LAMENT FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2010

This is something which I have already posted on my "Chrome on the Range" blog. But it is a truly spiritual issue, so I'm noting it here.

PRAYER FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO

Masaru Emoto is a Japanese researcher and author who has done studies on the power of thought on water. He has offered this prayer:

To whales, dolphins, pelicans, fishes, shellfishes, planktons, corals, algae and all creatures in Gulf of Mexico:
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you. 

Thanks to Nancy at Life in the Second Half for sharing this. 

BIBLICAL AND POST-BIBLICAL (GREEK) CHRISTIANITY

One of the challenges I face (indeed, we all face), when we read the "New Testament" in the Bible, is the matter of context. A lot of the Biblical material is based in Greek philosophy. If you don't understand Greek philosophy — particularly Plato and Aristotle — you'll have trouble figuring out what the New Testament writers were saying, particularly outside the gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.

We all live in a specific context. Our 21st century context is radically different from that of the New Testament writers and their ethos of Greek philosophy. And, as in everything else, much gets lost in translation.

I find it increasingly frustrating to have to deal with the Greek philosophy, which influenced the Christian Church well into the middle ages (and in some cases, right up to today). I'm not alone in that. When the Renaissance came along, people were thinking "outside the box" of Greek philosophy — and the battle lines were drawn along that front. (The people who say it was "science versus religion" do not understand the deeper philosophical context that motivated the battle.)

Today, there is much science can tell us about life. which is good. And there is much, particularly about relationship, which science cannot, at this point, measure. Love is one of those items; "compassion" (if you prefer that word). Neither of those is logical or based in science, yet we dare to believe in them.

All very interesting.
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CONTEMPORARY RELIGION

It was the great Reformed theologian Karl Barth who once observed, for spiritual leaders, that they ought to preach (or teach) "with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other."

I keep turning that idea around in my head, as I work as an ethicist. It seems that need to speak to the real questions that people are asking, or think they are asking.

One of the frustrations that I find is that, when people talk about Christianity, they often have little or no idea of what basic Christianity is about. They have the strangest notions in their heads -- and link to Christianity things that are completely foreign to that understanding of life or the world.

Now that's a challenge.

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REPLY TO SNOWBRUSH

Fellow Blogger "Snowbrush" is a delightful person, who writes thoughtfully, passionately, and beautifully.

One of the challenges in his life is his relationship with God, about which he has been vocal. And I have no qualms about sharing his ideas with you.

As someone who is a Pastor by training and service, I encourage people to think reflectively about their lives, what is important to them, and why it is important.

The following is my reply to "Snowbrush's" writing on his relationship with God. Y0u can find it on his site, or you can simply read it here.

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This is a very provocative post. Provocative in the sense of thought-provoking.


I feel really happy for your grandfather. I feel really sad for your father. Having had to fight my own demons, even in my teens, I may understood something of your father's plight.


As for the rest, just about nothing resonates at all. I just don't get it. I suppose that's because I'm a Canadian, and live in a very different context than yours.


• "Respect" resonates.

• I wouldn't give John "a pass"

• I'm surprised that you said so little about the prophets of Israel with their demands for justice and compassion -- including the prophet Jesus.

• I'm a little concerned that you quote things out of context, and that you have missed the literary style in some of what you've been quoting.

• And I'm not sure that you recognize that people have tried to do good things, but used unhelpful methods, and rally messed things up.


I'm really touched by your comment that

"If you were to be marooned upon that proverbial desert island, what one book would you take? I would take the Bible. It’s long; it contains a lot of interesting stories; a good bit of poetry; some history; some wisdom; and it spans many cultures and centuries. I can’t say that I love the Bible, but I sure do like it a lot—I just wish that people didn’t take it so seriously."


Indeed, as you say, the Bible is both a book and a symbol. And it is essentially story -- story and mystery. But I would argue that most people don't take the Bible seriously enough.


I realize that you've got a chip on your shoulder when it comes to God. That's who you are, and I'm not about to try to change that -- because only you can make that change.


The older I get, the more questions I have, and the better answers I find. I hope you keep asking better questions and finding better answers.