Saturday, December 17, 2005
Cozy Saturdays...
Most of you might know me as an overly busy person who is always on the go. But, contrary to popular opinion, I have been known to slow down once in a while. Rather than heading out last night or today, I have stayed tucked in my house today, cozied up under a blanket - situated in a (barely comfortable and somewhat squeaky) chair in my office, listening to meditation and reading Kierkegaard. For fun. OK - even I find that last bit shocking!
So it is somewhat fitting I got the email posted below this morning. I have been reading "Fear and Trembling" by Soren Kierkegaard. I (as always since starting graduate studies) started with the introduction, which, without having read the book, actually went a little over my head. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which I've been able to follow his thoughts. My impression after reading the introduction was that it would be a very heavy read. It isn't. Which isn't to say it doesn't require deep reading, because it does. You must pay attention.
Anyways - the book is a philosophical meditation on the story of God's command to Abraham that he must sacrifice Isaac. Kierkegaard makes a lot of reference to his philosophical contemporaries drive to "go further." From what I can make out, is that when it comes to the (extraordinary) story of Abraham and Isaac, there is no need to go further. Faith is all there is. I think, from the impression I had before starting the book, that many philosophers use "Fear and Trembling" to argue that Kierkegaard supported an ethic of the command of law. But, after reading his own pseudonymous preface, I am not sure that will be the outcome (granted I still have 80 pages left to read).
One quotation that struck me, and which I find fitting given the scenario described in the "Science and God" posting below:
So it is somewhat fitting I got the email posted below this morning. I have been reading "Fear and Trembling" by Soren Kierkegaard. I (as always since starting graduate studies) started with the introduction, which, without having read the book, actually went a little over my head. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which I've been able to follow his thoughts. My impression after reading the introduction was that it would be a very heavy read. It isn't. Which isn't to say it doesn't require deep reading, because it does. You must pay attention.
Anyways - the book is a philosophical meditation on the story of God's command to Abraham that he must sacrifice Isaac. Kierkegaard makes a lot of reference to his philosophical contemporaries drive to "go further." From what I can make out, is that when it comes to the (extraordinary) story of Abraham and Isaac, there is no need to go further. Faith is all there is. I think, from the impression I had before starting the book, that many philosophers use "Fear and Trembling" to argue that Kierkegaard supported an ethic of the command of law. But, after reading his own pseudonymous preface, I am not sure that will be the outcome (granted I still have 80 pages left to read).
One quotation that struck me, and which I find fitting given the scenario described in the "Science and God" posting below:
"Philosophy cannot and should not give us an account of faith, but should
understand itself and know just what indeed it has to offer, without taking
anything away, least of all cheating people out of something by making them
think it is nothing."-Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling
Science and God....
I received the following in an email from a member of my pastoral chage... I am not sure that the student's argument is any more logically sound than the professor's, but it is food for thought!
SCIENCE AND GOD
"Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand. "You're a Christian, aren't you, son?
"Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."
The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."
The student does not answer, so the professor continues.
"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?" The student remains silent. "No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From...God..."
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
"Yes."
"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."
Again, the student has no answer.
"Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness. All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?" The student squirms on his feet.
"Yes."
"So who created them?"
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do." The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him."
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."
"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus?>>Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own.
"Professor, is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it." Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer. "What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you>>explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it." "Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?" The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed. "Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?" The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean." The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?" Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
"Now, you accept that there is faith. and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"
Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
SCIENCE AND GOD
"Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand. "You're a Christian, aren't you, son?
"Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."
The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."
The student does not answer, so the professor continues.
"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?" The student remains silent. "No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From...God..."
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
"Yes."
"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."
Again, the student has no answer.
"Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness. All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?" The student squirms on his feet.
"Yes."
"So who created them?"
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do." The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him."
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."
"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus?>>Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own.
"Professor, is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it." Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer. "What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you>>explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it." "Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?" The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed. "Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?" The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean." The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?" Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
"Now, you accept that there is faith. and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"
Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
Monday, December 12, 2005
Christmas Letter
Hey folks -
This is an electronic version of what went out with the Xmas cards.....
Dear Friends and Family,
The past three months since I moved to Alsask, SK have been challenging, engaging, heart-warming, and enriching. From the moment I arrived in this little town with my supervisor and her grand-daughter waiting to have a cup of tea with me (complete with a casserole in the oven for my supper!) to being asked to preside over the regional Legion branches' Remembrance Day services, it has been a real taste of rural ministry. I have been constantly awed and humbled by the friendship, faith and service offered by the people in my community and my congregations.
With February 2006 fast approaching, I have been busy preparing for the World Council of Churches 9th General Assembly. I spent three days in Toronto at an orientation event for the delegates, advisors and observers from the Canadian churches delegation. I have been asked to participate in a panel discussion at a plenary session on the theme of the Assembly, “God in your grace, Transform the World.” The Assembly takes place in Porto Alegre, Brazil from February 14-24, 2006.
As you'll see from the picture at the bottom of this letter, there has been a new addition to my little household. Her name is Zen, and she is a young lab retriever / boxer cross whom I adopted from the Calgary SPCA in September. She is a wonderful blessing in my life, despite the fact people her say she is Zen in name only, not in disposition.
Biggest news is the addition to our family of my new nephew- Blake Robert Lansdowne who was born to Robb and Susan on November 23, 2005 in Vancouver. I arrived home for a week's vacation the day he was born, and he had us all smitten at first glance! I look forward to a lifetime of getting to know him!
My latest news can always be found [here on my blog]. Blessings to all of you during this time of waiting and Advent. Warmest greetings, and may you all find some sabbath time during the Holiday rush to spend with family, friends, and those whom you love.
May peace be with you all!
This is an electronic version of what went out with the Xmas cards.....
Dear Friends and Family,
The past three months since I moved to Alsask, SK have been challenging, engaging, heart-warming, and enriching. From the moment I arrived in this little town with my supervisor and her grand-daughter waiting to have a cup of tea with me (complete with a casserole in the oven for my supper!) to being asked to preside over the regional Legion branches' Remembrance Day services, it has been a real taste of rural ministry. I have been constantly awed and humbled by the friendship, faith and service offered by the people in my community and my congregations.
With February 2006 fast approaching, I have been busy preparing for the World Council of Churches 9th General Assembly. I spent three days in Toronto at an orientation event for the delegates, advisors and observers from the Canadian churches delegation. I have been asked to participate in a panel discussion at a plenary session on the theme of the Assembly, “God in your grace, Transform the World.” The Assembly takes place in Porto Alegre, Brazil from February 14-24, 2006.
As you'll see from the picture at the bottom of this letter, there has been a new addition to my little household. Her name is Zen, and she is a young lab retriever / boxer cross whom I adopted from the Calgary SPCA in September. She is a wonderful blessing in my life, despite the fact people her say she is Zen in name only, not in disposition.
Biggest news is the addition to our family of my new nephew- Blake Robert Lansdowne who was born to Robb and Susan on November 23, 2005 in Vancouver. I arrived home for a week's vacation the day he was born, and he had us all smitten at first glance! I look forward to a lifetime of getting to know him!
My latest news can always be found [here on my blog]. Blessings to all of you during this time of waiting and Advent. Warmest greetings, and may you all find some sabbath time during the Holiday rush to spend with family, friends, and those whom you love.
May peace be with you all!
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Support young bloggers!
When I was home in Vancouver, I had a chance to catch up (briefly) with my cousin Nathan. Nathan's in the process of doing an MA in Political Science at UBC, and apparently rarely has time for socializing, so I count myself lucky that he took a break from writing to have supper with the folks and me.
Anyways - it turns out that Nate has recently started blogging, and so for any of you who are interested at all in the politics of the Middle East or religion, you should check out his site. Also, on his site, he's listed the blog of a friend who is commenting on the upcoming Canadian election. I can only assume she is a political science junkie like Nate, but her site looks pretty good. You can check it out here.
There are all kinds of blogs out there, not all of them public. Reading a blog is an interesting way to get to know someone... If other bloggers are at all like me, then you don't really think about "who" you are talking to.... you just say what is on your mind.
Oh.... and if anyone is really diligent in reading this site - you'll notice the posting that made fun of George Bush doesn't work. The link couldn't be updated, and the new things posted on the page I had it linked to are slightly questionable. Especially for someone like me. Or is linking to sites that advertise porn ok? Just kidding.... and my apologies to anyone who noticed. I tried to just delete that posting, but it has already been archived. Oh well.
Anyways - it turns out that Nate has recently started blogging, and so for any of you who are interested at all in the politics of the Middle East or religion, you should check out his site. Also, on his site, he's listed the blog of a friend who is commenting on the upcoming Canadian election. I can only assume she is a political science junkie like Nate, but her site looks pretty good. You can check it out here.
There are all kinds of blogs out there, not all of them public. Reading a blog is an interesting way to get to know someone... If other bloggers are at all like me, then you don't really think about "who" you are talking to.... you just say what is on your mind.
Oh.... and if anyone is really diligent in reading this site - you'll notice the posting that made fun of George Bush doesn't work. The link couldn't be updated, and the new things posted on the page I had it linked to are slightly questionable. Especially for someone like me. Or is linking to sites that advertise porn ok? Just kidding.... and my apologies to anyone who noticed. I tried to just delete that posting, but it has already been archived. Oh well.
