Well figured I'd conclude my thoughts on Hauerwas.
I think this is typical Hauerwas humor: A couple years back the world was confronted by a great illness. But, the medical profession found a cure..and the TV was flooded with ads about the relief we could all have from this dire medical epidemic...baldness. Now when did being bald become a medical problem? It so odd how physical limitations require cures. We have an entire industry of 'medicine' to heal physical 'illnesses' : We have surgeries for breast enhancement...aging is an illness. It seems that people are afraid of getting old..or maybe more accurately our bodies aging. The interesting thing that Hauerwas notes is that we come to the medical profession to heal these diseases that they have no real cure.
Hauerwas thinks that due to the way we view the medical industry, people have lost a vital skill: how to die. We do everything in order that we don't die....or maybe more percisely die when we choose...take for example Dr. Kevorkian. People went to him for permission to die. We are the ones who can determine our time of death. Hauerwas doesn't really blame Kevorkian for this..merely giving people what they want. Not that Hauerwas think Kevorkian was a good person...he says.."if i wasn't a pacifist i go and kill him".
Hauerwas believes that the modern story..has created a culture where we have nothing in common...we share no goods in common..so we can't say what it means to die well..we don't really know each other. To add to the problem..a stages of death was created. The stages consist of denial, anger, bargaining, grief,/apathy, and acceptance...the problem is that this process has become so normative that the medical profession almost keeps people alive to go through the process...Hauerwas disagree with this...he believes if we live a crappy life we deserves a crappy death(i guess just part Hauerwas humor..or maybe honesty).
Hauerwas believes a hope in an after life is foreign to the history of Christianity. It like the modern age has this notion of 'rights' to life. But, life is a gift from God. But, Christians have a hope that distinguishes us from the world. While the modern story of having no story is not adequate. We have a story given to us by God...to hope in the after life..is wrong..we hope in God. It the same reason why Christian need to be non-violent..its not that Christians are anti-war..but that we can't imagine anything else for this world that is so violent.
Hauerwas believes that part of being a christian almost requires us to die early, because of all the things required of Christians. Christians have fears a coward never knows of..The main difference between Christians and others with the modern story is that we don't know our story till God tells us...death doesn't determine our story..God does.
The christian life points to the grace and goodness of God. Christians are joyfully dependant on a community..we don't want to be autonomous. The Devil wants us to stare at death...Jesus wants us to look to him. To die in a christian understanding is not abandonment..its is presence with one another..not avoidance. For Hauerwas dieing is a Christian privelge..they are part of us..friends do not give us hope..they are our hope. Death is never to be done in isolation..but with loved ones..God gave us Christ. Our hope is real ..we die looking to Christ.
In the Q&A afterwards...Hauerwas mentioned his contentment for fertility clinics. I think this was classic Hauerwas...calling fertility clinics..pagan..since it is all about our genes keeping 'US' alive....thinking that we are so bent on keeping our genes..while there are so many kids in the world looking for a home..but we need our child to be our own flesh and blood. Hauerwas believes this idea is perverse....What do you guys think about that? Hauerwas was so irate at the thought..you could tell he just wanted to curse, which by the way is when i believe Hauerwas is at his best. Not sure what you think of Hauerwas..but i think every time i read or hear his stuff..i feel like i am wiser...and can face the problems of living this life with a better understanding of what it means to be 'Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony.'
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Do yourself a favor....
Hey fellow winnipegers....
So this week I had a great opportunity to go to the Winnipeg Art Gallery. I must admit this is my first time attending, which is a sad statement considering I have been living in Winnipeg for the last 10 plus years. Well this week i went to the see "Rodin: A magnificent Obsession." I must I was taken back by Rodin. Some of his sculptures are quiet haunting. I have long found that a face can express things without saying a word.
I just found the whole experience ..fulfilling. I am a believer that God is present in beauty. It is my duty as a believer in God to experience art. There are a couple 'faces' at the exhibit that are rooted in the human experience. You see Rodin..sculpted a couple french men that made a deal with the British that if they would come and rescue their village...in return they would basically be in service to the British. The expression on their faces ...gave me a sensation that i could experience everything they were...the stubborn, pride, anguish. Some of these faces still are in my mind..thinking on things we do for the betterment of humanity.
Well that is just a glimpse of the many works of Rodin...i guess i am writing this...so if any of you winnipeggers need something to fill your time..spend 10 bucks and check it out...it is definitely worth your time and money.
So this week I had a great opportunity to go to the Winnipeg Art Gallery. I must admit this is my first time attending, which is a sad statement considering I have been living in Winnipeg for the last 10 plus years. Well this week i went to the see "Rodin: A magnificent Obsession." I must I was taken back by Rodin. Some of his sculptures are quiet haunting. I have long found that a face can express things without saying a word.
I just found the whole experience ..fulfilling. I am a believer that God is present in beauty. It is my duty as a believer in God to experience art. There are a couple 'faces' at the exhibit that are rooted in the human experience. You see Rodin..sculpted a couple french men that made a deal with the British that if they would come and rescue their village...in return they would basically be in service to the British. The expression on their faces ...gave me a sensation that i could experience everything they were...the stubborn, pride, anguish. Some of these faces still are in my mind..thinking on things we do for the betterment of humanity.
Well that is just a glimpse of the many works of Rodin...i guess i am writing this...so if any of you winnipeggers need something to fill your time..spend 10 bucks and check it out...it is definitely worth your time and money.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Thank You, Stan. - Part 1
Well, Stanley Hauerwas was in Winnipeg last night. To give you a glimpse of the scene..the church was packed by 6:20, which meant there was a lot of interest in what Hauerwas had to say, which is hopeful. I must say i did expect something else...i mean when ever i read his books...i imagine i big man, or at least hefty. But he is the opposite. He is a small balding man with a Texas accent.
I think this surprise just added to the night. He started with a poetic reading that expressed a world that wished to escape suffering. That people in this time had an eagerness to avoid pain if at all possible. The interesting part is that this was a speech given by Pope Leo the Thirteen. I would say this is still the case today, we avoid suffering....interesting how in the last 100 years not much has changed on that regard.
The opening remarks turned into a questioning on how we want to die. Many people responded by stating some form of 'sudden death', which probably would be the consensus in the world. We desire to go quickly.
Hauerwas stated that in the medieval times it was always the priest before the physician, which seems to have reversed. That the reason of death was to have time to reconcile with the world. However, the sudden death world we live seems to point to the opposite..we no longer have time to be with our love ones and get right with God and others.
Sudden death is not a christian practice says hauerwas....where is the hope in that? If Christian are people of hope...how does our way of dying depict what is central to our lives.
He pointed out the difference between secular and divinity schools( divinity students are only there because they have failed in another line of work). That typically at med. school one has a specifics set out that one needs to know( you can't become a doctor if you fail at certain disciplines..that's just common sense). But at divinity school we let people go around..if you aren't into christology this year you can take something else. The view this gives is that its ok to have incompetent priests but not doctors. Stating that this points north America in a form of practical atheism...that if it is more important for our doctors to be trained than priests. I think that maybe sheds light on the state of the church in North America.
I think this point is important to notice. I have had many discussions with friends about people they allow to go through seminary. In one instance there was a friend of our who had major issues with telling the truth..and even after confronting him on this it seemed that he continued to lie. But, at no point did anyone in the seminary confront him on this or tell him he would not be allowed to go on. I just question the integrity of that. Maybe what is more hilarious is that the counselling program in the seminary kicks people out of the program if they don't feel the person can cut it...or might do people harm. Wonder why that is not the case for other program?
Medical professionals were always there for care..but hauerwas believes we have actually given them the authority of cure...if that is not practical atheism i don't know what is....i think part one will stop here...i hope to make this a 3 part series..hope this give some insight into what hauerwas is getting at..feel free to question me or hauerwas...
I think this surprise just added to the night. He started with a poetic reading that expressed a world that wished to escape suffering. That people in this time had an eagerness to avoid pain if at all possible. The interesting part is that this was a speech given by Pope Leo the Thirteen. I would say this is still the case today, we avoid suffering....interesting how in the last 100 years not much has changed on that regard.
The opening remarks turned into a questioning on how we want to die. Many people responded by stating some form of 'sudden death', which probably would be the consensus in the world. We desire to go quickly.
Hauerwas stated that in the medieval times it was always the priest before the physician, which seems to have reversed. That the reason of death was to have time to reconcile with the world. However, the sudden death world we live seems to point to the opposite..we no longer have time to be with our love ones and get right with God and others.
Sudden death is not a christian practice says hauerwas....where is the hope in that? If Christian are people of hope...how does our way of dying depict what is central to our lives.
He pointed out the difference between secular and divinity schools( divinity students are only there because they have failed in another line of work). That typically at med. school one has a specifics set out that one needs to know( you can't become a doctor if you fail at certain disciplines..that's just common sense). But at divinity school we let people go around..if you aren't into christology this year you can take something else. The view this gives is that its ok to have incompetent priests but not doctors. Stating that this points north America in a form of practical atheism...that if it is more important for our doctors to be trained than priests. I think that maybe sheds light on the state of the church in North America.
I think this point is important to notice. I have had many discussions with friends about people they allow to go through seminary. In one instance there was a friend of our who had major issues with telling the truth..and even after confronting him on this it seemed that he continued to lie. But, at no point did anyone in the seminary confront him on this or tell him he would not be allowed to go on. I just question the integrity of that. Maybe what is more hilarious is that the counselling program in the seminary kicks people out of the program if they don't feel the person can cut it...or might do people harm. Wonder why that is not the case for other program?
Medical professionals were always there for care..but hauerwas believes we have actually given them the authority of cure...if that is not practical atheism i don't know what is....i think part one will stop here...i hope to make this a 3 part series..hope this give some insight into what hauerwas is getting at..feel free to question me or hauerwas...
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Belonging....
So today i started reading "The search to belong: Rethinking intimacy, community, and small groups", by Joseph Myers. It was very eye opening and truthful. I think over the last couple years i have thought about where i feel i belong. I think my experience working on the cruise ship maybe makes my understanding of belonging different than most. Since, I would have to say the group of people i felt more open about life, and felt heard was with those group of amazing people, most women, that you feel like you've known each other for ages. The last time i saw my good friend Kari, she said this is not good bye its till next time. In my life i have experienced very few people who could say that without it sound true and honest.
I find our world has created a need for belonging since modernity believed that the individual was the most important entity in life. This lie has been exposed over the last couple of years. Now we come to a point where everyone feels along and searches for this place where we can be heard and feel at home. Myers notes his life changed while hearing Brian McLaren and Len Sweet propose the idea that postmodern people wish to "belong before they believe." Now to some people that sounds heretical. How can we have them in our fellowship if they don't believe in certain doctrines. While there are doctrines that are important to the church..the simple fact is that is not how people experience God. It is by encountering God in people. Rob Bell says that to be a a kingdom of priest as is stated in Exodus 19 is to display the divine…so to show people God. So like the people are to show to God…the action of the people show people who God is like.
I guess that is a bit off topic but i think in this age words are nice, but the real work happens when we show them stuff..when people feel like we want to be here...where without coersion they come willing. Myers says "A church of small groups? Sounds like forced relational hell to me." This idea that since the people are in the church your gonna naturally have something in common with them and feel heard.
I think the last little while I've realized that I don't have a sense of belonging in my home church. A church where i have attended for over 10 years now..and am currently interning at. I have great friends there, people who i love dearly that have a great effect on my life. But, someone i don't think i feel heard. Maybe what intensifies this feeling is that there is a 'out of the box' anglican church i have been attending the last 3-4 weeks. I have no real relationship there, but i have a sense of belonging. St. Benidicts Table...speaks and embodies what is beautiful about church. Sometimes i wonder if it is worth it to get up sunday morning and go through the motions. At St. Benidicts Table..i feel inspired , challenged, and honestly at times during song, the message , or a part of liturgy i am on the verge of tears. I feel I belong I feel accepted. I think this is odd...or maybe reveals a misunderstanding within the church of what it means to belong to a community. Well this has went on longer than i thought..just some random thoughts.
Now i just want to conclude by saying that my home church is not that bad. I think I am in a place where many evangelicals who identify themselves more with the emergent movement than with their own traditions. I think that is mainly due to this modern/post-modern shift that is taking place in culture..what happens when one is stuck in a church that has fully heartedly accepted a modern understanding of life...and for some reason you have grown into a person who thinks completely post-modern. It like your in a world that doesn't understand you and thus...if north americians desire to belong that is near impossible. So my church is great lots of friends that i love and respect dearly meet God among the wall at my church..the only problem is that i don't. I guess it's like Tony Jones, National Coordinator of Emergent Village , recently shared in his an emergent village email...i have been told from many people in the last couple years that "Emergent saved my life."...not sure if i would say saved my life..but i would say the life that the modern church was attempting to suck out of me has been restored..it has given me passion and vision for life. To put it but it in basic words..I have a place to belong.
I find our world has created a need for belonging since modernity believed that the individual was the most important entity in life. This lie has been exposed over the last couple of years. Now we come to a point where everyone feels along and searches for this place where we can be heard and feel at home. Myers notes his life changed while hearing Brian McLaren and Len Sweet propose the idea that postmodern people wish to "belong before they believe." Now to some people that sounds heretical. How can we have them in our fellowship if they don't believe in certain doctrines. While there are doctrines that are important to the church..the simple fact is that is not how people experience God. It is by encountering God in people. Rob Bell says that to be a a kingdom of priest as is stated in Exodus 19 is to display the divine…so to show people God. So like the people are to show to God…the action of the people show people who God is like.
I guess that is a bit off topic but i think in this age words are nice, but the real work happens when we show them stuff..when people feel like we want to be here...where without coersion they come willing. Myers says "A church of small groups? Sounds like forced relational hell to me." This idea that since the people are in the church your gonna naturally have something in common with them and feel heard.
I think the last little while I've realized that I don't have a sense of belonging in my home church. A church where i have attended for over 10 years now..and am currently interning at. I have great friends there, people who i love dearly that have a great effect on my life. But, someone i don't think i feel heard. Maybe what intensifies this feeling is that there is a 'out of the box' anglican church i have been attending the last 3-4 weeks. I have no real relationship there, but i have a sense of belonging. St. Benidicts Table...speaks and embodies what is beautiful about church. Sometimes i wonder if it is worth it to get up sunday morning and go through the motions. At St. Benidicts Table..i feel inspired , challenged, and honestly at times during song, the message , or a part of liturgy i am on the verge of tears. I feel I belong I feel accepted. I think this is odd...or maybe reveals a misunderstanding within the church of what it means to belong to a community. Well this has went on longer than i thought..just some random thoughts.
Now i just want to conclude by saying that my home church is not that bad. I think I am in a place where many evangelicals who identify themselves more with the emergent movement than with their own traditions. I think that is mainly due to this modern/post-modern shift that is taking place in culture..what happens when one is stuck in a church that has fully heartedly accepted a modern understanding of life...and for some reason you have grown into a person who thinks completely post-modern. It like your in a world that doesn't understand you and thus...if north americians desire to belong that is near impossible. So my church is great lots of friends that i love and respect dearly meet God among the wall at my church..the only problem is that i don't. I guess it's like Tony Jones, National Coordinator of Emergent Village , recently shared in his an emergent village email...i have been told from many people in the last couple years that "Emergent saved my life."...not sure if i would say saved my life..but i would say the life that the modern church was attempting to suck out of me has been restored..it has given me passion and vision for life. To put it but it in basic words..I have a place to belong.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
The Ambiguity of Life/Faith.....
In the last little i have been reading my friend Joey's blog and a reoccurring theme is talks with people stemming from a reformed theology background. The onc thing that i notice is how it seems to be an understanding of certainty is at the focus of faith. However, somehow certainty and faith seem to contradict one another. It seems that this idea that one can not believe in something without absolute certainty. I find a tendency for people not allowing for a hint of doubt in people faith system, but this week one of my profs said that the opposite of faith is not doubt but sight.
Along that line, I was reading "Faith Shaping" by Stephen Jones where he points out that ambiguity is something that adults take for granted in life since it is assumed. However, this ambiguity of life seems to be missing in certain sectors of Christianity...they attempt to avoid this question of ambiguity. Jones states "Biblical faith is an address to life's inherent ambiguities, not a diversion from them." Faith needs to be given room to explore this ambiguity and lack of neatness in life. I pray that these people who i have never meet may meet a God of mystery. And meet the God, Job encounters...that will not be put into a system but welcomes our passion for understanding life. Just want to close with another Jones quote, "If we can affirm that the ambiguity of life is universal, and if we choose to affirm that life is God's gift, then in some way we must reconcile faith in such a way that it addresses rather than avoids the ambiguity."
Along that line, I was reading "Faith Shaping" by Stephen Jones where he points out that ambiguity is something that adults take for granted in life since it is assumed. However, this ambiguity of life seems to be missing in certain sectors of Christianity...they attempt to avoid this question of ambiguity. Jones states "Biblical faith is an address to life's inherent ambiguities, not a diversion from them." Faith needs to be given room to explore this ambiguity and lack of neatness in life. I pray that these people who i have never meet may meet a God of mystery. And meet the God, Job encounters...that will not be put into a system but welcomes our passion for understanding life. Just want to close with another Jones quote, "If we can affirm that the ambiguity of life is universal, and if we choose to affirm that life is God's gift, then in some way we must reconcile faith in such a way that it addresses rather than avoids the ambiguity."
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