Sorry for not posting for over a week here. How lame am I? I hit you with a couple of stories and then I take a 2 week nap. My apoligies. Hopefully as you're reading this post, you are doing well.
I'd like to encourage all believers and non-believers in Jesus to go read a book about Christianity from (....gasp!....) an intellectual perspective! I'm not talking about Max "I really don't write my own books" Lucado or anything else that is so centrally focused on making Christians feel good and comfortable that they lack any sort of real spiritual challenge. I'm talking about reading stuff that makes you think and gives you that uncomfortable stomach feeling, knowing that you should probably be living life better.
OK, that is a grim description, but I guess I am so used to settling for less that what God deserves of me that I want to not do that anymore. For class I am reading a book called "Exclusion and Embrace" by Miroslav Volf. It is a great book, but it reads at like 15 pages per hour because of his heavy philosophical influence. What the book talks about refers to the questions I posted last. Should this Christian company prosecute these kids for stealing? At the time my answer was yes because I felt violated myself, much less the store. But I am starting to lean towards a proper Christian response being "no".
Let me qualify that before I get a whole bunch of "world without justice" nonsense. When I say "no" I mean I would like to see the people in charge of that store do more than just charge the perpetrators. In keeping with Christian belief, if they are thiefs and sinners just as much as the 2 kids who stole those CDs, what kind of justice are they actually obligated to institute. Now, I'm npt naive enough to say that if the bookstore lets them off then they will change their ways because the experience forgiveness. I guess what I was looking for was for the leaders of this bookstore to strive to help the kids get out of a klepto lifestyle instead of just prosecuting them. I'd get into what I've learned about this from Volf, but I am way too tired right now.
I'm also sick of Christians being lame. Often the best-sellers (just like in the secular world) are lame books. But even more so I think all people should always be striving to grow. And for Christians to pick up The Prayer of Jabez and think they'll grow is ridiculous. OK, I paint with a broad brush, but I am tired and cynical right now. Hopefully you get my point, extremely short as it may be.
Whatever you believe in, don't settle for less. You just waste everyone's time, especially your own. If I had the opportunity to give every person in America one book and make them read it, it would probably be "Searching for God Knows What" by Donald Miller.
Also, please check out Caleb's blog again. He's the man
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Well the truth of the matter is that most people don't read books that differ from their point of view. I won't go into the whole psychology behind this, but it's a way of strenthening our belief that lots of people think the same way that we do. I see this happen in a lot of different places. I usually try and offset this by reminding myself that there are many who don't see the world as I see it.
I'll have to check out that book. Did you see this story in the StarTribune? http://www.startribune.com/614/story/268354.html
I love that girl's face in the photo. 'Eww! An atheist is in our classroom!' I think this professor at Bethel is an awesome dude. Do you know him scotty?
Mikey,
I have not had that prof, but I have 10 times the respect for Northwestern College now. That article is great. I am going to post it in a few days. Thanks for sharing it.
The extremely modern view of rational is interesting on the part of the atheist. The perspective seems to be dying out with postmodernity, but I bet a bunch of his points are valid.
Whoops, my bad. It was Northwestern, I forgot. Now if only they would stop their discriminitive admissions policy.
I find just about all of his arguments valid, but I think he's missing the essential impact of Pascal's wager, but I guess that's his problem.
"...what would he have us do?" - Offer intelligent rebuttal if one feels compelled; but don't attempt to impinge on his personal choice (through political or other means) of lifestyle or religion.
Dude, you have to quit talking about my blog it's ah how do I say this, "My blog, not very good. People go and they disappointed, they throw things at me, ouch..."
Anyway I need to read more, read books of different perspectives.
I am torn on the "discrimination" thing. They are a private instatution, but you know. I know the way the thing has come about they are not doing themselves any PR favors... But I don't know a ton about it...
Caleb
I'd say they could admit whoever they want to if they don't accept federal funding. I'm guessing they do though. If they don't, then I guess they can continue to do as they'd wish. If I were gay, it certainly wouldn't be high on my list of colleges anyway, so it's probably a moot point.
I should note here that I'm utilizing their chapel to get married in. I'd try and stick it to the man, but I'd get voted down I think. My fiance loves the chapel there.
I am pretty sure that they can't recieve federal funding because they are technically a religious institution, sorry my spelling is bad.
I do think that they are maybe going around it the wrong way though. Bethel and Northwestern make all of their students sign a "lifstyle covenent" which basically says that the student needs to adhear to the standards the school has. And these standards are based off of the Christian faith. So I think it would make more sense to say to live a "homosexual" lifestyle would not be keeping with the traditions and values of the institution. A student who's values on the subject are different then would have to question what they felt was more valuable. Or something like that. Either way it puts it on an interpersonal level instead of this mass "We reject you all." It would allow for more communication on the subject. Anyway I think it would just be a better way of handeling it. O.K. I'm done talking now, I hope that is semi-clear. I do agree though... I can't imagine it would be a much sought after school choice for most homosexuals, but hey you never know I guess.
Caleb
I wonder, would we be having this discussion if they were discriminating against students of color or women?
In a round about way, they do recieve government money (same as Macalester, St. Olaf, etc.) through FAFSA. Although, only the students recieve that money, so revoking that would only punish them. I got nothing.
We would not. You are totally right the second they would say that is totally inappropriate. It is interesting.
Here is another "example" that I think is interesting. Curves fitness club, it is a women only fitness club. They value women being able to workout without worring about men looking at them or them being safe something like that. If I would apply there they would turn me down even if it was the closest to my house or the best price. They would tell me sorry you don't fit into our value system. I don't think a guys only club would be allowed to do that. I just think it's interesting. I don't want to join a health club it just always makes me giggle a little I think my siter was a member at one...
Caleb
Yeah, it's like, I always wondered if the girls room at my high school was really nice, and they just gave the boys the crappiest setup ever.
Of course, I've seen through the windows to the machines at some of the Curves clubs, they are kind of wimpy. I guess people just sort of turn a blind eye to reverse discrimination, you know, to give a minority somthing back. Although, I have to say, BET kinda sucks.
No way, the feminist movement would never stand for it. They would be totally outraged. I agree that they can do it because they are a private institution, I guess I think it's funny how we as a society pick and choose when it is O.K. to "discriminate." Interesting that's all...
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