Talking with a group of colleagues yesterday I raised the issue of blogging and comments. Why is it that so few people comment on blogs? I discovered a major factor I hadn’t thought about. “Two finger typing”. When you can only type with two fingers it takes a long time to get your thoughts down.
Somehow I learnt to touch type back in the 1980s - it’s made all the difference to my capacity to get my thoughts down online. Needless to say, my handwriting’s not great. Good enough when I need it to be but it takes me a lot longer to write things out by hand.
So here’s a salute to the two fingered typists who manage to type up what they’re thinking.
Almost twenty years ago Howard Snyder wrote Foresight: Ten Major Trends Facing the Church. It’s uncanny how close he came to predicting future reality.
Here’s a list of the trends he predicted:
1. From regional churches to world Church.
2. From scattered growth to broad revival.
3. From Communist China to Christian China.
4. From institutional tradition to kingdom theology.
5. From clergy/laity to community of ministers.
6. From male leadership to male-female partnership.
7. From secularization to religious relativism.
8. From nuclear family to family diversity.
9. From church/state separation to Christian political activism.
10. From safe planet to threatened planet.
Steve asks for people’s thoughts on how the list could be updated.
So how does it look now from where I stand today?
1. From regional churches to world Church
Globalisation is certainly affecting the church. I looked through a Chinese Christian bookshop yesterday and found one of the world texts translated into Chinese: “Purpose Driven Life”. Also Tony Jones’ book, “Postmodern Youth Ministry”, complete with playful realignment of the Chinese text. Perhaps we’re seeing the move from regional to Americanised church.
One of the factors in the development of a local contextual movement is the publication of local authors. Here in Australia we’ve just lost a major publisher, Open Book, who have diminished their publishing commitments to inhouse Lutheran work. However in the next twenty years publication will happen more on the internet and will be able to respond more quickly to immediate needs.
2. From scattered growth to broad revival
How many times have I heard this prediction? And how many times have I seen people disillusioned because of the sheer hard work required to impact a local community. The reality is that response to the gospel is as scattered as ever. We’re moving towards a niche approach to the planting of missional communities, not a mass movement.
3. From Communist China to Christian China
Hmm. Seems to me that China is still Communist, despite the growth of a significant Christian movement there. There’s a huge amount of state control being exercised for the sake of national unity, which is not surprising given the size of the nation. The last thing the Chinese government wants is the Balkanisation of states as happened in the dissolution of the USSR. What could be interesting is the combination of Christianity and communism.
4. From institutional tradition to kingdom theology
It’s interesting to note that we had both together at the beginning of the twentieth century, when the mainline churches started developing a ‘kingdom theology’. The tragedy then was that what came to be known as fundamentalist Evangelicals pulled the plug and walked away, calling it ’social gospel’. This was seen in the schism of Student Christian Movement (SCM) and the beginning of Inter Varsity Fellowship (Christian Union, Evangelical Union) on University campuses. ‘Kingdom theology’ can be expressed in counter-cultural underground ways in sync with the parables of Jesus. It can also be expressed in the development of a ‘religions right’ movement as we can see in the United States at the moment, with the push for the teaching of intelligent design.
5. From Clergy/Laity to community of ministers
I’d like to think we’re moving in that direction. In the Uniting Church in Australia we’re seeing the growth of ‘lay ministry teams’ who by their very existence challenge the assumptions we’ve had around professional specified ministries. However the institutional church is not ready to give up on the ordination of a few ministers yet. I’d say this is an ongoing journey. Maybe things will be different when we have Gen Xers as the seniors in the Christian community…
White Ribbon Day
Controversial chilling ads raising consciousness of violent attitudes and behaviour in ordinary Australian men. Includes a Real Estate tour (2004) and a Fight Next Door (2005).
XBox Mosquito
The story of the Fall through the eyes of mosquitoes.
U2 Vertigo iPod The release of U2’s song, “Vertigo” for the launch of the special edition U2 iPod and the photo iPod in October 2004.
Got Milk - Russian Family
A Russian family encounters the Pillsbury Doughboy on the dining room table.
Xbox Video Chat The launch of the video chat (web cam meets Xbox) in Japan.
Xbox 360 Roar A young man stumbles into an eastern horror flick.
Kidnap Marriott
In Singapore an overweight man is tracked down and pushed into a car. Only problem is he’s too big to fit into the car. It pays to eat at the Marriott smorgasbord.
Apple 1984
The iconic Apple television teaser for the Macintosh, featuring an athlete throwing a hammer into the Big Brother telescreen. The post includes background information on the making, screening and spoofing of the ad.
Sprite Basketball Pool
An ad made for the Australian market features basketball players diving onto/into the court/pool. Nice visual effects.
Olympus Bad Photos
Olympus Europe promoted their digital cameras with a campaign encouraging people to move beyond red eyes, distortions, blurry images and cropped bodies. Slightly disturbing. Slightly humorous.
Thanks to Darren Wright for the trial banner. What do you think?
Saturday afternoon was spent in a symposium featuring Peter Harrison Professor of History and Philosophy at Bond University. Peter’s brief for the afternoon was to examine the popular myth of a historical rift between science and religion, a myth perpetuated by the writings of English philosopher Richard Dawkins. As a text we had Alister McGrath’s recent book, “Dawkins’ God”.
Peter is the author of ‘Religion’ and the Religions in the English Enlightenment (Cambridge, 1990) and The Bible, Protestantism, and the Rise of Natural Science (Cambridge, 1998 & 2001).
He is a Research Consultant in the Department of Studies in Religion at the University of Queensland, and has been a Visiting Fellow at Oxford, Yale, and Princeton. He is a founding member of the International Society for Science and Religion and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. In 2003, Prof. Harrison was awarded a Centenary Medal for ‘Service to Australian Society and the Humanities in the study of Philosophy and Religion’.
Richard Dawkins is Professor of Public Understanding of Science at Oxford. His work can be described as the rhetoric of defending science in books aimed at the intelligent general reader. His unofficial web site is maintained by John Catalano in New York. He is the author of The Selfish Gene, A Devil’s Chaplain, River Out of Eden and numerous other books.
In The Blind Watchmaker, 1988, Dawkins writes that “Although atheism might have been logically tenable before Darwin, Darwin madeit possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist”.
Peter dryly pointed out that many other people also made it possible!
Dawkins also said, “I’m a Darwinist because I believe the only other alternatives are Lamarckism or God…” (Source). (Lamarckism is the theory of biological evolution proposed by French biologist Lamarck that suggested acquired or diminished traits can be passed on to offspring.)
Peter remarked that Dawkins is treating God here as an explanatory principle. It’s a bit like hearing someone talk about rejecting God as a five year old. What they’ve rejected is a five year old’s perception of God. Likewise Dawkins is rejecting what he perceives to be an unhelpful human construct.
Dawkins is on record as saying “It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid, or insane (or wicked, but I’d rather not consider that)”.
Peter pointed to research that shows forty seven percent of people in the USA believe that the human race was created some time in the last ten thousand years. He also pointed out that 47 percent of the voting population chose George Bush. Much laughter!
Peter introduced us to the genre of popular science, in which the work of scientists is presented to the public, often in oversimplified terms. People buy it. Why? It’s a lot easier to read than material that grapples with the complexities of science.
And so we moved on to the over simplified ‘conflict myth’. Our initial texts were newspaper articles, including the Weekend Standard - November 12. “Travails of the Neo-Obscurantism“. Here’s the first paragraph:
“Time was when the Roman Catholic Church held that the earth was flat and confronted Galileo with the instruments of torture that passed for argument in that establishment. If you believe that the Dark Ages of medieval Europe have been buried by history, take a look at current activities of the neo-obscurantists in the USA.”
Three common myths are repeated in the press:
The Flat Earth approach, linked with opposition to Columbus in 1492.
The Catholic Church’s opposition to Galileo’s helicentrism in the 1610s - 1630s.
The Church’s resistance to Darwin’s theory of natural selection in the 1860s.
A committee set up in Salamanca rejected the plans of Columbus on the grounds that he had underestimated the distance from Europe to the Indies. There was no mention of a flat earth. Indeed Columbus was lucky that the Americas were where they were. Otherwise he would never have made it anywhere.
The reality is that Columbus was not living in a world that believed in a flat earth. Aristotle and Ptolemy both worked under the assumption that the Earth was a sphere. Atlas had the world on his shoulder - an orb. Byzantine artwork in the church of Ravenna Church shows the world as a globe. Medieval illustrated Bibles showed the world as a sphere. The royal orb was used a symbol of universal power.
The flat earth story was developed by Washington Irving in 1837 in connection with Columbus’ voyage.
Galileo is well known for his encounters with the Inquisition. However it is not as well known that Galileo’s arguments for the heliocentric view were flawed. His theories on the centrality of the sun were backed up by reference to the tides. It was not until Newton’s approach to physics became mainstream that scientists found it possible to accept Galileo’s theories.
Darwin’s theories of natural selection were supported by some Christian thinkers at the time. There was much discussion in the scientific world, for and against Darwin. He could not explain inherited characteristics not being blended away. He did not have access to Mendel’s genetic theories. He wrote twelve editions of the Origin of Species, in later editions backing away from some of his claims.
Peter took us on to the nineteenth century and the development of the scientific field as we now know it. The word “scientist” was coined in 1833. The first professional bodies for science in Europe were established in the 1830s. Thirty percent of the fellows of the Royal Society were clergy. Thomas Henry Huxley (1825 - 1895) challenged the influence of the clergy, arguing that science and religion should be kept apart.
John Draper in 1874 published his book, “History of the Conflict between Science and Religion”. Andrew Dickson White, in 1896, followed up with a contentious title, “A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom.”
It seems as though nothing has changed. Dawkins carries on the tradition of belittling an approach to science that probably does deserve to be put it in its place. In the meantime we have Christian scientists who have no problems engaging with natural selection and theories of evolution, let alone the concept of an earth that is billions of years old.
I found the afternoon helpful. I knew about the range of opinions in the nineteenth century church to Darwinism, having studied the New Zealand context in Church history. However I had been under the impression that Columbus challenged a ‘flat earth’ concept with his journey. You learn something every day, if you go to seminars like this at least!
I spent Saturday morning at a seminar by Dean Drayton, author of the book, “Which Gospel?: Three New Testament Perspectives”, published by MediaCom, Adelaide.
After presenting some of his own story of faith and ministry Dean introduced us to translations and distortions of the gospel, starting with two minutes of manipulation. After a suitable warning, Dean launched into classic evangelist mode.
We had thirty seconds of exhortations about the need to be born again. Thirty seconds on being baptized in the Spirit. And thirty seconds of being challenged to ‘do the will of God’.
“I’ve been born again. Have you? The Bible says we must be born again. If you haven’t been, then why not? What’s to stop you from being born again”. And so on.
Dean pointed out that such tactics do help some people experience the Lordship of Jesus. However many people only experience a manipulative sales pitch focusing on the “I am, Are You” line. In contrast, Dean gave us the example of Paul who in 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 invites people into partnership with Jesus.
As a whole writers in the New Testament don’t talk about God being ‘just for me’. Dean referred to the recent Virgin Blue advertising campaign encouraging people to check themselves in so they can have more time for themselves. The good news in the New Testament is not just for individuals - it’s for communities.
So why do we have the gospel heritage we now hold? Dean suggested that the gospel message changes every fifty years in line with major swings in society and with the successful methodology of significant evangelists. The last fifty years of the twentieth century were marked by the focus on the Holy Spirit introduced through the charismatic movements. The first fifty years were marked by a concern for individual standing before God - being born again.
In the nineteenth century we had the holiness movement, and the drive towards commitment led by Charles Finney. Wesley’s influence was found in the focus on prevenient grace, the experience of assurance, and long term discipleship.
The puritans brought their own focus on simplicity of faith. We looked at the impact of the debate over predestination with its anxiety over the state of individuals rather than communities. The Westminster confession reflected an approach to gospel in which grace followed repentance.
Somehow we seem to have inherited all of these movements without awareness of the historical contexts in which they were developed.
Dean introduced us to the three New Testament approaches to the Christian gospel covered in his book. John’s gospel doesn’t have the key words of faith and repentance. Instead John focuses on light, belief, seeing, perception. The Synoptic gospels focus on Jesus’ teaching and action related to the reign of God. Most of our evangelistic sermons are Pauline.
There were some vivid moments in the morning. Like the the use of a Volkswagen Kombi van to illustrate the distinction between apocalypse and revelation. Dean talked about driving in a Kombi through the fog, knowing that somewhere ahead was a T intersection. Revelation was when the driver sees the stop sign and stops. Apocalypse is when the first time the drivers sees the sign is when it has broken through the front window of the van.
In response to a question on the Christian gospel and other faiths Dean referred to the abusivbe use of John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. Seeing the light of God embedded in the whole of creation would open up more dialogue. This need not be in conflict with seeing Jesus as the visible face of the invisible God.
Geoff Thompson, lecturer in theology at Trinity Theological College, raised his concern about the low level of Biblical literacy and theological understanding in the church. “How do we regenerate Biblical imagination so that people can hear?” Geoff went on to outline his concern that we have so bought into individualism, reinforced by a low view of church, that the church has become a convenient sideline to salvation for many. “How do we help people re-engage with the community of grace as central to what God is doing?”
It’s White Ribbon Day today here in Australia and around the world. Today is a day when wearing a white ribbon signifies a personal pledge to not commit, condone nor remain silent about violence against women and children.
The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) has got behind the United Nations campaign as part of the Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation and Peace. To back it up NCCA have developed their own version of “Wings of a Dove”, an international ecumenical campaign for prayer and action from today through to 10 December. Today’s Prayerline resource is in pdf format: Day 1 (Nov 25) - White Ribbons for Healing
James Haire, President of the NCCA, writes:
“On behalf of the National Council of Churches in Australia, I strongly commend White Ribbon Day. The issue of the abuse of women and children is something central in public consciousness now. The Churches are very aware of the issue, and have sought repentance and renewal for their complicity in this scourge of the abuse of human rights, and illegal activity. The Churches have sought to do as much as they are able to help in the restoration of those who have been abused. The beginning of that process is through public awareness, so I strongly support this poignant celebration of White Ribbon Day.”
Over at Duncan’s TV Adland a week ago I posted on the Australian television campaigns that are raising awareness of the issues. The Australian Government sponsored campaign encourages women to speak up and seek help. The UN campaign from Saatchi & Saatchi aims at raising the awareness of men about their responsibility. I haven’t seen the UN campaign here in Queensland. I get the impression that it’s a bit too edgy for our audiences. It implies that ordinary men share complicity in domestic violence when they do nothing about it. What do you think? Have you seen it?
Just had an email from the organisers of the next Uniting Church in Australia National Christian Youth Convention, being held near Perth in Western Australia.
As you are aware, the convention theme is ‘Agents of Change’. Check out our daily themes:
Open to Change
Visions of Hope
Changed by God
Becoming Agents
Taking the Risk
Agents in the World
Scotch College at Swanbourne will be the hub for all the action during the week. There will be 12 communities in total (100 people in each) accommodated in nearby schools. Every day after lunch we will transport delegates to Scotch for the rest of the day’s program including Electives, Evening Rallies and Nitelife.
NCYC 2007 is about transformation - inner and outer. At NCYC you will get the chance to step into new phases of radical discipleship. If you are open to the challenge of change, then NCYC 2007 is looking for you!
To be a part of this huge event head to http://agentsofchange.org.au/ and follow the links. Feel free to give us a call or an email if you need a hand with anything.
We look forward to receiving your registration and seeing you in Perth in January 2007!
Darren Wright at Planet Telex has just referred me to an article at Slate on academics and blogging: “Attack of the Career-Killing Blogs: When academics post online, do they risk their jobs?” by Robert S. Boynton.
Boynton starts with the story of blogging Chicago political scientist Daniel Drezner who was denied tenure despite his qualifications and experience. Was it because of his blog?
Boynton highlights a common suspicion of blogs in academic circles. Blogs are not as serious as academic journals. In most disciplines at large research universities, tenure is directly related to the number of peer-reviewed books and articles one publishes.
So can academic work and blogging go together? Certainly there is a different language in blogs. It’s more conversation-oriented. A post on a blog is written with the knowledge that anyone could comment. In fact I would say comments are what makes a blog a blog. They takes us beyond monologue and into conversation.
Boynton refers to blogs as an expression of what Michael Oakeshott called the “The Conversation of Mankind” - an endless, thoroughly democratic dialogue about the best ideas and artifacts of our culture.”
At Postkiwi’s Generations in Conversation I’ve been able to post my summaries and critiques of the work of fellow researchers and authors. Some of them have responded, on the blog and off. That’s something that you can’t do so easily in an academic journal.
I received an email today from Christian Music Updates. I’ve been on this list for a while. I’m not sure how I got on the list. I tried unsubscribing at one point. Anyway I’d been thinking about trying again. But today’s post caught my eye.
It began with the text:
As we’ve previously done with films like “Polar Express,” Motive Entertainment has created a wide variety of resources and events for the upcoming release of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” (in theaters Dec. 9) - for faith, educational, and community leaders.
Hey that sounds good I thought. So over to www.narniaresources.com I went. The site provides a movie overview, the capacity to register for updates, order free materials, download trailers, behind the scenes videos, and promotional imagery, as well as information on buying block tickets for churches, schools, scout troops and other large groups or organisations.
Only problem is that the free Narnia School kit, Educator’s Guide, Discussion Guides and posters are only available within the United States.
[eminimall products="Narnia"]
So who is the we of “Motive Entertainment”? It turns out that Motive Entertainment is Paul Lauer, the man behind the promotion of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ and Tom Hanks/Paul Zemeckis film, “The Polar Express”. See Motive Marketing’s web site for more details.
Tim at Challies.com was complaining last week about the crass movie marketing targeted at Evangelicals. Adrian Warnock at his UK Evangelical Blog says that he’s all too happy to receive sneak previews about what ’should turn out to be the film of the year’. I’m with Adrian on that one.
Duncan Macleod posts on life, faith and culture in Australia, drawing from his involvement in the creative industry, the Uniting Church, the blogosphere, generational research, the emerging church and life on the Gold Coast.
