Dr. Truesdale writes, “Each time Dr. Ron Benefiel and I conduct the Nazarene Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry Seminar, ‘The Theological Development of the Minister,’ the seminar members, Dr. Benefiel, and I attend Sabbath (Shabbat) service at Beth Shalom Congregation, a conservative Jewish synagogue in Kansas City. Alan Cohen is the senior Rabbi. The ‘contemporary’ service begins with joyous singing, accompanied by guitars, tambourines, a violin, and drums. Talented musicians lead the music. As the service proceeds, the liturgy—heavy with Torah readings—repeatedly refers to the holiness of God and to God’s command that His people live righteously before him. Over and over one hears reference in the liturgy to the love and grace of God. As the Torah scroll is taken throughout the congregation, the congregants move to the aisles so they can touch the Torah either with their prayer shawls or their scriptures.”
The question: Soteriologically, what is going on there? Nothing? Something? If so, on what basis?
I think there is some genuine heart felt worship of God going on, but it is going on the basis of a covenant understanding that I as a Christian believe is no longer applicable. Its like the Jews are acting under the bylaws of an old contract, when a new contract has been put into place by the Passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They are certainly glorifying God, but they are missing part of the picture in the person of Jesus Christ.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Motivator #4
Prince Albert of England organized the Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851 in Hyde Park. His public speech on the opening day voiced the modern confidence in human progress through the use of reason. “Nobody who has paid any attention to the peculiar features of our present era will doubt for a moment that we are living at a period of most wonderful transition, which tends rapidly to accomplish that great end to which indeed all history points—the realization of the unity of mankind.” Prince Albert’s words identified the achievements of the 19th century as the zenith of human reason and progress. Quoted in J. Richard Middleton and Brian J. Walsh, Truth Is Stranger than It Used to Be (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995), 18-19.
I think the use of reason is a double edge sword. The use of reason has certainly brought lots of human progress in the modern world, but lots of individuals have used reason to bring about great human atrocities. It would only be several decades after Prince Albert's speech that reason and logic would be used to annihilate entire populations of individuals in Germany and other parts of Europe. Reason would be used to spark revolutions and take away individual's freedoms and rights. It must be noted that reason may or may not walk hand in hand with wisdom; I think reason is best used when it does not veer from wisdom.
I think the use of reason is a double edge sword. The use of reason has certainly brought lots of human progress in the modern world, but lots of individuals have used reason to bring about great human atrocities. It would only be several decades after Prince Albert's speech that reason and logic would be used to annihilate entire populations of individuals in Germany and other parts of Europe. Reason would be used to spark revolutions and take away individual's freedoms and rights. It must be noted that reason may or may not walk hand in hand with wisdom; I think reason is best used when it does not veer from wisdom.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Motivator #3
The following story appeared in the Washington Times on December 8, 2002. “Suit Seeks to Allow Wiccan’s Invocation,” written by Mary Shaffrey. Mention of the ACLU in the story is not meant to speak negatively of its role in defending the civil rights of Americans.
The Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors for refusing to allow a Wiccan leader to give the invocation at the start of its meeting.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Richmond and says the Board of Supervisors is violating the constitutional ban on state-sponsored religion by denying Wiccan priestess Cynthia Simpson the opportunity to offer an invocation.
The lawsuit also says the board’s policy violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection. “They are supposed to be making laws, not theological judgments,” said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, which has joined in the suit with the ACLU. “They do not believe Wicca to be a religion like Christianity, but government officials cannot be making these decisions.”
The board regularly opens its meetings with a voluntary invocation by a leader of a Judeo-Christian denomination. Earlier this year, Miss Simpson asked the Board of Supervisors to allow her to give an invocation. She was denied. “Chesterfield’s nonsectarian invocations are traditionally made to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition,” wrote Chesterfield County Attorney Steven Micas in a letter to Miss Simpson denying her request.
In response to this article, I have mixed feelings. My first thought is that why is there a big hub-ub over a County Government meeting? It seems to me to be a little nit-picky. My second response is that the equal protection of religion that our country guarantees should be protected; If I was living in a country like Saudi Arabia, where my religion was a minority, and I had equal protection of religion, I would like that. The next question I have is whether or not the County Government is imposing a Judeo-Christian viewpoint on the population of Chesterfield. It doesn't seem like that is the case.
In the end, I think that the county either has to let everyone of every religion have an opportunity to pray, or not do it all. As a Christian, I would love to see only Christianity be the predominant religion in my country, but being that there are other religions, we have to be respectful of them. The beauty is that we can be respectful without supporting or agreeing with their beliefs.
The Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors for refusing to allow a Wiccan leader to give the invocation at the start of its meeting.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Richmond and says the Board of Supervisors is violating the constitutional ban on state-sponsored religion by denying Wiccan priestess Cynthia Simpson the opportunity to offer an invocation.
The lawsuit also says the board’s policy violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection. “They are supposed to be making laws, not theological judgments,” said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, which has joined in the suit with the ACLU. “They do not believe Wicca to be a religion like Christianity, but government officials cannot be making these decisions.”
The board regularly opens its meetings with a voluntary invocation by a leader of a Judeo-Christian denomination. Earlier this year, Miss Simpson asked the Board of Supervisors to allow her to give an invocation. She was denied. “Chesterfield’s nonsectarian invocations are traditionally made to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition,” wrote Chesterfield County Attorney Steven Micas in a letter to Miss Simpson denying her request.
In response to this article, I have mixed feelings. My first thought is that why is there a big hub-ub over a County Government meeting? It seems to me to be a little nit-picky. My second response is that the equal protection of religion that our country guarantees should be protected; If I was living in a country like Saudi Arabia, where my religion was a minority, and I had equal protection of religion, I would like that. The next question I have is whether or not the County Government is imposing a Judeo-Christian viewpoint on the population of Chesterfield. It doesn't seem like that is the case.
In the end, I think that the county either has to let everyone of every religion have an opportunity to pray, or not do it all. As a Christian, I would love to see only Christianity be the predominant religion in my country, but being that there are other religions, we have to be respectful of them. The beauty is that we can be respectful without supporting or agreeing with their beliefs.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
In Response to Horace Kallen
"In 1915 the sociologist Horace Kallen, a Jewish immigrant, wrote a much-discussed article in The Nation, taking issue with the melting-pot vision of America. He may well be the first to use the term “pluralism” to describe an alternative vision. The article was titled “Democracy versus the Melting Pot.” In it he argued that the “melting pot” ideal is inherently anti-democratic. It collides with America’s foundational principles. After all, one of the freedoms cherished in America is the freedom to be oneself, without erasing the distinctive features of one’s own culture. Kallen saw America’s plurality and its unity in the image of the symphony, not the melting pot. America is a symphony orchestra, sounding not in unison, but in harmony, with all the distinctive tones of our many cultures. He described this as “cultural pluralism.” (Diana Eck, “A New Religious America: Managing Religious Diversity.”)"
I can see the viewpoint of Mr. Kallen, but I think his viewpoint on the melting Pot being un-democratic seems a little unfounded. When I think of the Melting Pot, I think of the fact that the thing that makes an individual distinctly "American" is the fact that there is a giant mixture of geographic and cultural influences in each person, blended together! When each individual American is combined together in one pot, it is the differences that make us American, not the similarities (inherent or otherwise). I look at my family, and I descend predominantly from England, while my wife has Norwegian, Italian, and Irish in her background. Those geographic differences blended together make each one of us American, even though they are not quite the same. The viewpoint that everyone will become American by absorbing the dominant culture does seem anti-democratic, but I think you can work around that without having to abandon the Melting Pot metaphor all together.
I can see the viewpoint of Mr. Kallen, but I think his viewpoint on the melting Pot being un-democratic seems a little unfounded. When I think of the Melting Pot, I think of the fact that the thing that makes an individual distinctly "American" is the fact that there is a giant mixture of geographic and cultural influences in each person, blended together! When each individual American is combined together in one pot, it is the differences that make us American, not the similarities (inherent or otherwise). I look at my family, and I descend predominantly from England, while my wife has Norwegian, Italian, and Irish in her background. Those geographic differences blended together make each one of us American, even though they are not quite the same. The viewpoint that everyone will become American by absorbing the dominant culture does seem anti-democratic, but I think you can work around that without having to abandon the Melting Pot metaphor all together.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
