the same! Rather than cover this much ground in a day-by-day format like I have so far, I'll just offer a book-by-book highlights reel of sorts. Here's what struck me:

Judges: Samson and Delilah... the seven braids of Samson... a Levite cuts his concubine up into little pieces and sends them to the different parts of Israel to rile people up...

Ruth: 3:4, "When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do."

1 Samuel: 1:13, "Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk."... the Lord calls Samuel... Eli falls off his chair... the ark in Dagon's temple... Dagon falls... David and Goliath... the foreskins of 200 Philistines!... Saul falls on his own sword...

2 Samuel: What is the Book of Jashar?... King David dances... Bathsheba... Ammon rapes his sister... Sheba loses his head... David's song of praise...

1 Kings: The wisdom of Solomon... the queen of Sheba... the crisis of Elijah... Jezebel...

2 Kings: Baal-Zebub... Elijah's cloak and the whirlwind... cannibalism in Samaria...

1 Chronicles: Jerusalem had 212 gatekeepers... Saul's head in the temple of Dagon... the City of David... Satan and the census...

2 Chronicles: the Temple of Solomon... the bowels of Jehoram...

Ezra: 3:13, "No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise."...

Nehemiah: Aparently, he was cupbearer to the king...

Esther: ...

Job: I realize that Job himself went through a lot of trials, but reading this book is a trial in and of itself. It's a book that bears deep reading and thinking. I'm disappointed that God would test such a faithful servant as Job as part of a wager with Satan, and I'm dissatisfied with the outcome of the dialogue between Job, his friends, and God. Can anyone recommend Job-related reading to help me understand this better?

Psalms: Psalm 23 is amazing... David pretended to be insane?... references to doors in Psalms and 24 and 84... Psalm 93's reference to the sea...

Ad Man, Upstairs

2006-01-13T21:18:00.000-05:00

I haven't seen "The Book of Daniel" program on TV yet, but the New York Times reports that NBC has had trouble attracting advertisers. Has anyone seen the show? It's on tonight at 10, maybe I'll tune in.

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 15-18

2006-01-13T20:26:00.000-05:00

Continuing my reading of The Bible in 90 Days:

Day 15: Deuteronomy 23:19, "Do not charge your brother interest." Deut. 24:19, "When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow." Deut. 30:14, "The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
Day 16: Joshua 1:8, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everthing written in it." The Israelites crossed the Jordan in much the same way they crossed the Red Sea. Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, and the walls came tumbling down. Do the ruins of Ai still remain? The sun stood still.
Day 17: Joseph's bones were buried at Shechem. Ehud kills the king.
Day 18: Jael drives a tent stake through Sisera's head. Jotham tells the tale of the trees. Abimelech gets killed by a millstone. Samson is introduced.

Online Temple Vendors

2006-01-10T21:21:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's New York Times featured an article about e-commerce retailers who curtail business activity on the Sabbath. Some religiously observant online sellers refuse to complete orders, work on their sites, or provide customer service on the Sabbath.

Even observant Ebay sellers are taking this approach, setting vacation notices and delisting items for the duration of the Sabbath. What do you think: Is this important? Would Jesus knock over your desktop tower if you did business on the Web over the weekend?

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 12-14

2006-01-03T22:08:00.000-05:00

I'm still two days behind in my reading of The Bible in 90 Days, but the three-month schedule gives you two grace days, so I'm still on track -- and will catch up. Here's what struck me on the big green futon tonight:

Day 12: I love the story of Balaam's donkey. An angel of the Lord with a drawn sword blocked Balaam's path. While Balaam couldn't see the angel, the donkey did, and diverted its route three times. Each time, Balaam would beat the donkey. Finally, the Lord "opened the donkey's mouth" -- think Eddie Murphy's Donkey from the Shrek movies -- and Balaam took note of the angel and turned back.
Day 13: Deuteronomy 3's defeat of Og, King of Bashan, and the wholesale destruction of more than 60 cities. Does Deuteronomy 4:15-17 suggest there should be no artistic renderings of God? Deuteronomy 6:9, the origin of the mezuzah?
Day 14: Deuteronomy 14:22 suggests that we tithe 10% of what we make annually. 15:1 hints that all debts should be relieved every seven years. Asherah polls are condemned.

The Apostle: An Ardent Defense

2006-01-03T19:52:00.000-05:00

In response to my brief review of The Apostle last month, a reader emailed me the following:

I have to say I disagree with your analysis. I thought the movie was brilliant, actually, because I don't think the point was redemption -- certainly not in the cinematic sense, at least.

First off is that the film is a perfect portrait of a slice of the suburban and rural South. That does not happen very often in mainstream films. Most depictions of the South are bloated satires or accidental parodies with actors overdoing the accents (Sling Blade, My Cousin Vinny). So the movie had me right away, especially as I saw it for the first time in the South (I've seen it twice more since then). Can't name another movie that does that, not off the top of my head, at least. Streetcar Named Desire, of course, but that's going back a while in time, isn't it?

Second, the movie humanizes evangelical Christians. Being an educated, ex-Catholic East Coaster, you'd think this wouldn't bother me, but in truth I hate caricatures of any type or group of people unless the movie is deliberate farce executed well. I'm not saying this is a movie the American Family Association approves of, but I said the movie humanizes Christians, not glorifies them.

But here's the thing. This is a great character portrait, which is why the movie is so good. Duvall's character is a hard-core Christian who prays every day and literally tries every night to have a conversation with the Lord. He has serious family problems and ends up killing his wife's lover during a drunken rage. So he flees the law (which, by his reckoning, is pretty irrelevant anyway, as he's an after-life-is-where-we-all-get-judged kind of person). And what does he do when he flees? He starts another church in a nearby state. How messed up is that? He's unable to help himself; he even gets a radio show, not the smartest thing in the world when you're a fugitive. If there are true redemptive moments in the film, it is during the scene when they people act as a community to turn the barn into a church, and when they stop the drunk bum from driving over the Bible with the forklift or bulldozer (or whatever machine it was).

In fact I think the movie has a point about redemption that can get missed in a conventional screenplay format. The theme is this: Redemption itself is a fleeting idea. It's elusive, it must be struggled for every day, and there are rarely moments when it happens, because redemption doesn't stick around. The credits can roll if a movie character is redeemed, but in real life, life keeps happening. We as humans continue to get placed in situations where it is all too possible for us to be hypocrites. And we do, often, act as hypocrities. How can we not? (On a tangent, we tend to view the "redeemed" in real life as people who had movie-credit endings. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a saint today because he was martyred at just the right time. If he were still alive people would have dismissed him as irrelevant -- complaining about the plight of the blacks and the poor? Come on, that is so '60s!)

So the movie ends with him working in prison, accepting his very earthly punishment when he in fact believed for many years that only God was capable of rewarding/punishing him. And what does he do even on a chain gang (which, by the way, is a perfect symbol of a mortal, useless, human endeavor)? Try to save people for Jesus. Bound by man, he continues to struggle to be saved (and to save others) for the Greater Good. It's not the choice I would have made, if I were put on a chain gang, but great movies do not cater to the audience; they make the audience come to the movie.

Anyway, that's why I like The Apostle so much.

Thanks for your thoughtful response!

Bicycle Built for All

2005-12-30T23:12:00.000-05:00

Commenting on Maggi Dawn's blog tonight, I came across the idea of bicycle meditation. I've been aware of walking meditation for more than a decade, but bicycle meditation is new to me. Any practitioners?

The Impact of Godcasting

2005-12-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

Akma points out that godcasting can help church attendance. For the last few weeks, I've been "attending" Blackhawk Church in Madison, Wisconsin, on the merits of Chris Dolson's downloadable sermons. The podcast hasn't inspired me to go to church -- any church -- yet, but the potential is clear.

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 4-11

2005-12-30T22:19:00.000-05:00

I've kept up with my readings of The Bible in 90 Days, but I haven't kept up with my online notetaking. This is an accelerated synopsis of the major portions that piqued my interest and inspiration, and I hope to return to a more in-depth public approach to my reading soon. Please refer to the reading plan for each day's corresponding reading.

Day 4: Moses shaved before meeting with the Pharoah.
Day 5: Moses killed a man and hid him in the sand. Aaron stepped up as Moses's spokesperson when he doubted his eloquence. The plagues visited Egypt not because the Pharoah didn't want to let Moses and his people go, but because God hardened the Pharoah's heart. When the Israelites left Egypt, Moses took Joseph's bones with him.
Day 6: God made bread, manna, fall from the sky to feed the Israelites. Is this what communion wafers are based on? Altars should be built with unfinished stones. The construction of the tabernacle and its accoutrements is detailed in explicit detail.
Day 7: Angered by the golden calf, Moses broke the first set of stone tablets containing the 10 commandments. Another copy is made. The tabernacle is constructed.
Day 8: Leviticus 4:13, "If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are guilty." Earliest instance of "Ignorance of the law is no defense"? God kills Nadab and Abihu for offering "unauthorized fire."
Day 9: The term "scapegoat" is defined. Vampirism are condemned, as is homosexuality.
Day 10: The test for an unfaithful wife is detailed. The priestly blessing is dictated.
Day 11: Numbers 11:29, "I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!"

These readings were somewhat hard slogging because of repetition. The tabernacle's construction guidelines are detailed at great length, and then its actual construction is detailed at similar length. Likewise, the different kinds of offerings and feasts are explained more than once. Add to that the genealogical portions, and you get a lot of retelling, which can be skimmed but perhaps shouldn't be.

Church Hopping Around

2005-12-30T22:06:00.000-05:00

And finally, to complete today's roundup of media notes, the New York Times published a piece on young church goers who attend multiple churches to meet different needs.

A a number of Christians are regularly attending different churches in the course of a week or a month, picking and choosing among programs and services, to satisfy social and spiritual needs.

I find it a challenge to find one organized church I want to attend regularly, much less several. Do you go to more than one church? Do you go to church more than once a week? Why?

Theology, Travel, and Television

2005-12-30T21:58:00.000-05:00

The Wall Street Journal also tips hat to the forthcoming TV miniseries Walking the Bible. (Online subscription required.) Scheduled to air starting next week on PBS, the program is hosted by Bruce Feller, author of Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses.

Like the book, the program will document a 10,000-mile journey through Mesopotamia and the settings in which Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, and Moses found themselves -- and their faith. Appears worth watching.

The Feminine European Conversion

2005-12-30T21:51:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week, the Christian Science Monitor took a look at why European women are converting to Islam. Piquing the interest of antiterrorist authorities, the women are converting for reasons other than dating a Muslim (fancy that!). Among the attractions cited in the piece:

Islam's message of love, tolerance and peace
Closeness to God
The religion's simple, explicit rigor
Its idea of womanhood and manhood
The spiritualization of politics

If you've converted to a new faith, what were your reasons?

RFID: 666?

2005-12-30T13:56:00.000-05:00

In today's Wall Street Journal (online subscription required), Dave Shiflett, author of Exodus: Why Americans Are Fleeing Liberal Churches for Conservative Christianity, considers whether radio frequency ID tags are the work of Satan. Curious: While apocalypse watchers might subscribe to that notion, will they express similar concern over widespread government sponsorship of telephone surveillance?

Limbo... in Limbo?

2005-12-30T13:39:00.000-05:00

A recent recommendation from top theologians to Pope Benedict XVI may consign limbo to the dustbin of Christian history. Since medieval times, limbo has been a "blissful state among the departed, somehow different from both heaven and hell."

Limbo is different from purgatory, however. Rather than a waiting place for the departed awaiting entrance to heaven, limbo was considered the home for dead children -- based purely on original sin. They didn't join God, but they didn't suffer, either. While this might be seen as a reconsideration of the concept of original sin, its more likely the result of how the church approaches abortion and infant mortality in developing countries. Regardless, the origins of the unofficial theology behind the idea of limbo -- which stems from St. Augustine -- is interesting.

New Culture of Critique

2005-12-30T13:31:00.000-05:00

Monday's New York Times took notice of a new method used by conservative Christians. Rather than out-and-out protesting pop culture artifacts that they disagree with, such as the movie Brokeback Mountain, some cultural conservatives are playing a different role: that of reviewer.

What's interesting isn't that people are more actively using sites such as MovieGuide, Christianity Today Movies, Hollywood Jesus, and Decent Films. Rather, it's heartening that movies that would have once prompted knee-jerk protests are inspiring thoughtful commentary from people who are able to consider a work's artistic and moral merit.

For example, at MovieGuide, films are rated for quality and acceptability. A three-star movie could still be considered abhorrent.

Holiday Spirits in the Aggregate

2005-12-30T13:26:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, Dec. 31, isn't just New Year's Eve, it's also World Spirituality Day. The day is intended to focus on and celebrate all religions and expressions of spirituality -- and can be seen as a parallel to Earth Day.

Early Thoughts on Mormonism

2005-12-22T19:26:00.000-05:00

Screen Preacher Ruthie recommended that I read a Newsweek article about the Mormons.

As someone who not too long ago pilfered a copy of the Book of Mormon from a hotel room -- seems like the Gideons have competition! -- I'm especially interested in learning more. Yes: Thou shalt not steal and all that.

I tend to be slightly skeptical of faith bases established in the 19th century on the provenance of a text dug up in an upstate New York backyard, but given the Mormons's missionary base, I'm fascinated. So a blog comment was all it took to lead me to read the article in question -- even if it ran two months ago.

The article is notable for its retelling of Joseph Smith's First Vision, his position as America's most important native-born religious figure (!!!), the church's impact on the Midwest and west, and the followers' need for community.

I think the Newsweek article ran because of a recent biography of Smith, but I could be wrong. I could also be wrong in my initial impressions of the Mormons, who I hold in line with the Jehovah's Witnesses and, slightly less so, the Bahais.

School me?

The Longest Night

2005-12-21T22:14:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Jim Davila for reminding me that today is the winter solstice.

As Seen on TV

2005-12-21T21:46:00.000-05:00

The Simpsons, "Pray Anything": Homer discovers the power of prayer, and the family moves into the church. See also Last Exit to Springfield's screen grabs and TV.com's list of allusions.

House, "Damned If You Do": A nun is hospitalized because of an allergy. See also Fox's episode guide, Television Without Pity's recap, and TV.com's list of allusions.

The Bible in 90 Days: Day 3

2005-12-21T21:24:00.000-05:00

Today's reading in The Bible in 90 Days took me to Genesis 40:11. The sexual politics continue. Laban tricks Jacob by giving him the weak-eyed Leah to sleep with instead of his beloved Rachel. God gives and withdraws favor by opening and closing wombs. Rachel gives Jacob her handmaiden as a concubine. Leah also donates hers. Jacob engages in some doubtful genetic experimentation with Laban's flocks. Jacob's sons slaughter the citizens of a city because of the mistreatment of their sister -- directly contrasting earlier examples of fathers willingly giving up their daughters as sexual sacrifices. Onan spills his seed on the ground. Judah unknowingly beds his daughter-in-law. And Joseph denies the wife of his Egyptian master and is jailed.

Other notable passages note the hiding of household gods, the meaning of piles of stones, Jacob's wrestling match with God, Joseph and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat, and the interpretation of dreams. And compare the birth of Tamar's twin boys with that of Esau and Jacob. Birth order was all important.

Pop culture parallel: Rent Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The Bible in 90 Days: Day 2

2005-12-21T20:33:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's reading in The Bible in 90 Days spanned Genesis 17:1 to 28:19. While I'm not as struck by the spiritual in the NIV as I am in the KJV, I'm appreciating this translation. I think it's a speedier read than the KJV, which makes it well suited for a 90-day reading program.

This day's selection details God's covenant with Abraham and his wife Sarah, covers the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, addresses Abraham's test of faith and near-killing of his son Isaac, introduces Rebekah, and tells the tale of Isaac's sons -- Esau and Jacob -- and the latter's trickery. Several telling passages carry solid lessons: God spares Lot in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (loving and vengeful God), Lot's wife turns back and turns into a pillar of salt (vengeful God), and Isaac's life is spared (loving God).

But it also includes some confusing apparent consistencies in the Old Testament. I'm curious about how many men introduce their wives as their sisters when entering foreign lands -- endangering themselves, their wives, and their hosts. I'm intrigued by the passing mention of homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorrah (older translations don't put things as bluntly), as well as Lot's willingness to give up his daughters to the riotous crowd. And my interest is piqued by Lot's daughters taking advantage of him in a way not dissimilar to Jacob's pulling the wool over the eyes of his father (I'd feel worse for Esau, but he so willingly gave up his birthright!). Compare Lot's daughters' incestuous seduction with Shem, Ham, and Japheth's witness of their father Noah's nudity in Genesis 9.

Can anyone explain those passages to me? Why are people so willing to hand over their wives and daughters, much less engage in incestuous relations? The text doesn't explicitly offer these occasions as sins or something against God's will, and I'm fascinated by the seemingly lackadaisical representation.

Update: Colin Maxwell recently commented on the use of the term "Sodomites" in his blog Good Night Safe Home.

Churching Corporate Leaders

2005-12-20T16:48:00.000-05:00

Next spring, John Maxwell, founder of Maximum Impact, the folks behind Life@Work, and Injoy will hold a satellite TV simulcast with as many as 600 churches entitled Maximum Impact: 360° The Measure of a Leader.

Featuring speakers including Tim Sanders, author of The Likeability Factor; Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, and Kathy Ireland; the event is designed to help churches "develop ongoing relationships with workplace leaders" and "start comfortable conversations with professionals."

Church leaders interested in participating in the May 5, 2006, simulcast can request a free event preview kit, which includes a sampler DVD. The event seems to be an intriguing way to bring new people -- people who make an impact in your community -- into your church, but having been involved in similar simulcast events previously -- I think it's as much a gamble as it is an interesting gambit.

Was Jesus a Redhead?

2005-12-20T11:58:00.000-05:00

Studies of the Rabula Gospels, the first dated Christian manuscript, have uncovered that the document was repainted. The book, which was produced in a Syrian monastery, features the first dated visual depiction of the Crucifixion. Among the changes? Jesus, who is now shown with straight black hair, once had curly red hair. The fact that the image was doctored is interesting. What's even more interesting is that Jesus was originally depicted with red hair.

The Bible in 90 Days: Day 1

2005-12-19T22:04:00.000-05:00

I decided to splurge on The Bible in 90 days curriculum from Zondervan, and it arrived in the mail today. For the last few years, I've been reading the Bible in fits and starts, but I've yet to read it cover to cover. While my initial goal was to read the King James Version cover to cover over the course of a year, this curriculum will guide me through the New International Version in just three months. The kit I received in the mail today includes a specially designed edition of the NIV Bible, three DVDs and a leader's guide, a participant's guide, and additional teaching resources.

Designed to guide readers through the Bible in 12-page readings, the program took me from Genesis 1:1-16:16, and already, I'm reminded of the sheer power and potential of the Bible. Creation, the origin of the Sabbath, the Fertile Crescent, the fall, cherubim and flaming swords, Cain and Abel, Nephilim, Noah and the flood, rainbows as covenant, and the Tower of Babel. Holy cow, this is good stuff. 12 pages in, and God has already killed off and confounded mankind.

I'll do my best to keep a daily reading journal here in SP as I progress through the program, commenting on the text, as well as sharing portions of the participant's guide and DVD material. And if you'd like to read along, it's only 12 pages a day. You can access the reading plan online.

Magazine Manna

2005-12-18T17:01:00.000-05:00

Last month, I picked up a handful of Christian- and religion-related magazines at a bookstore. Some of them I had read before, and some were new to me. Given the rare SP comment -- and vote of confidence -- I don't feel like I've given the magazines the deep read SP readers deserve, but here are my initial impressions nonetheless.

Christianity Today
Equal parts general interest magazine, news magazine, and devotional resource, this 128-page monthly glossy magazine seems to be the most appropriate entry point. Yet it's also one of the least in-depth and rewarding. Given Christianity's wide range of expressions and representations, it's got to be a challenge to embrace them all, and reading the November issue of CT, I'm not sure the editors try. Timothy Morgan's opening editorial is what first raised a warning flag. "You know a different day is dawning when a leading Southern Baptist quotes a Hindu." That Hindu? Gandhi. If, in 2005, Christian leaders (even Southern Baptists) don't read and respect -- or at least consider the potential value -- of Gandhi's work, those leaders are isolated indeed. That isn't to say I'm not pleased a highly visible Southern Baptist is citing Gandhi, but the way it was presented in the opening editorial doesn't bode well for the openness of Christianity, no matter how conservative.

The letter column, Readers Write, made me wish I'd read an earlier issue, as many of the printed letters touched on the New Monsasticism, which seems fascinating. The front of book includes many shorter, news items, including a mention of CNN's first full-time faith-and-values correspondent, Delia Gallagher.

The cover feature, then, focuses on Ted Haggard, pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The president of the National Association of Evangelicals, profiled in Harper's, seems to be my kind of preacher: charismatic yet pragmatic, youthful yet grounded, aware of the wider world's perception yet outspoken. It's a feature worth reading.

Other items of note: "The Underrated Spiritual Secret" is a book excerpt, easy journalism -- and indicative of the magazine's complicity in promoting related commercial products. An interview -- like that with Ben Witherington III on "The Problem with Evangelical Theologies" -- would have been more informative and inspirational.

But I think it's the feature on the Southern Baptist response to Hurricane Katrina that rubbed me the most wrong. Christians' response to a disaster should be an assumption, a given. And while newsworthy, I'm not sure it's worth singling out one segment of the faith as hero -- especially given its mention in the opening editorial. The magazine closes with columns and book -- and other -- reviews. Christianity Today may be the faith base's Time or Newsweek magazine, but just as you should question the "objective" news judgment of those magazine, so should you with CT.

Christian Research Journal
The 54-page bimonthly magazine's tagline outlines three purposes: "probing today's religious movements, promoting doctrinal discernment and critical thinking, and providing reasons for Christian faith and ethics." And this Special Book Review Issue attempts to accomplish those goals within the realm of orthodoxy. With a cover story on Satanism, a front-of-book piece on refuting cults, a feature well story on "the Essential Doctrines of the Christian Faith," and a back-page column by Hank Hanegraaff on how Christians should view Halloween and Christmas, the periodical's scope should be clear: Its scope is passionate and narrow. I've read to read the entire magazine to gauge the content of its apparent context, but it's clear that this is no Biblical Archeology Review, much less a more studied and scientific approach to Christianity's past. Read for curiosity's sake -- or if you're already aware of the magazine and agree with its background.

Discipleship Journal
This 102-page bimonthly magazine is published by the Navigators, an outreach ministry based in Colorado. More ad-free than Christianity Today and less so than Christian Research Journal, the glossy journal is aimed at "helping you grow in Christ." Offering a Leader's Guide to Group Study, a monthly reading guide to the Bible, sidebars suggesting additional readings and discussion topics, a special section on Bible study, and a back-of-book section concentrating on "ideas for more effective ministry," including prayer ideas and small-group guides, this magazine is much, much more group-oriented than the other magazines discussed so far, which earns it a thousand SP points. Hooray for the small group aids!

The theme-based issue focuses on hearing God. Topics addressed include maintaining evangelical fervor, Christmas-related guilt, praying for governmental and other leaders, how to best recognize and listen to God's word, and how to identify when God is using you. The magazine combines doctrinal specificity with tools for self-exploration, which is way welcome. This magazine serves up centralized ideas while allowing for distributed decision making.

Pray!
"Encouraging a passion for Christ through prayer," this 55-page bimonthly magazine also published by the Navigators is very practice based. The feature well starts on page 13 -- an early feature well -- and focuses on praying for unreached people, reflections on John 17, intimacy, and thankfulness.

While the kids-oriented resources in the back of book feel like an inappropriate afterthought, the intent is clear. Even if children won't read or ably use this magazine, introducing the practice of prayer to the young is laudable, if not better presented. It's no surprise that this is also published by the folks behind Discipleship Journal. The Navigators might be a group worth following.

Rev!
I have long been a fan of magazines and other resources published by Group, and this magazine is no different. As what might be one of the leading publishers concentrating on the emergent church, Group seems to do all the right things to share tools and resources, offer opportunities for self-examination and -exploration, and provide insightful ideas and ideals.

The 130-page November/December issue of this periodical shines a light on preaching, which is appropriate, given my recent watching of The Apostle. While this might be the magazine I'm most attracted to, I've given this surprisingly short shrift and can comment little on its content, much less context and commentary. Rev! is worth reading, as is Group, and of all of these magazines, I know I'll return to this for sure.

Hey, Publishers: Sign me up for a free sub, and I'll read every issue, think highly about every edition, and share what I learn here. Seriously.

More on The Gospel Hoax

2005-12-18T13:32:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading The Gospel Hoax this afternoon, and I'm quite impressed by Stephen Carlson's approach to the subject. Not only does he address three angles from which the found text -- the Secret Mark discovered by Morton Smith in 1958 -- can be determined a forgery, he considers intertextual clues and jokes that identify Smith as the author.

Carlson also positions the forgery as a hoax rather than a fake -- and takes on Smith's possible motivations for maintaining such a hoax. We might never know the full story behind Secret Mark -- Smith's will ordered that his correspondence be destroyed -- but despite its hoax status, the text still has value: "Secret Mark persists because it is still useful, not for the purposes for which it was originally created, but because it continues to satisfy some current needs."

Some apocrypha may be fakes or hoaxes. That doesn't mean that they don't mean anything. Such texts -- just like Secret Mark -- say a lot about the time in which they were created, as well as the concerns and ideas of their creators. At around 100 pages, Carlson's new book is slightly shorter than Smith's popular press book on the topic, The Secret Gospel. I think I'll tackle that next.

Soldiers and the Sacred

2005-12-17T22:16:00.000-05:00

Going through some materials packed up in a box of books from my old job, I came across a ready-to-be-framed copy of the Cadet Prayer that I picked up while visiting West Point several years ago. If you've never read the Cadet Prayer, it's worth considering, especially given its balance of moral code, military loyalty, and religious dedication. My favorite line: "May our religion be filled with gladness and may our worship of Thee be natural."

Movies with Meaning

2005-12-17T22:04:00.000-05:00

Tonight, on the recommendation of a friend, I watched the 1997 movie The Apostle. Starring Robert Duvall, who spent $4 million of his own money to make the film, the movie tells the tale of a charismatic preacher who catches his wife (Farrah Fawcett) in bed with another man, throws a baseball through his window and later hits him in the head with a baseball bat -- putting him into a coma and killing him -- and goes on the lam from Texas to Louisiana to see what the Lord has in store for him next.

Duvall's character ends up making a new home in a small town, rejuvenating a defunct church, and reforming a dispersed congregation. While it's clear that the preacher has a positive impact on the town and its people, I was left feeling flat because I was never brought to truly care about the lead. Instead, because of an allusion to a womanizing past, his brutal attack of his wife's lover, and his running away from the law, I doubted the depth of his faith -- feeling like he may have become a preacher to take advantage of other people and advance himself socially and materially.

If I thought Duvall's character was a good man, I would have cared for him -- and the movie's themes would have succeeded more strongly. As it is, it's a good movie that focuses on the rebuilding of a church -- and includes several scenes of excellent charismatic preaching. Perhaps good fodder for a small group discussion. How good a Christian was the preacher? Was his rebuilding of the church atonement enough for his sins? Or was his ministry a disguise?

I Say Piano...

2005-12-13T06:40:00.000-05:00

In the early 1900s, the Church of Christ split from the Disciples of Christ churches because of disagreements over orthodoxy. While concerns included baptism and mission work, the primary cause of the chasm seems to have been the humble piano.

People in the Disciples of Christ churches thought that incorporating a piano into church services was a good idea. The more orthodox Church of Christ proponents thought that was heresy -- and that services should be sung a capella. The disagreement over instrumental music seems small beer indeed in light of today's growing inclusion of video, multimedia, and live music in some churches. And the urban-rural split is also worth considering: Urban churches were among the first to incorporate instrumental music.

The good news is this: Such schisms aren't irreparable. The two fellowships plan to have a joint meeting at the North American Christian Convention next June. Much of the program will address topics of reconciliation and unity, which brings Ephesians 4, particularly Ephesians 4:4, 6 to mind:

[There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. ... One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.

Best of luck in bridging the gap!

The Meaning of the Wreath, and Saint Lucia

2005-12-12T21:21:00.000-05:00

Today's Advent reading by way of Henri J. M. Nouwen encourages people to hang a wreath on their door to "symbolize the victory over sin achieved by Christ's entry into our world." I was familiar with the Christmas wreath, but I hadn't previously made a connection between wreaths and Advent.

Turning to Ace Collins's Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, I learned that the Advent wreath was introduced by the Vikings. A candle was added to the wreath to "mark the passing days and remember the strength of their faith." Eventually, more candles were added, one for each week of the season, and even standalone candles were used.

Other sources trace the origin of the Advent wreath to pre-Christian Germanic people, the pagan fire wheel, and the Swedish crown of lights, which is associated with Saint Lucia.

Interestingly, Saint Lucia's feast day is... tomorrow. According to some calendars, Dec. 13 is the longest night in the year. And Saint Lucia is the patron saint of blindness. So her connection to the Advent wreath -- and its candles, which bring light to the world -- is appropriate, indeed.

On The Gospel Hoax

2005-12-11T22:00:00.000-05:00

I have a friend who swears that she'll never read The Da Vinci Code because it's sloppy theology and a bane on mass-market publishing. I thought it was a good read, and one best read with the skepticism deserved by such pulp thriller novels. I also enjoyed National Treasure. So take that with a grain of salt. Regardless of how you feel about the neo-revisionist exploration of sacred texts, I think books like Holy Blood, Holy Grail, the myths surrounding groups like the Rosicrucian Order and the Knights Templar -- not to mention the Rotarians -- and even larger conspiracy theories can all lend a hand to help uncover spiritual, personal, and historical truths.

So let it be said that I'm a big fan -- and follower -- of the apocrypha. Texts that were not included in "earlier" multiple versions of the Bible that we know today, even if they are not canonical, are still productive and useful in terms of their self-study. Books like The Nag Hammadi Library, Lost Books of the Bible, and even less-respected texts all beg merit as parallel reads to consider what might have been -- and what might be. Some are less dependable than others. Some form the basis of entire religions respected today (Think about the Mormons and the Bahai). And some are just fun to consider as guides for further self-examination.

So I was intrigued by the publication of Stephen Carlson's The Gospel Hoax. Well-timed in terms of publication to coincide with the publication of The Da Vinci Codes (particularly given the pending movie) and the release of the Chronicles of Narnia movie, the book, while not totally opportunistic like some of the Narnia-related tomes, clearly strikes a nerve and plucks a chord.

Carlson digs deeper than most. This is a rolling review, as I've only read a fifth of the text, but I think it's a book worth exploring -- particularly given the author's approach. The introduction by Larry Hurtado addresses society's interest in the "whiff of esoteric Christian practices," nods to our "great sympathy for allegedly suppressed versions of early Christianity," and lauds Carslon's method. A lawyer, Carlson faces the matter at hand -- whether Morton Smith's discovery of a secret version of Mark is valid -- with the mind of an attorney. Carlson draws on forensic science and other legal tools to determine whether the text is legitimate. Hurtado's introduction, while valiant, doesn't go far enough, however. While the book -- so far -- ably considers the abilities, opportunities, and motives to propose whether the text is "more appropriately placed in the curio cabinet than on the shelf of primary texts," I wonder if there's a third option.

I'm going to read more of the book before I say more, but I wonder: What drives people to find more? What inspires people to dig deeper into (and around) respected -- and expected -- texts? What could possibly lead someone who considers themself a serious Christian, much less a Christian scholar, to interpret or invent an alternative text, heretofore undiscovered and uncovered?

That, my friends, is the big question. Will Carlson attempt to answer it? I can't wait to read more.

Textual Preference

2005-12-11T20:23:00.000-05:00

Colin Maxwel has posted an insightful entry on why he prefers the King James Version of the Bible -- but doesn't see himself as a participant in the KJV Only movement. I've posted a comment in response to his entry touching on where I stand, but I'm curious: What translation of the Bible do you prefer? Why? Do you read multiple translations in parallel?

Attention Theology

2005-12-11T14:38:00.000-05:00

I've been remiss in keeping up with my planned Advent readings, and I feel a bit sheepish to actually begin them today, on the middle Sunday of Advent. That said, it is somewhat appropriate, as the middle Sunday has traditionally marked the end of a fast. Consider my Advent reading fast at an end!

As mentioned previously, I'm pairing readings from Thomas Merton and Henri J. M. Nouwen, and today's entries are interesting, indeed. Merton comments on the busy-ness and business of the Christmas season, writing, "People with frustrated wills come together to make noise that causes others to suffer while they themselves do not suffer. ... There is a note of supreme injustice in noisemaking: the noise made by one person can compel another person to listen. This applies to chitchat as well as to industrial noises," in The Springs of Contemplation.

I'm easily distracted and multitask practically all the time. So I'm tempted to read The Attention Economy in parallel with Bible passages such as Matthew 6:6 and Psalm 100:1-2 to further determine when outspoken or raucous behavior is called for or criticized. But perhaps Nouwen's idea for the day -- quoting Oscar Uzin in Gracias! A Latin American Journal -- is enough: "Be alert, be alert, so that you will be able to recognize your lord... in all that you read in the daily papers." Consider Mark 13:33-37: "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. ... Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning... Watch."

Even if celebrating or expressing yourself creatively -- perhaps even claiming the attention of others -- that might be OK... as long as you remain awake and aware.

Sunday Pre-School

2005-12-11T14:11:00.000-05:00

Today's New York Times includes an article focusing on a church's worship class for children under 3. Using a curriculum developed by Beulah Enterprises with which Bible stories are told to infants and toddlers in adult language using felt characters, parents are churching their children before they can even grasp the narrative content -- if not the morals -- of the stories. While I think this is largely positive -- this improvement on the secular play group can go far to bring young children into the church community -- I'm curious how deeply it reaches the kids.

I grew up with a prized copy of The Golden Children's Bible, but otherwise, I'm not that impressed with most religious children's books. Titles like My First Bible Board Book, Christmas Story, and The Story of David and Goliath all seem to over-simplify -- and almost belittle -- the importance of the stories. How early should you teach children about your chosen faith? How do you best do so?

Video, My God

2005-12-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

Last week, I received a promotional mailer for Zondervan's The Bible in 90 Days, which was previously mentioned in Screen Preacher. The mailer advertised the church curriculum for the book, which includeds a 90-day reading plan, three DVDs featuring 14 sessions of weekly teaching to accompany the readings, and a participant's and leader's guide.

I'm not one to pay much attention to advertising circulars, but the clincher was this: The mailing included a sampler CD-ROM that included footage from the curriculum's DVDs. And even though the video snippets were short, they were certainly intriguing -- and eminently more useful than the Psalms Series of DVD offered by the Worship Network. Has anyone ever used a tool like this with their study group or church? What was the experience like?

Lessons from Start Your Own Religion

2005-12-02T20:47:00.000-05:00

I received my copy of Ronin Publishing's edition of Timothy Leary's Start Your Own Religion today, and quickly flipping through the table of contents, it looks like a worthwhile read. In the book, Leary describes a DIY religion, offering the following tips:

Create a personal state
Develop a personal mythology
Drop out, turn on, tune in
Learn to pray
Use a sacrament
Form your own cult
Search for meaning
Make your religion unique
Develop your own rituals
Connect to mythic origins
Go to the land
Do it yourself
Make your home a shrine
Retain an attorney
Get a declaratory judgment

I'm sure I'll be spending some time with this text. Can you recommend others like it?

Vent, Advent

2005-11-30T21:56:00.000-05:00

Yasmin Finch's blog turned me onto the first advent blog I've encountered, Hopeful Imagination. I plan to read Advent and Christmas with Thomas Merton and Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen this season, but I'll also be following this effort.

To date, the collaborative project addresses questions to ask yourself, where to look for God's work, and St. Andrew's Day. Make this part of your daily devotional.

From Colorful to Controversial

2005-11-30T21:23:00.000-05:00

It wasn't long ago (in the grand scheme of things) that the word "gay" meant colorful and lively -- just check the King James Version of the Bible, say, James 2:3. But increasingly, as homosexuality has become somewhat better understood and accepted in the secular world -- as I think it should be -- in the organized religious world, being gay is something to be decried... and if you're in the clergy or interested in entering it, demoted.

I've been trying not to comment on the Vatican's recent document banning the ordination of homosexuals as priests, but a Nov. 30 New York Times article included a short-sighted and low-intellect comparison that I can't escape mentioning.

There's a lot to criticize in the restated ban, but this is what got my goat: A cardinal who heads the Congregation for Catholic Education said, "It's not discrimination, for example, if one does not admit a person who suffers from vertigo to a school for astronauts."

Last I knew, gay people had a wonderful sense of... balance. Seriously, though, if the problem is sex abuse on the part of priests, is the issue homosexuality -- or the abuse of power fueled by close proximity to same-sex acolytes in a culture of enforced celibacy?

My guess is that the majority of abusive priests aren't gay priests. Predatory priests, yes, but not gay priests. Imagine a world in which there were altar girls.

Creating a Career Like Christ

2005-11-30T21:02:00.000-05:00

The Christian Science Monitor reports that many professionals -- particularly people transitioning from prison situations -- are turning to the Bible for job-hunting and career-development advice. With the help of Jobs for Life, an organization in Raleigh, NC, participants are combining spiritual self-development with secular career coaching -- so far with positive results.

While there's no short history of guides to evangelizing while on the job -- see God at Work: Sharing Christ on the Job and Master Assignment: Representing Christ on the Job -- focusing on Christian career development is relatively new. The book Jesus CEO helps people "use ancient wisdom for visionary leadership," and texts like Business by the Book: The Complete Guide Of Biblical Principles For The Workplace and The Word on Finances: Topical Scriptures and Concordance offer more case-by-case guidance.

Do you turn to religious texts for career advice? If so, which?

Panels, Pariahs, and Prophecy

2005-11-30T17:24:00.000-05:00

Next month, a new comic book written by Douglas Rushkoff, author of books such as Coercion, Cyberia, and Media Virus, combines his interests in religion and comic books in a new project for DC Comics.

Testament follows a group of characters bridging two worlds: one much like our own, and one rooted in Biblical history. Their goal? To reconcile an eternal story with the world in which we currently find ourselves. Should be fascinating.

Computer Re-Animation?

2005-11-30T17:19:00.000-05:00

The New York Times reports that C.S. Lewis frowned on the idea of a live-action version of the Chronicles of Narnia, saying that a human pantomime of Aslan, the Christ figure, would be blasphemous. Animation was another matter entirely. So it's good we've got CGI now. What's that stand for? Created in God's Image.

Magazine Manna

2005-11-25T23:52:00.000-05:00

While at the bookstore, I also perused the newsstand for religion-related periodicals. Focusing on those explicitly Christian -- I've already read the popular Buddhist magazines in some depth -- I settled on the following handful of titles:

Christianity Today, monthly, $3.95
Christian Research Journal, bimonthly, $6.50
Discipleship Journal, bimonthly, $4.95
Pray!, bimonthly, $4
Rev!, bimonthly, $5.95

I'll also be digging into these magazines more deeply, commenting on what I find right here in Screen Preacher. What religious and spiritual magazines do you read?

Deconstructing Narnia

2005-11-25T23:00:00.000-05:00

I didn't intend to get caught up in the Narnia hoopla -- truth be told, I never read the books as a child and only have a faint but fond recollection of the original late-'80s BBC series -- but having read The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in the last few days -- and being midway through The Horse and His Boy, I'm interested in thinking through the Christian underpinnings of the book in a more guided fashion.

So this afternoon, at a Southern California Barnes & Noble, I picked up three texts that might help me do just that. They are:

Aslan's Call: Finding Our Way to Narnia, by Mark Eddy Smith
The Heart of the Chronicles of Narnia: Knowing God Here by Finding Him There, by Thomas Williams
The World According to Narnia: Christian Meaning in C.S. Lewis's Beloved Chronicles, by Jonathan Rogers

As I continue the series, reading these three books in parallel, I'll report on their usefulness and depth. If anyone can recommend other related texts, I'd be interested in learning about them.

New Christmas DVD

2005-11-24T18:04:00.000-05:00

Jim Davila turned me onto a new animated Christmas DVD that, while it might not rival Rankin/Bass, might still be worth checking out. The Three Wise Men doesn't review well, but what do you expect with voice acting by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez: textual purity? That said, Davila does give props to the producers for using the name for the Devil in the Dead Sea Scrolls, so somebody did their research.

Thankfully Yours...

2005-11-24T16:10:00.000-05:00

Every day, Beliefnet offers a Prayer of the Day. Drawing on a wide range of belief systems, the idea and ideals behind the online effort is worthwhile. But sometimes, the editors come up with some real clunkers. Case in point, today's prayer.

We thank Thee Lord, for happy hearts,
For rain and sunny weather.
We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food,
And that we are together.

That's the best they can do on Thanksgiving, when many families are gathering around the country to share time and table, as well as their collective love and gratitude? Come on. While I'm not able to be with my family on this day of days, I need a more satisfying Thanksgiving prayer.

William Burroughs's "Thanksgiving Prayer" has more heart, even if it's a little dour. And the Iroquois Thanksgiving Prayer, as adapted by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, is a little more my speed.

We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.

We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water.

We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.

We return thanks to the moon and stars, which have given to us their light when the sun was gone.

We return thanks to the sun, that has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.

Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit, in Whom is embodied all goodness, and Who directs all things for the good of Her children.

Do read the Burroughs prayer on your own. It may read a little hopeless, but sometimes that can inspire action.

Update: Thanks to Carroll for pointing me to Sir George J. Elvey's hymn Come Ye Thankful People Come. You can also download the piano score.

Punch Drunk with Prayer

2005-11-23T22:54:00.000-05:00

So, a parishioner punched a pastor. Sounds like a joke, no? No joke. That's what happened in a Tulsa, Oklahoma, church this past Sunday, and it was captured on video tape.

The incident occurred after the preacher told the story of Paul and Silas, which recounts how the two were beaten by the Philippians -- as well how they did not quail, going so far as to baptize their jailer.

People talk about putting on the whole armor of God. Perhaps they should learn the Lord's self-defense, as well?

Wisdom from the Magician's Nephew

2005-11-23T22:20:00.000-05:00

This morning I began reading C.S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew, arguably the first volume in the Chronicles of Narnia series, and I'll most likely finish it before I drift off to sleep.

While there's lots to discuss -- including a wonderful retelling of the creation story in chapters eight and nine -- I was particularly struck by a passage in chapter 12.

"Wouldn't he know without being asked?" said Polly.

"I've no doubt he would," said the horse (still with his mouth full). "But I've a sort of idea he likes to be asked."

God helps those who help themselves. God also likes to be asked.

That's part of prayer in a nutshell.

An Unorthodox Outlet

2005-11-23T21:53:00.000-05:00

One thing this blog has taught me so far is that as soon as you begin to think more intently about a topic, it begins to pop up all over. I've been noticing articles and artifacts lately that may have very well missed my radar just a few short weeks ago.

Articles like today's Times piece "Staying Connected, with the Internet at Bay," which examines how Orthodox Jews are "grappling" with the Web, only bolster my belief that the Web doesn't just connect people with others; it provides them the tools they need for spiritual self-exploration and -discovery.

What might seem improper or unnecessary offline can suddenly seem constructive and crucial once you discover that other people are considering the same questions. Joseph Berger's piece posits that as a new generation of Jew is turning outward -- and inward -- for more adequate answers, the larger Orthodox community is considering how to close down the very outlet aiding their self-development. Paralleling blogs with "safe houses," Berger recommends the following sites:

For my money, the latter is the most worth looking at.

Boychiks II Men

2005-11-23T21:46:00.000-05:00

Turns out that it's not just the younger generation of Orthodox Jews that is breaking out. In Israel, the so-called "Disco Rabbi" is building bridges to help youth avoid a life of crime.

Language of Enlightenment

2005-11-22T23:24:00.000-05:00

In a comment, Annette asks, "When you say 'the church,' are you speaking of all churches or just the one in New York?"

I meant the one specific church involved in the court case -- the church mentioned in the blog entry.

While I'm not ready to address Annette's comments about persecution -- perhaps on a latter day -- I do think it's important for me to say that public money shouldn't be spent on any church, singular or plural.

I wasn't implying that such money would be used for legal fees, but for costs incurred supporting church activities (say, keeping a school open late for a prayer circle).

Breakthrough Boychiks

2005-11-22T18:03:00.000-05:00

Today's New York Post takes a look at a new book by Hella Winston entitled Unchosen: The Hidden Lives of Hasidic Rebels. Centered somewhat in Williamsburg, the book considers how young Orthodox Jews attempt to bridge the "Torah life" with the modern world.

Hasidic men are notorious night owls, accustomed to big gatherings with alcohol and dancing. So it's only natural they gravitate to nightclubs to recreate some semblance of the social life left behind.

I've yet to read the book, but the article offers an interesting look at people who want to have the best of both worlds -- and the broader religious community that doesn't necessarily accommodate or accept that desire. It's especially interesting given that the "core community" is comprised of feuding sects that fight in the synagogues, as well as in the streets.

Twice-Blessed Television

2005-11-22T17:54:00.000-05:00

Not only is CBS airing a TV movie about Pope John Paul II, but ABC is as well. While the New York Post article says that there's little difference between the two -- beyond Benedict's blessing -- an accompanying chartlet holds up some highlights:

CBS's movie is four hours long, aired over two nights. ABC's is two hours on one night.
CBS filmed in Italy and Poland. CBS filmed in Lithuania.
CBS's will air up against "Desperate Housewives. ABC's is opposite "Survivor."
CBS's opens with an attempted assassination. ABC opens with the Pope praying in Jerusalem.

Both movies include Nazis.

Tools You Can Use

2005-11-21T21:22:00.000-05:00

In today's mail, I received two of the resources I've been using as part of my self-study Bible curriculum. Standard Publishing, well, publishes two tools of note. Standard Lesson Quarterly offers the KJV Bible Teacher & Leader series of workbooks, as well as the Devotions daily guide.

When I'm at my best, I combine daily readings from both publications with weekly readings from the former, which provides additional, less-devotional (clearly) material. While the guides are relatively conservative and New Testament-centric, I find them largely adequate in terms of directing my reading and meditation.

What tools do you use?

As Godly as a Tree

2005-11-19T17:42:00.000-05:00

Linkstumbling into a new blog called The Myth of Thithyputh, I read an excerpt of Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa's The Keeper of Sheep.

But if God is the flowers and trees
And hills and sun and moon,
Then I believe in him,
I believe in him at every moment,
And my life is all a prayer and a mass
And a communion by way of my eyes and ears.

I've never read Pessoa before, and I'm intrigued: His positioning of animism as a counterpart to atheism bears further consideration. If everything is God, is God anything?

The Religion of Business

2005-11-19T16:14:00.000-05:00

While the recent passing of management expert Peter Drucker has been ably recognized in the business press, Drucker's death should also be mourned by the world of religion. In addition to researching and analyzing companies and corporations, Drucker also spent a lot of time considering churches, nonprofits, and religious institutions. Inspired by Soren Kierkegaard and once a practicing Episcopalian, he predicted the emergence of "pastoral churches" that prioritize people's needs rather than the perpetuation of a doctrine, ritual, or institution.

In 1996, the Atlantic published an excellent article (subscription required) about the church of the future, drawing on Drucker's ideas. In 1999, Christianity Today considered the synergy inherent in Drucker's work. So it's not surprising to come across phrases like "customer evangelism" and a blog called Church of the Customer.

Blessed Television

2005-11-19T16:05:00.000-05:00

Pope Benedict XVI has blessed a two-part TV movie entitled Pope John Paul II. Starring Jon Voight, the special will air in early December on CBS. Following an abridged screening to about 6,000 people, Benedict said, ""Viewing this film has reopened my gratitude to God." Now that's must see TV!

Speed-Reading Salvation

2005-11-18T15:29:00.000-05:00

The Journal also features a longer article on the new wave of ultra-expurgated Bible paraphrases. Considering The 100-Minute Bible, which was published recently in the UK, its stateside counterparts The Light Speed Bible and The Bible in 90 Days, as well as godcasting, writer David Gibson suggests that such Scriptural services are merely shortcuts and, therefore, giving Scripture short shrift.

Personally, I like the idea of listening to the Bible in chapter-by-chapter MP3 format, as well as the possibility of listening to sermons, commentaries, and perhaps even seminary lectures. Checking out iTunes, there are a lot of religious and spiritual podcasts already available -- can you recommend your favorites? Let me know what's worth checking out.

By the Grace of Gullah

2005-11-18T11:40:00.000-05:00

A short squib in the Wall Street Journal today tips hat to a new translation of the Bible -- into Gullah, an oral creole language spoken by the descendants of slaves residing on islands off the southeast coast of America. Here's John 1:1, comparing the King James Version with De Nyew Testament:

KJV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

DNT: Fo God mek de wol, de Wod been dey. De Wod been dey wid God, and de Wod been God.

You can also listen to some basic Gullah audio samples in the form of children's folktales.

History, Art with Heart

2005-11-18T09:55:00.000-05:00

Folks in Baltimore and Cleveland are particularly lucky this week, because two museum exhibits share some rare religious art and historical documents. The first, a collection of sacred and secular art from medieval Novgorod, will be displayed at the Walters Art Museum beginning tomorrow. The pairing of every day and enlightened art highlights the city's commercial value, as well as spiritual community.

And in Cleveland, the Temple Scroll, a prize among the Dead Sea Scrolls, will be housed at the Malz Museum of Jewish Heritage next year. On loan from the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the scroll will be joined by other items, including the oldest example of a menorah.

Church in a Public Place

2005-11-18T09:31:00.000-05:00

Midweek, a federal judge ruled that New York City public schools have to rent their facilities to churches for use after school and on weekends. The decision, in many ways a reversal of previous rulings made by the same judge, indicates that religious worship is no different from secular teachings about morality -- and that restricting it limits free speech.

This case runs a little cold with me. And not just because it equates a church service with a lecture on, say, Aesop's Fables. While the fight has been going on for a decade -- at least in the instance of this particular school in the Bronx -- the church "never planned to use public school space for long." In fact, it's building a community center across the street. So why the continued hubbub? Is the court case not a message case? Could the church have better spent its money over the course of the last 10 years (hardly a short term) -- say, on the center instead of legal counsel?

The issues framing church use of schools could be pretty clear -- and decided quite reasonably if churches did indeed want to be treated like a secular nonprofit. Here are some basic questions: Does a school rent space to other groups already? If so, does it treat for-profit and nonprofit entities differently? Is the church willing and able to pay the rental fees paid by similar organizations such as nonprofits? Is it willing to follow the school's presumed guidelines in terms of usage, cleanup, frequency, scheduling, and so forth? If additional services are needed -- janitorial, security, and so forth -- is the church willing and able to pay for those additional services?

I'm no expert on the larger legal issues surrounding this, but I think the hubbub comes because churches aren't willing to be treated like secular nonprofits -- or for-profits, for that matter. They seek special exceptions and exemptions. It's not the place of the state, as represented by tax dollars, to support the church.

Swiss Army Life

2005-11-18T09:20:00.000-05:00

Since the early 1500s, various popes and the Vatican have been protected by a force of Swiss Guards. The guard has fallen in and out of favor -- facing near-extinction in 1527 and 1970 -- but this year's 500th anniversary seems to have put the force in good standing... at least as a ceremonial entity. How similar is the Swiss Guard to the Buckingham Palace Guards? Or is the Vatican protected by an elite fighting team?

Like Minds

2005-11-17T23:30:00.000-05:00

One final opening-day post before reading and bed. It's somewhat fortuitous that I'd come across Kyle Torti's blog Piece of Mind on a random Next Blog scroll today, I think. Today's entry -- his first in more than three months -- ends with some auspicious advice:

Stop going to church ... and start being the church.

That might be why I started Screen Preacher tonight.

Band Banter

2005-11-17T22:54:00.000-05:00

Apparently, a band rehearses at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah in Greenpoint. About 15 minutes ago, while on an evening amble, I walked past the church gates and heard strains of music -- guitar, bass, and drums -- from inside. Lights inside the street-level side entrance were on. Does anyone have any information?

Behind the Beheading of St. John the Baptist

2005-11-17T21:42:00.000-05:00

This evening, I read Luke 9:1-7, Mark 6, and Matthew 14 -- which reminded me of the beheading of St. John the Baptist, a story I haven't ever really understood. Now, I know that Herod ordered John's death because of the sensuous dancing of Salome. What I didn't know was that Salome was the daughter of Herod's wife, and that Herod was, in fact, his wife's uncle.

The Thomas Nelson King James Bible Commentary says that Herodias -- Herod's wife and niece -- was vindictive: John had been imprisoned for challenging the illegitimacy of their union. But Herod feared the societal repercussions were he to kill the prophet. Herodias encouraged Salome to dance provocatively, and drunk and overcome with lust, Herod promised to do whatever Salome asked for. Result: One dead John.

While I'm still not confident I understand all of the machinations that contributed to John's beheading, I'm intrigued enough to seek to learn more. Can anyone recommend any sources worth exploring? On the popcult front, the tale inspired a one-act tragedy by Oscar Wilde, which formed the basis of an opera by Richard Strauss. It also provided the name for an intellectual feminist women's Web site, as well as a number of movies, including a 1953 film starring Rita Hayworth.

Free Book Offer

2005-11-17T20:52:00.000-05:00

A recent mailing from Zondervan Church Source promotes a special offer: Buy two of five advertised titles, and receive The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham for free -- a $24.99 value.

The five advertised titles, of which you have to pick two:

Faith of My Fathers: Conversations with Three Generations of Pastors about Church, Ministry and Culture
No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come-as-You-Are Culture in the Church
The Art & Craft of Biblical Preaching: A Comprehensive Resource for Today's Communicators
Nooma 011 Rhythm: What Does It Mean to Have a Relationship with God?
Preaching Re-Imagined: The Role of the Sermon in Communities of Faith

If you're so inclined, make with the clicky.

Christian Rock 'n' Road Rage

2005-11-17T20:37:00.000-05:00

Johnny Philippidis, a member of the now-defunct Christian musical group Burlap to Cashmere was beaten to near-death yesterday during an incident of road rage in Brooklyn.

After leaving a studio at which he'd been recording a new album, Philippidis got into a fender bender with an Army vet now working for the Transportation Security Administration. The two "exchanged heated words," and the TSA agent left Philippidis laying in the street. He's now in a medically induced coma. My prayers are with him and his family.

You can check out Burlap to Cashmere via iTunes.

Welcome to Screen Preacher

2005-11-17T20:16:00.000-05:00

Somewhere between the street preacher and the televangelist stands a new breed of amateur, grassroots theologian: The Screen Preacher.

Informed and inspired as much by pop culture and DIY media as I am by Scripture, I'm starting this blog to share my ever-unfolding personal journey of spiritual self-discovery, as well as news and views related to religion -- organized and disorganized alike.

You're welcome to join me on my walk. I'll join you on yours. Let's shake off the dust under our feet together.

Screen Preacher

In Today's News

Can't Have a Cow, Man

Road Tripping

Intelligent Redesign

On the Judas Gospel

Judas' Second Betrayal

Angelic Alternatives

Urban Evangelism

Rest in Peace

Past the Balcony

Math Is Hard Theology

Change Is God

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 47-48

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 45-47

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 44-45

News from the Pews

Head Code

See Change

Chaste Jewry

More Band Banter

Mighty Men You Might Have Missed

Spelling BC

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 19-43

Ad Man, Upstairs

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 15-18

Online Temple Vendors

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 12-14

The Apostle: An Ardent Defense

Bicycle Built for All

The Impact of Godcasting

The Bible in 90 Days: Days 4-11

Church Hopping Around

Theology, Travel, and Television

The Feminine European Conversion

RFID: 666?

Limbo... in Limbo?

New Culture of Critique

Holiday Spirits in the Aggregate

Early Thoughts on Mormonism

The Longest Night

As Seen on TV

The Bible in 90 Days: Day 3

The Bible in 90 Days: Day 2

Churching Corporate Leaders

Was Jesus a Redhead?

The Bible in 90 Days: Day 1

Magazine Manna

More on The Gospel Hoax

Soldiers and the Sacred

Movies with Meaning

I Say Piano...

The Meaning of the Wreath, and Saint Lucia

On The Gospel Hoax

Textual Preference

Attention Theology

Sunday Pre-School

Video, My God

Lessons from Start Your Own Religion

Vent, Advent

From Colorful to Controversial

Creating a Career Like Christ

Panels, Pariahs, and Prophecy

Computer Re-Animation?

Magazine Manna

Deconstructing Narnia

New Christmas DVD

Thankfully Yours...

Punch Drunk with Prayer

Wisdom from the Magician's Nephew

An Unorthodox Outlet

Boychiks II Men

Language of Enlightenment

Blogroll up for the Mystery Tour

Breakthrough Boychiks

Twice-Blessed Television

Tools You Can Use

As Godly as a Tree

The Religion of Business

Blessed Television