PCUSA on Gun Violence

A couple of months ago, our church sent a request to the Holston Presbytery requesting action on gun violence. The Presbytery responded by forming a subcommittee. This coming Sunday will have a look at the action of the subcommittee, its guiding document, and we'll discuss your ideas about where this initiative might go. For the very ambitious, here's a link to the PCUSA report. Please join us. We'll be delighted to have you.

Science and religion, with Jeff Wardeska, Ph.D.

This coming Sunday, our own Jeff Wardeska, Professor of Chemistry at ETSU will take a look at the relationship between science and religion.
Jeff  writes, "Alfred North Whitehead (1925) said “Science and religion are the two strongest general forces which influence men.” How should we view them? Are science and religion in conflict? Are they independent lines of inquiry? Should science and religion be in dialogue? What are the prospects for integrating the two?

We'll venture into:

• A brief history of the intersections between Science and Religion. What is science?  How do scientists view religion and God? 

• How we view the relationship between science and religion: 1. In conflict?  2. Parallel lines of thinking? 3. Complementary?  4. Can be fully integrated?

• Can we find meaning in/from science?  What does it mean to be a Christian in a scientific world?"

Please be warmly welcome.

Whence cometh our hope?

This question came up last week and in the little time remaining, we decided to pursue the question next week. Greek mythology tells us the Hope was the last creature remaining in Pandora's box, after all the evils had been released. Nietzsche wrote that hope is the cruelest of the evils as it keeps us renewed to continued torment. And Hebrew's (6:19) tells us that "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain. Please join us. You'll be welcome.

The social cost of income inequality

This Sunday we'll view a brief TED Talk by the British Economic professor, Richard Wilkinson titled: How economic inequality harms societies. We've seen this talk previously, and the facts persist: Countries with the greatest division between wealthy and poor are more burdened with social ills. Even the richest individuals are negatively affected. Sheesh! What would Jesus do?
Please be warmly invited to join us in Martin Hall at 9:45.

Jesus as moral philosopher: Don Cupitt

In the 1999 debates preceding the Republican primary, when asked who was their favorite philosopher, candidate George Bush replied, "Jesus Christ." Bush did have much to add, other than his hubris. However, Jesus seminarian Don Cupitt used Bush's response as the starting point of thoughtful thread on Jesus the divine versus Jesus, the moral teacher.
Please join us this coming Sunday as we explore Cupitt's interpretations. We'll be delighted to see you.