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Post by beth on Sept 29, 2009 23:17:24 GMT
New book by Karen Armstrong, a former nun, looks like it's worth a read. When I was 10, I used to stare up at the stars and try to imagine what infinity looked like. "What if our solar system is really just an atom in an even bigger solar system?" Here's a review. www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112913841&ps=cprs
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Post by gabriel on Sept 30, 2009 11:01:07 GMT
Our solar system is one among millions. So, I guess you can look at it in 2 ways. We are insignificant little ants.
Or, God made this huge universe around us.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2009 19:25:04 GMT
The reviewer says "Theology, after all, hasn't been shaped by ideas alone; political and economic concerns have always influenced doctrine". If Armstrong has, as claimed, failed to recognise the fact that philosophers were forced to acknowledge God - in order to be taken seriously or escape a blasphemy charge - the book is pretty meaningless.
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Post by beth on Sept 30, 2009 19:30:40 GMT
You have a point, sky. I'm thinking I'll pick this one up at the library and see what she has to say. POV of clergy/religious or, in this case, former c/r interests me. We have a friend who's a priest (RC) and it often amazes me that he's so broad minded.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2009 19:42:29 GMT
I've read some of Armstrong's work and heard her speak; I've a lot of time for her. However this does sound rather a lengthy, academic work so will be interested to know what you think of it, Beth.
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Post by beth on Sept 30, 2009 19:46:48 GMT
Since my library is small, I may have to go on a waiting list. Shall report back when I know. If it's too scholarly, I may pick and choose how much of it I read. We need a book thread, don't we.
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Post by Big Lin on Sept 30, 2009 22:33:23 GMT
Since my library is small, I may have to go on a waiting list. Shall report back when I know. If it's too scholarly, I may pick and choose how much of it I read. We need a book thread, don't we. I've started one just for you, Beth. You can find it as a sub-board on the Culture Vultures section
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Post by beth on Oct 1, 2009 2:10:22 GMT
Thanks, Lin! Not just for me, though. It would die of loneliness. Hopefully, lots of us read.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2009 12:07:54 GMT
This seems the right board for a book about God.
Richard Dawkins seems to have captured the imagination of a great many people, and perhaps this book is intended as a counterbalance - though I can't believe it will be anything like as popular.
Dawkins probably gets bought by atheists and agnostics whereas I suspect Armstrong will be bought by Christians.
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Post by iamjumbo on Oct 2, 2009 13:39:03 GMT
of course, the reality is that it isn't very smart to be hauling azz down the road, see the sign saying "road ends", and continue driving over the cliff
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2009 6:41:41 GMT
of course, the reality is that it isn't very smart to be hauling azz down the road, see the sign saying "road ends", and continue driving over the cliff That gives rise to all sorts of interesting philosophies! It always makes me chuckle when churches look round their congregations, see they are mostly made up of wrinklies and then start worrying about how to get young people into church. It is as though they think the pews will be empty once that generation dies off! I suppose that, like hanging, old age concentrates the mind.
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Post by iamjumbo on Oct 3, 2009 12:31:28 GMT
of course, the reality is that it isn't very smart to be hauling azz down the road, see the sign saying "road ends", and continue driving over the cliff That gives rise to all sorts of interesting philosophies! It always makes me chuckle when churches look round their congregations, see they are mostly made up of wrinklies and then start worrying about how to get young people into church. It is as though they think the pews will be empty once that generation dies off! I suppose that, like hanging, old age concentrates the mind. that is the very reason that i haven't been to church for quite awhile. too many churches have lost their way, and instead of singing real church music, ie standard hymns, they have a rock and roll band. they readily admit that it is to attract young people, which is totally contrary to the mission of the church. there is NO intelligent reason for the church to change in any way. as the bible says, god is the same yesterday, today, and forever. it is the young people's responsibility to come to the church, and if they don't, let them burn.
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Post by randomvioce on Oct 3, 2009 13:47:12 GMT
it is the young people's responsibility to come to the church, and if they don't, let them burn. Is that taken right from scripture? I was given to understand the parable of the Shepard tending his flock was the exact opposite of that sentiment. The ethos of Christianity is one of reaching out to people. Christians are always knocking on doors, picketing abortion clinics and expect politicians to bend to their will. I wish they all had your attitude and kept their noses out of my business.
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Post by iamjumbo on Oct 3, 2009 16:52:50 GMT
it is the young people's responsibility to come to the church, and if they don't, let them burn. Is that taken right from scripture? I was given to understand the parable of the Shepard tending his flock was the exact opposite of that sentiment. The ethos of Christianity is one of reaching out to people. Christians are always knocking on doors, picketing abortion clinics and expect politicians to bend to their will. I wish they all had your attitude and kept their noses out of my business. one of the alltime best quotes from ann landers was, "a church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints." that is the problem that you are talking about. of course, there is nothing wrong with someone inviting you to join them in church sunday morning. what IS wrong is if they agreed to change the church according to your wish as enticement to get you to join them. if you don't want to join them, it is a total waste of time and energy trying to cajole you. as with rehab and the like, nothing will do any good until YOU have the desire to do it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2009 17:03:51 GMT
But what makes church music "real"? "Standard hymns" were new once. I love sung evensong at our old parish church - full choir, organ, radings from what you would consider a "proper" version of the Bible. I've also been to services at the Methodist chapel, and haven't come across most of their hymns before but they allow for a jolly good sing.
RV - ;D
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Post by randomvioce on Oct 3, 2009 17:15:51 GMT
of course, there is nothing wrong with someone inviting you to join them in church sunday morning. what IS wrong is if they agreed to change the church according to your wish as enticement to get you to join them. Does it matter though? The word of God is the word of God no matter how it is spoken. If the word of God is not getting to people, you have to ask why. If the answer is we are using the wrong type of music then is wrong to use the music that DOES reach your target?
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Post by iamjumbo on Oct 5, 2009 10:15:23 GMT
of course, there is nothing wrong with someone inviting you to join them in church sunday morning. what IS wrong is if they agreed to change the church according to your wish as enticement to get you to join them. Does it matter though? The word of God is the word of God no matter how it is spoken. If the word of God is not getting to people, you have to ask why. If the answer is we are using the wrong type of music then is wrong to use the music that DOES reach your target? yeah, it's wrong, for the reason that i stated earlier. the church has no business changing to attract anyone. if the young people aren't intelligent enough to come to the church as it is, they deserve no quarter
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Post by beth on Oct 9, 2009 19:03:28 GMT
Jim, I think dogma is a prime reason many have abandoned Christianity. The idea put forth in the new testament - by Christ if I'm not mistaken - is to reach out to others, not to discourage them by setting up obstacles like a strict adherence to the "old time religion" bells and whistles many may have trouble accepting or the stilted Catholic liturgy that sometimes seems a bit forbidding. The idea is not to force believers into a mold, but to ask them to accept the main premise of believing in Christ.
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Post by Big Lin on Oct 10, 2009 14:27:07 GMT
Jim, I think dogma is a prime reason many have abandoned Christianity. The idea put forth in the new testament - by Christ if I'm not mistaken - is to reach out to others, not to discourage them by setting up obstacles like a strict adherence to the "old time religion" bells and whistles many may have trouble accepting or the stilted Catholic liturgy that sometimes seems a bit forbidding. The idea is not to force believers into a mold, but to ask them to accept the main premise of believing in Christ. I am a Christian but I freely admit that I'm NOT one of those people who is full of self-righteousness and goes around condemning others all the time. I belong to a Christian message board where initially (except for two individuals who I reckon are completely mad) I was welcomed and treated with courtesy and affection. Then when I started to get involved in political disagreements (such as suggesting that Obama is NOT the Antichrist, that NOT all Muslims are Satanist terrorists, that Obama's healthcare plan is better than leaving things in the hands of the private insurance companies, I became attacked on all sides. The more patronising ones sent me PMs or responded to my posts by asking about my soul and saying that they would pray for me to receive enlightenment. The more obnoxious ones accused me of being a conscious tool of Satan. I don't post there very often now but I keep getting PMs from members who say that they agree with me but are too frightened to express their opinions on the board because they know they'll get jumped on like I do. To me, Christ was about love, forgiveness and trying to lead a good and caring life. I've openly said to them that God doesn't vote Republican any more than he votes Democrat (the board is about 99% American in its membership) but it doesn't seem to achieve anything other than getting me more abuse. I still post occasionally but I wonder more and more whether these people are actually like the Pharisees rather than the sinners whom Christ came to earth to call to repentance. I freely confess that I am a sinner and that I was a much worse one during my mispent teens. How is it that people can't tell the difference between the Word of God and their own political prejudices? Very sad.
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Post by Liberator on Oct 11, 2009 1:30:15 GMT
What does 'believe in' Jesus mean? I understand that the original Greek meant 'rely on' and 'trust', but what does 'believe in' mean?
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