Reformation 2

I have been reading (yes, still, I am a slow reader). I dont know if it is even possible in the current strata of the way things are, but I have been thinking that there needs to be a new reformation. The problem with our current culture is the ability to diseminate a new idea is exceedingly difficult amidst the clutter of noise that currently exists. The reality of it is that as Al Pacino said in the Devils Advocate

"Grease every dream with gold platted dollar bill fantasy until every person becomes an emperor. becomes his own God. And where do you go from there."

He makes a mighty good point. Like many pesimists I am convinced of the eventual downfall of western civilization because of our greed, but like so many who also happen to be pragmatists I dont do much about it. I am too busy trying to buy a new car or a new computer or whatever else I am told I need a new thing of.

The reality of it is we need a martin luther to come here and sweep away all the crap that has clutered our minds. we are meant for so much more than what we are experiancing. This very generic christianity has left the average person touting some very weak theology that has been fed to them by some very weak individuals. Its time for pastors to, excuse the language, grow some balls and start reading some theology text books and start preaching the secrets of the difficult ideas. The best thing about bible school for me was the fact that I knew I was dealing with peopel who got alot of the practical, while still getting the abstract. Where are you Martin, we need you

A simplified hermenutic

I would just like to thank the internet for at least giving me a percieved outlet to grind my axe. Now onto the axe grinding. One thing I am kind of sick of is the whole notion in modern Christianity is the idea that the average person can "read" the Bible. The more I sit in churches the more I see people being fed how to read the Bible and then doing as their told. As a student of the Bible I see an emense amount of cultural, social, and religious mileus, themes, (etc etc ad nauseum) in scripture and I am constantly coming into question about how people "read" the Bible. People want to go "back to the Bible," but in reality no one would have the faintest idea of what exactly the Bible is because if you remove your modern social and cultural notions that you bring to the text the reality is that the text is pretty well unreadable. Thats not to say the Bible is unreadable, but there is hermenutic where the author has primacy and the more I see the activity in the church and understand the scriptures complexity I see in church a eisogetical hermenutic, even (possibly most of all) among pastors). I sometimes wish the whole task of reading and communicating scripture was just entirely left up to the pastor. I mean the reality of it is that it mostly is at the moment, but I just wish people would put away this pretense that the way they understand the Bible in their own little private sphere is how it was "really supposed to be read." Back to the Bible hay, I say back to Catholicism. Simpler times man. The Pope said jump everyone said, "how high?" Of course I am being a little tounge and cheek here, but I think I am just a little sick of modern protestant cultures pretentious ego.....thats my axe and boy is it sharp......

A little diversion

So, I just have an axe to grind. I am a little tired of Christian wagging their fingers at me for downloading the occasional mp3 and trying to tell me its a sin. Since when does using intellectual property constitute a sin and on the flip side at what point does goverment laws/policy dictate Gods will. I am amazed at how often you find people violating copy rights with books, images and many other methods. The thing is, I firmly believe that you should support the system, I do buy cds, but at the same time I am not going to be dictated that I should be obliged to buy a cd with 10 songs I dont want to get the one I do. On the flip side on line mp3 systems are so stinking propriatary that i am just not interested in going through that hassle. So I will continue to download the occasional mp3,buying them when I can afford to, and assume that God is ok with me listening to "I've got a lovely bunc of coconuts" and if he thinks differently he'll let me know.

Feeling like a bit of a tool

I am the type of person who really hates the "purpose driven life" fads. Basically, when a bunch of people say we believe . . . and its because this book told us so, I tend to scoff. Yet I find myself doing that...I guess that is really at the heart of what most educators do, they just read better books. Its a rare thing when you have someone who thinks independantly from the current mileu. I strive to be that person, but I still find myself saying, "you know what NT Wright says about this......."

A better understanding

This post is a response to one of the comments that was made to my first post. I appreciate bringing my idea into question and I felt the proper response needed In response to two comments. Two Jacki/Rob...I question the method by which you come to the conclusions concerning heaven. For starters: 1. Ouranos is used something like 200 odd times in the NT and you cant really derive a hard and fast meaning from it, at least I would question the methodology that wants to take ouranos at every instance as being something to the intangible dwelling of the divine. 2.Sheol plays pretty heavily in Hebrew thought process, I grant that at some point in the process Hebrew people probably concieved of some sort of inbetween, heaven like stage, but it is FAR too much of generalization to say that the WHOLE OT has a cohesive view of what might consider to be the after life. You look at Job and some of the Psalms, not alot of glowing reports about the after life. Generally it has been my intention to bring some interesting ideas to the table that i have been researching, but I want to avoid just rehashing someone elses thoughts. As far as I can see Heaven is the dwelling of God and there is no sense in which heaven is coming to earth as much as the kingdom of God is coming to earth. the kingdom of God and heaven are two very different ideas, but in general Christian notions they have just been mushed together to create something akin to a big lot in the sky where God does his thing and just recieve lot after lot of believers to add to the group. As far as the realisation of Christs resurection and assention, Wright argues that are "presence with him" is meant to be held as a metaphorical notion. We take part in his victory and there will come a time where, not the assention, but we will recieve the thrones. My pain and my heart in this is that I believe the popular Dante-esq notion of heaven has lead the church astray from having a stronger eschatology. I used to not get the whole idea and i have realized more and mroe that that is a big part of what the Christian life is about. God has inaugurated the kingdom, its not here yet, but its coming.

Feeling good about my Christianty

I really enjoy studying the history of Christianty. It just makes me feel good knowing that the faith that I have has been pretty consistent over the past 2000 years (consistent being a somewhat relative term). I just like the fact that early Christians believed Jesus was the son of God and was resurected and they had a belief in the supremecy of God. I am also grateful for the discussions that define the minuta of things, but I like knowing that the first people probably wouldnt feel totally out to lunch having a chat with me. I would have to speak latin mind you, but once we got over that hurrdle I think that would be cool. I like the idea about relationship, but relationship with history just means so much more. Its like a relationship with a parent vs relationship with a random person. History makes it more intense...good times

Soul or no soul

So I was reading...still more about the whole resurection idea...there was this notion within Judaism at points that human beings were just 1 and had no soul. I guess its kind of hard to discuss the exitence of something that is entirely metaphysical, but I pondered the question and kind of enjoyed the excersize. What are the ramifications of people not having a soul? This doesnt necessarily mean that there is no resurection, nor does it mean there isnt a heaven or any of that, it just means it looks different. The intermediate state that people are held in between death and resurection exists by virtue of the greatness of God. You know, say one thing for them, but Yahwists (the original Jews, long story for more info consult your local bible college) really had a vision for God in the big picture. I admit any idea that attributes greater power to God and less to people is something I dig, but its just interesting to think of how that effects the reading of scripture as well as theology, popular views and just a ton of little things here nad there. I also like simpler answers because they tend to have the longevity that I associate with wisdom. So do humans have a soul? Are we just flesh? Are we even more yet? Just something i was thinking about today.....