Archaic Theology III

While I was out on vacation I received the following email…

I hope you don’t mind an email from a complete stranger, but I am not what you would call a “blogger”. You made a comment on AC180.com that you do not believe that the earth is 6,000 years old. This was a blessing to me, let me explain briefly. I too am a Christian, but I am also a scientist. Therefore it is very difficult for me to accept the young earth theory simply based on what I know as scientific fact. I still believe the Bible as the divine word but feel that God does not want us to worry about things such as the age of the earth. This has become quite a conundrum for my wife and I as most of our Christian friends feel we are wrong. We have even left a church over things that were said to my wife questioning our faith. I have recently began worrying that perhaps I was in fact wrong for believing the way I do, so it was nice to read I am not alone in my way of thinking. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for stating what you truly believe and would enjoy hearing your reasoning for believing in an “older earth”.

It makes me feel good to get stuff like this, and reminds me how important our words and actions are. It also reminds me how much better life is when I don’t act like I know everything.

Because I don’t.

If you’ve followed this blog from the beginning you’d see a slow change in a lot of my perspectives. That came simply by being willing to listen to other views without judging them up front. That has truly changed my life. I challenge you to do the same. It could change yours as well.

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” —Aristotle

“People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic.” —Tim Keller, The Reason for God

» Archaic Theology I
» Archaic Theology II

Filed under: Aristotle, Christianity, Evolution, Listening, Quotes, Religion, Science, Tim Keller

Turn Off Your Gaydar

Lest any Christians get their panties in a bunch about the recent news coming out of California involving gay marriage, I really hope they weren’t laughing last night when Dwight swept Angela off into an office and got hot and sweaty the very night she got engaged to Andy.

Or every time Michael says, “That’s what she said.”

Or laughed when Kevin said, “I am totally gonna bang Holly.”

Or look the other way that Jim and Pam are living together.

I mean that just wouldn’t be very consistent, would it?

Eric Bryant had a great post yesterday called Why Homophobia Is So Gay.

Filed under: Adultery, Christianity, Eric Bryant, Ethics, Homosexuality, Love, Religion, Sex, The Office, Tolerance

Jesus Wants to Save Christians

Rob Bell has a new book slated for October 2008 entitled, Jesus Wants to Save Christians.

Here’s the synopsis:

There is a church not too far from us that recently added a $25 million addition to their building. Our local newspaper ran a front-page story not too long ago about a study revealing that one in five people in our city lives in poverty. This is a book about those two numbers.

I’ve attended services in both churches mentioned above, and this is something I struggle with internally as well. I can see both sides to this issue (although I lean more towards Rob’s angle), but I’m excited to see what Rob brings to this discussion.

(ht: Flowerdust)

Filed under: Books, Christianity, Church, Poverty, Religion, Rob Bell

American Idol Gets Religion

I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the finale of American Idol Gives Back special last night. After performances or appearances by the likes of Robin Williams, Bono, Brad Pitt, Miley Cyrus (my personal favorite), Mariah Carey, Fergie, Chris Daughtry, Annie Lennox, and Snoop Dogg, the remaining contestants dawned some pure white outfits and belted out a great rendition of Shout to the Lord.

The problem is you can’t please everybody. There are Christians jumping for joy in the streets. There are Christians calling American Idol the devil for changing the word Jesus to Shepherd. There are non-religious folks who are up in arms that they did the song period.

What’s your take?

(Other conversations going on here, here, and here.)

**UPDATE**
I’m sure you’ve heard by now, but they opened with the same song last night—only this time with the original version of the lyrics.

New question posed by SWEJ in the comments: Would you be offended had they sung “My Mohammed” instead?

Filed under: American Idol, Charity, Christianity, Giving, Music

Christian Resources

So someone comes to you and says they want to learn more about this Jesus you keep talking about. Other than the bible and personal stories, what other resources do you suggest to them?

» Books?

» Movies?

» CD’s?

» Websites?

» Podcasts?

» YouTube videos?

» Tracts?

» Pastor’s phone number?

I’m looking for specifics.

Filed under: Christianity, Outreach, Resources

Similar Diversity

Those five graphics are showing the positions and the frequency of the word “you” in the different Holy Scriptures (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism). Each picture is read from upper left to down right, whereas the most upper left pixel represents the first word of each book, and the most down right pixel the last one. Every colored position (word) means the word “you”.

Fore more on the Similar Diversity project click here.

Filed under: Art, Buddhism, Christianity, Design, Diversity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Religion

Critics

Responding to critics…

There are around a billion people in the world who don’t have clean drinking water, and 46 million Americans don’t have health care. That means if they get sick, they don’t have anywhere to go. Half of the world, 3 billion people, live on less than two American dollars a day, so the world is an emergency.

It’s on fire.

It’s drowning.

It’s an absolute crisis, and when followers of Jesus can think of nothing better to do with their time than to pick apart and shred to pieces the work of other followers of Jesus who are trying to do something about the world, that’s tragic, and I don’t owe those people anything. The world is desperately in need of people who will break themselves open and pour themselves out for the reconciliation of all things. When a Christian can find nothing better to do with their time in the face of this much pain and heartbreak, you start realizing that some Christians need to be saved.

Rob Bell – Relevant Magazine, January/February 2008 (69)

**UPDATE**
Rob Bell interview with Neue Podcast where he answers questions about his new book Jesus Wants To Save Christians, and about his critics.

Filed under: Christianity, Criticism, Quotes, Religion, Rob Bell

Mud Puppy Magazines

There are two must own magazines in my life. Both come accompanied with an equally sweet web presence. Both are leaders in change and innovation, and have flippin’ sweet design. Both would make great Christmas presents for anyone you know that loves to be on the cutting edge.

RELEVANT Magazine
www.relevantmagazine.com

RELEVANT is a bimonthly Christian magazine first published in 2003. It is a group of twentysomethings Christians who seek to break stereotypes, challenge status-quo and enact change through the media through exploring the intersection of faith and pop culture. They are a self-contained, for-profit business not affiliated with any other companies, denominations or organizations. A subscription runs around $12 per year.

WIRED Magazine
www.wired.com

WIRED is a monthly magazine first published in 1993. They are the first word on technology. Every month in the magazine and every day on the website, WIRED explores how ideas fueled by innovation change the world. Topics covered include culture, science, economy, technology, and politics. They are owned by Condé Nast Publications. A subscription runs around $10 per year.

What’s your magazine?

Filed under: Change, Christianity, Culture, Entertainment, Innovation, Magazines, Music, Politics, Relevant, Technology, WIRED

Faith. Hope. Love.

People don’t take your faith seriously? Do your friends or co-workers think Christians are a bunch of nut jobs?

I have no idea why…

(–We have so much work to do–)

Filed under: Christianity, Hate, Love, YouTube