FPE Living the Questions

Evolution Sunday!

2012-02-07T19:07:00.000-08:00

Once again, our favorite Biology Professor, Dr. Julia Wade will lead our Forum's celebration of Evolution Sunday, falling this year, precisely on Charles Darwin's 203rd birthday.

Dr. Wade's synopsis reads:

"Evolution via natural selection was first introduced by Charles Darwin in 1859 with the publication of his book “The Origin of Species.” His research became the foundation on which generations of biologists have continued to build. In this talk we shall examine four major areas of research in the last 150 years that have strengthened his theory in ways he never dreamed possible. These areas include:

1. Darwin’s original theory of natural selection

2. The Modern Synthesis of the 1930’s and 1940’s that combined genetics with evolution

3. The discovery of DNA structure and the sequencing of several genomes, including our own

4. The role of evolutionary embryology and development which is referred to as Evo-Devo

Evo-Devo has revolutionized our understanding of the origin of species because it has explained how animals have evolved from the Cambrian Period (over 500 million years ago) to the present using many of the same basic “tool kit” genes!! Such an understanding of life on earth is critical if we are to be intelligent stewards of our planet."

Please join us for an enlightening meeting. Loving childcare is provided.

Evolutionarily speaking, Jesus was right.

2012-02-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

In advance of Evolution Sunday (Feb 12th) we're going to look at evidence of the origins of altruism and generosity. In our traditional view of evolution we think of survival of the fittest model, and we envision this model with a strong bias for individualism and self-interest. It is difficult to reconcile the surviving fittest with generosity, charity, forgiveness and other behaviors that fall under the moral umbrella created by the values of Jesus. ("how many times should I forgive...")

Early work by game theorists in the 1970's and 80's gave us the validity of the "tit-for-tat" or "eye for an eye" theory of reciprocity and cooperation. More recent work by evolutionary psychologists Leda Cosmides and John Tooby suggests that altruism and a certain amount of self-sacrifice can help make for a healthier, more prosperous world.

Please join us Sunday morning at 9:45 for what will hopefully be an interesting session. Loving childcare is provided.

Advocacy 101

2012-01-23T16:18:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday, Joe Rhymer will present "Advocacy 101." This presentation will provide citizen advocates with the tools and best practices for communicating with legislators to maximize the impact. Topics include legislative process, bill tracking as well as tips and tricks on how to get your message noticed. Joe promises to keep the session interesting with light conversation and examples from his experiences with local legislators. He will also provide a legislative update on LGBT issues at the conclusion of Advocacy 101.

About the speaker: Joe was born and raised in Bristol. He serves as the Tricities committee chair for the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP). The Tennessee Equality Project is a statewide organization dedicated to promote and sustain the equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons.

Please be warmly welcome to join us for an interesting and informative session. We'll be happy to see you. Generous, loving childcare is provided

The Atlantic Meets the Pacific: War of the Worldviews

2012-01-18T16:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a tip from our astute member, Nancy Barrigar I watched the dialog entitled "The Atlantic Meets the Pacific: War of the Worldviews: Exploring Science vs. Spirituality with Deepak Chopra and Leonard Mlodinow." This is an excellent, thoughtful debate between two very well-spoken proponents of divergent perspectives. Each presents convincing arguments. Neither wins or loses in their always-respectful discussion. Preview the video, here: http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=22484

Please join us on Sunday morning as we view and discuss the video. We'll be happy to see you. Generously loving childcare is provided.

Jerry Coyne and the Lack of Comity between Science and Religion

2012-01-10T19:02:00.001-08:00

Last Sunday we heard John Haught's presentation on the common ground between science and religion--it was his side of the debate at the Gaines Center at UKY. This coming Sunday we'll hear from the other side in the person of Jerry Coyne, professor of Biology at the U. Chicago. Coyne pulls no punches in what amounts to an aggressive and unbalanced attack on religion. My interest in Coyne's argument is that he is fairly representative of the positions taken by scientists against religion. Coyne say little that is not accurate, but his points are not particularly germane to the argument. This is a common theme, and one that we should be alert to.

Please join us for an interesting session. We'll be happy to see you. As ever, loving childcare is provided.

John Haught and the Comity of Science and Religion

2012-01-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

John F. Haught is professor of theology at Georgetown University and is considered the preeminent authority on the compatibility of science and religion. This past fall Haught was called on the debate his topic with University of Chicago biologist Jerry Coyne in the Bale-Boone seminar series at the U. of Kentucky. The debate sparked an interesting dialog that continued for several months. This Sunday we will view Haught's side of the debate, which, in my humble opinion amounted to a well-articulated, lofty and expansive view of Christianity and a warmingly loving God. We'll discuss the validity of Haught's argument of science's compatibility with religion. Please join us. We need your views.

As ever, superb childcare is provided.

The evolutionary value of Spirituality as a protector in aging

2011-12-14T14:27:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday we saw compelling evidence of the hard-wired basis of our spiritual selves. It's no wonder we feel pulled toward the experience of unity and the ineffable. This week we will continue this discussion by looking at the possible evolutionary value of being wired for spiritual seeking and how spiritual practice itself may help make us stronger and more resistant to mental imbalance and the encroachment on age-related disabilities. We'll interview Lydia Roane, an LCSW specializing in gero-psychiatric adaptations, and we'll see if she'll share her knowledge of the mental and emotional challenges of aging and the relation to spirituality. Please join us for the discussion. It should be of particular interest to those of us who are ourselves, aging, and to those of us who love someone who is.

As ever, loving childcare is provided.

From Spiritual Intelligence, Frances Vaughan - 1998, copied from the Council on Spiritual Development

SPIRITUALITY: Subjective experience of the sacred

RELIGION: Creed, community, code of ethics

SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE suggests
wisdom and compassion
understanding and inner peace
Love and freedom
depth and breadth of vision

SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE may be expressed as
the common work
teaching and learning
healing and forgiveness
research, education and service

The Neurochemistry of Spiritual Experience

2011-12-09T04:35:00.000-08:00

Recent controlled studies from Johns Hopkins University show that the use of the hallucinogenic agent psilocybin by naive participants produced in the subjects a profound sense of spiritual experience. Many of the subject reported that the experience was one of the most meaningful of their lives, and two years later, they still maintained that position. This coming Sunday we will have a look at the study and discuss some of the many implications. If you want to read an articulate account of one of the participants, click here:

http://csp.org/psilocybin/SciAmHallucinogens201012-Maria.pdf

Please join us for and interesting session. We'll be happy to see you. And as ever, loving childcare is provided.

Robert Funk on Spiritual Self-indulgence

2011-11-30T07:54:00.001-08:00

In “Honest to Jesus” Robert Funk writes that spirituality can be turned into a form of self-indulgence by insisting that “the Bible is a sourcebook for private spiritual nurture.” Funk continues, “Because scripture is considered ‘spiritual,’ individual are entitled to extract their own ‘spirituality’ in private, without the assistance of historical or critical analysis or, for that matter without reference to what the text meant originally. The doctrine that the state may not interfere with religious thought and practice and may not abridge freedom in that sector is taken as a guarantee that religion is a private and personal matter. Accordingly, everyone is permitted to be his or her own expert. Everyone is his or her own authority on the subject; no one has the right to tell an individual what the Bible or the gospels mean.

“This conviction has considerable merit. I subscribe to it myself.

“However, for many it is no more than a shield for self-indulgence, a prescription for do-it-yourself brain surgery. If in private meditation we are satisfied without own secret responses to a text that we may not, in fact, understand, then we have done no more than confirm our prejudices, invoking the text as an ally in self-deceit.”

Please join us as we discuss this topic, congratulate ourselves by citing some egregious examples, and then hopefully, with some honest reflection, explore alternatives.

We’ll be delighted to see you. As always, loving childcare is provided.

Free-for-all!

2011-11-22T18:26:00.000-08:00

We're having an unscripted session on this coming Sunday. Who knows what the topic will be. Join us. Tender-loving childcare is provided.

The social cost of income inequality

2011-11-16T18:39:00.000-08:00

Next Sunday, November 20, we'll view and discuss an on-line presentation by British economist, Richard Wilkinson. This is a surprizing and powerful presentation. Wilkinson demonstrates the inevitable relationship between income inequality and social ills. Preview here: http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_wilkinson.html

We hope to see you there. As ever, loving childcare is provided.

No meeting on Nov 13

2011-11-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

We're making room for the 10,000 Villages sale, so we won't be meeting on Nov 13.

However, we're still on for Nov 20 when we'll view and discuss an on-line presentation by British economist, Richard Wilkinson. This is a surprising and powerful presentation. Wilkinson demonstrates the inevitable relationship between income inequality and social ills. Preview here: http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_wilkinson.html

We hope to see you soon.

No Meeting on November 6

2011-11-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

We cancelled the Adult Forum for Sunday, November 6. We needed to make room for the Gratitude Dinner, to which you are warmly invited. It's for all of us.
Next Sunday, November 13, we'll view and discuss an on-line presentation by British economist, Richard Wilkinson. This is a surprizing and powerful presentation. Wilkinson demonstrates the inevitable relationship between income inequality and social ills. Preview here: http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_wilkinson.html We hope to see you soon.

Why Jesus is worth saving

2011-10-26T06:11:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we will continue our look at the "Saving Jesus Redux" series with a focus on Chapter 12, "Why Jesus is worth Saving."

From the accompanying text:

"The bottom-line is this: most Christians have grown up idolizing the Christ of the creeds and the Christ of faith without giving the Jesus of history much attention, let alone his due. So herein lies the “saving” part. Bernard Brandon Scott says,

“I think the historical Jesus counts now like he’s never counted before. What I’m not convinced ought to survive is Christianity. In fact, I’ve become more and more convinced that Christianity is the enemy of Jesus. When people ask me if I’m a Christian, I almost always say I’m a follower of Jesus—and I’m not sure that’s compatible with being a Christian.”

"Ouch!

"Jesus needs saving because his philosophy of life, what he taught, how he lived, and how he related to the Divine offer profound insights into the problem of human existence. We can adore and confess to the Christ of the creeds, but we can’t emulate the Christ of the creeds. For that, we need Jesus of Nazareth, the teacher, the sage, the prophet, the mystic—the human being."

Please join us at 9:45. Warm, loving childcare is provided.

Robert J Miller

2011-10-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, we will host Robert J. Miller, Professor of Religious Studies at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. A Fellow of the Jesus Seminar since 1986, he was Scholar-in-Residence at Westar Institute in 2001. He is the editor of "The Complete Gospels" (1992), an anthology of twenty early gospels presented in Westar's innovative translation, the "Scholars Version," and author of "The Jesus Seminar and Its Critics" (1999) and "Born Divine" (2003).

Here is a video of him
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNuwDg8B9bo

And here is his westar blurb
http://www.westarinstitute.org/Fellows/millerrj.html
and his faculty page
http://www.juniata.edu/departments/religion/research_miller.html

Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you, and as ever, loving childcare is provided.

Saving Jesus Redux: Resurrection

2011-10-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday Julie Wade will lead the Forum as we look at the historicity of the resurrection as told in the Bible.

“The emphasis upon the tomb really being empty that’s made by some Christians and the emphasis that Jesus rose in a physical, bodily way from the dead is really a distraction.”
—Marcus Borg, Living the Questions

From the text:
"It’s not difficult to imagine a parishioner approaching a pastor after a Bible study comparing the Gospels and saying, “I’m so relieved to know that I’m not crazy. Every Easter when the story was different I thought it was me—I thought I just had a really bad memory.” Nope. Your memory is fine. You’ve just stumbled upon a topic that isn’t discussed in polite company: the
inconvenient fact that none of the Gospels agree on what happened on Easter morning."

Please join us for and engaging session of alert minds. Superb, loving childcare is provided.

Saving Jesus Redux: Atonement

2011-10-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

This Sunday we're going to discuss the 10th chapter of "Saving Jesus redux -- Atonement"
Here's the teaser:
"How odd it would be if the “good news” was what most people think it is—that Jesus died for our sins. If that were the case, then Jesus would’ve been in the rather awkward position of going around the countryside with the nonsensical claim, “Hi, I’m Jesus and I died for your sins!” According to the synoptic gospels, the Good News is that the Kingdom of God is NOW and we’re called to participate in it. But don’t try to tell that to some folks. For many Christians, the “good news” is solely about what’s called the “saving work” of Jesus, achieved by his vicarious and atoning death on the cross.
"And yet, many New Testament scholars argue that some early streams of Christianity flowed with little or no mention of Jesus’ suffering and death. For those early Christians it was Jesus’ life and example, his teaching and healing, that were important. But at the opposite extreme, we’ve got the Apostle Paul preaching “Christ crucified!” with little mention of Jesus’ earthly life. While over the years Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection became essentially the be-all and end-all for most Christians, there’s never been a unanimous opinion. So, how are we to understand God’s saving work in Jesus Christ? Was it his life? His suffering? His crucifixion? His resurrection? All of the above?"
Please join us at 9:45. We'll be deilighted to see you. Loving childcare is provided.

Carol Landis, Ph.D. and the Green Interfaith Network

2011-09-19T19:34:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we are lucky to host Dr. Carol Landis, President of the Green Interfaith Network, Inc (GINI). Carol and her family are immigrants to TN from Ohio, where she was active with Ohio Interfaith Power & Light. She is a retired science teacher who still works as the Education Outreach Specialist for the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State. She and her husband have started a "nano-farm" to sustain their families with organically-grown produce, fruits, eggs, and meat.

GINI's vision is "to be a model for green faith communities in the Southern Appalachians and to become a spiritual voice for environmental sustainability in the Northeast TN and Southwest VA region." Please join us for a warm session on caring for our corner of the earth, and beyond.

As ever, we'll be delighted to see you, and remember, extraordinary childcare is provided.

Saving Jesus Redux: Who Killed Jesus?

2011-09-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we'll view the chew on the 9th chapter of Saving Jesus Redux: Who killed Jesus?
I've thought the answer is: "We did," where the "we" is the collective membership of the dominant politcal, military power structure. Two-thousand years ago, that power was in the hands of the Romans. Today, it is in our hands. The extent to which we are a members of that group defines the likelihood of our killing him again, should he return. If this seems far-fetched, consider the Wisdom of Solomon 2:12-20 (NRSV):

“Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange. We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God's child, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, so that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected."

Please be warmly welcomed to a thoughtful Sunday at 9:45. Loving childcare is provided

Saving Jesus Redux: The message of compassion

2011-09-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we'll cover the 8th chapter of "Saving Jesus Redux: Jesus' message of compassion."
This one's kind of deep, and it strikes a chord that we know is true. From the reading, "Matthew Fox shouts it from the rooftops: '...there’s a whole agenda out there for us that we have to wake the Church up to serve, because the Church is busy sleeping on a sentimentalized Christ and not the prophetic Jesus who calls us to do justice! As Meister Eckhart says, compassion is just another word for justice. It’s not about feeling sorry for people—it’s about creating circumstances of fairness and equality and balance so that rivers of wisdom and joy can flow through our hearts—through our communities.'”

Please join us for this heart-warming session. We'll be happy to see you. Tender loving childcare is provided. Starts at 9:45

Saving Jesus Redux, Chapter 7, The Kingdom

2011-09-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

This Sunday we will continue with the "Saving Jesus Redux" series, and we'll focus on chapter 7, Jesus' Program: the Kingdom of God.
From the handout materials:
" Jesus begins his ministry, going about the countryside proclaiming the good news of God. Ask most people on the street what the “good news” of Jesus is and, after sputtering a bit, they might say something like, “that Jesus died for my sins?” Indeed, that’s what most people have been convinced is the “good news.” But how weird would it have been for Jesus to start his ministry with, “Hi! I’m Jesus—and I died for your sins!” Huh? People would have rightly looked a bit suspiciously at him. According to the text, the “good news” has nothing to do with sin or Jesus’ death or much of anything embraced by practitioners of pop Christianity. The “good news” Jesus proclaims is the Kingdom of God is here, it’s now. "

Please join us at 9:45. It'll be an interesting session. And as ever, loving childcare is provided

Saving Jesus Redux: The Wisdom Tradition -- Repeat

2011-08-24T12:04:00.000-07:00

Once again, this coming Sunday we'll view and discuss Chapter 6 of "Saving Jesus Redux: The Wisdom Tradition." From the promotional materials: "Jesus was a purveyor of wisdom. His stories, sayings, and teachings say it over and over again: It’s not about victory. It’s not about punishment. It’s not about rewards. It’s not about what you deserve or what you get. Looking on reality with compassion, love, inclusivity, forgiveness— recognizing everything as created by God, infinite in dignity, to be honored. "Sadly, the God of many or most is not an unconditional lover. Jesus taught otherwise. The wisdom tradition is about learning what questions to ask, engaging the issues that deeply affect people, and being open to new possibilities. It’s a journey that you travel with trusted companions your whole life long. And as Jesus taught and lived, it’s about a surprising and transforming grace that humbles the powerful and empowers the humble." Please join us as we explore this compelling and engaging film.

We'll be delighted to see you. Loving childcare is provided.

Saving Jesus Redux: The Wisdom Tradition

2011-08-17T19:23:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we'll view and discuss Chapter 6 of "Saving Jesus Redux: The Wisdom Tradition."
From the promotional materials: "Jesus was a purveyor of wisdom. His stories, sayings, and teachings say it over and over again: It’s not about victory. It’s not about punishment. It’s not about rewards. It’s not about what you deserve or what you get. Looking on reality with compassion, love, inclusivity, forgiveness— recognizing everything as created by God, infinite in dignity, to be honored.
"Sadly, the God of many or most is not an unconditional lover. Jesus taught otherwise. The wisdom tradition is about learning what questions to ask, engaging the issues that deeply affect people, and being open to new possibilities. It’s a journey that you travel with trusted companions your whole life long. And as Jesus taught and lived, it’s about a surprising and transforming grace that humbles the powerful and empowers the humble."
Please join us as we explore this compelling and engaging film. We'll be delighted to see you. Loving childcare is provided.

Timo Haroken and a mission to the Congo (DRC)

2011-08-04T05:47:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we'll host Timo Haroken. Timo and Laura Harkonen are new associates of MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) which supplies flying services for many globalmission agencies. Laura is a pilot and Timo is completing his seminarytraining to serve as a mission pastor, but the main emphasis is on Laura serving as a pilot for MAF and their destination in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Timo will share a video and talk to us about their mission program and future.
Please join us for this interesting presentation. We'll be delighted to see you. And tender loving childcare is provided.

Rounding of Lloyd Geering--The Last Western Heretic

2011-07-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we will conclude viewing the story of Lloyd Geering as shown through the film, "The Last Western Heretic." This has been a fascinating story that traces the lafe and theological development of one of Presbyterianism's most interesting leaders.
Please join us. We'll be happy to see you, Sunday, at 9:45.
Loving childcare is provided.

Lloyd Geering -- The Last Western Heretic

2011-07-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, John referenced Lloyd Geering in his sermon. His description of Geering was correct. At age 93 Geering is yet publishing. His latest book "Such Is Life!: A Close Encounter With Ecclesiastes" is being reviewed by Rebecca Hilton. He's a fascinating person. Here's a modified version of his entry on Wikipedia:

Geering was born in New Zealand in 1918. He holds a master's degree in Mathematics and a Doctor of Divinity from the University of Otago. Following his ministry in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ), he began teaching theology in 1956. In 1967 Geering became famous when he was charged with "doctrinal error" and "disturbing the peace and unity of the (Presbyterian) church". The case was brought before the 1967 General Assembly of the PCANZ, and dismissed without being much discussed. The charges were brought by a group of conservative laymen and a conservative minister. During his church trial he claimed that the remains of Jesus lay somewhere in Palestine and that the resurrection had been wrongfully interpreted by churches as a resuscitation of the body of Jesus. He also rejects the notion that God is a supernatural being who created and continues to look over the world.
Geering is a member of the Jesus Seminar and a participant in the Living the Questions program

He was honoured in 1988 as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and in 2001 as Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. In the 2007 New Year Honours List he was made a Member of the Order of New Zealand.

This coming Sunday and the next, we'll view a documentary of his career entitled "the Last Western Heretic." If you'd like a preview, click here for the link. we'll leave plenty of time for discussion.

Please join us. We'll enjoy seeing you. And as ever, tender loving childcare is provided.

More Kilowatt Ours

2011-06-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we started viewing the video, "Kilowatt Ours," and this week we will finish the view. This video is very good in that it not only points out the problems with our energy consumption, it happily points to easy things we can all do to save energy and money. We'ver got some great advocates in the group. Please join us as we continue the discussion.
As always, excellent and loving childcare is provided.

Kilowatt Ours

2011-06-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday, June 26th, we're going to view the film "Kilowatts Ours: A Plan to Re-Energize America." This compelling documentary Jeff Barrie was produced in Nashville and filmed in southern Appalachia. It takes a careful look at the cost of producing electricity at the expense mountain-top removal. The subject is topical given the recent state legislative issuance of licenses to remove mountain tops in Tennessee. The cost of a kilowatt is much more than dollars we send in to the Power board. The cost hits our environmental, aesthetic and ecological pocketbooks in both the near and far-reaching future. Alternatives are possible-- we don't have to go this way.

See the press release, here: http://www.kilowattours.org/mediakit/KilowattOursPR042309.pdf

Visit the website, here: http://www.kilowattours.org/

Please join us at 9:45 for a thoughtful viewing. We'll be delighted to see you, and as ever, loving childcare is provided.

Taneem Aziz

2011-06-09T20:23:00.000-07:00

This Sunday we have as our special guest, Mr. Taneem Aziz, a local leader of the Muslim Community of Northeast Tennessee. Mr. Aziz will provide his perspective on current events related to the local, national and international Muslim Community. Please join us for Mr. Aziz's return to our FPCe Adult Forum. We'll be delighted to see you. Excellent childcare is provided.

The Roots of Religion -- JS Spong

2011-06-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday, June 5, we will view and discuss a compressed version of John Shelby Spong's talk on "God in the 21st Century." The compressed version is edited for the salient points Spong makes on "tribal" religion in it's many forms. If you want a preview, here's the link: "Roots of Religion".

Please join us at 9:45. We'll be delighted to see you, and as ever, loving childcare is provided.

Jonathan Miller and Colin McGinn

2011-05-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

This week we'll continue viewing Jonathan Miller's interview of British philosopher Colin McGinn. The interview is part of Miller's BBC series, "The Atheism Tapes." We started into this last week and had so much discussion that we ran out of time. This coming Sunday we'll finish up. If you want to preview the entire interview, click here.
Please join us. We'll be happy to see you. As usual, loving childcare is provided.

Back from the Jesus Seminar

2011-04-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday, our very own John Shuck will report to the Adult Forum with news from his recent trip to the 2011 Jesus Seminar in Salem, Oregon.

In 1985, the Jesus Seminar grew out of the efforts of Robert Funk and the Westar Institute whose stated "twofold mission is to foster collaborative research in religious studies and to communicate the results of the scholarship of religion to a broad, non-specialist public." The Jesus Seminar's main goal has been to identify a clearer picture of who Jesus really was. In their words, the Jesus Seminar has sought to "discover and report a scholarly consensus on the historical authenticity of the sayings (phase 1) and events (phase 2) attributed to Jesus in the gospels." The members, a mix of well-known schlolars and unfamiliar names, vote on lines of biblical scripture as being historically accurate, may accurate, not so accurate and definitey not accurate. The results have been both highly lauded and strongly condemned.

Please join us as John brings us up to date on the latest happenings. We'll be delighted to see you, and as ever, warm and loving childcare is provided.

Saving Jesus, Redux, Part 2

2011-04-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

This Sunday we'll have a look at chapter 2. Here's the teaser: So, "Who was Jesus? Apocalyptic firebrand. Mystical faith healer. Political insurrectionist. There are as many images of Jesus as there are theological and political stripes. Walk into the narthex of any number of Protestant churches, and you’re likely to find the sentimental, blue-eyed, pink-skinned Jesus of artist Warner Sallman gazing peacefully upon your comings and goings. Enter the neighboring Catholic Church, and you’ll probably find the image of a beaten, bleeding, emaciated man suffering on a cross. "From the Gospels to illustrated Bible storybooks to portrayals in film, Jesus has been the subject of considerable “spin” over the ages. Each tradition and each individual puts their own emphasis on who Jesus was. For many middle-class Americans, the ideal Jesus is the gentle, upstanding, right-thinking (and often somewhat androgynous) suburbanite with good posture. The notion that Jesus might have been a short, dark, Middle-Eastern peasant rabble-rouser is so far from many people’s capacity to comprehend, that all reason is rejected in favor of the gauzy Aryan visions of early childhood. A blondhaired, blue-eyed Jesus, meek and mild, is such a stalwart icon of Western culture, that to suggest anything contrary or corrective to that image is tantamount to heresy." Please be warmly welcome. And as always, loving childcare is happily provided.

Going Green with Josh Kelaher

2011-03-30T18:46:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we are pleased to host Josh Kelaher, a student at James Madison University and an entrepeneur in green building design. Josh writes:

I want to talk about some misconceptions people have about "going green." While the name may be trendy, sustainability is not going to be a flash in the pan. Every day we are confronted with more and more problems related to our finite resources in the energy realm. Not only that, but the signs of our threatened energy security are more clear than ever in the recent events around the world. So what can we do? Being environmentally conscious isn't a full time job or a nuisance, as some may think. A major obstacle is that people just aren't accustomed to thinking and acting with their environmental impact in mind. Others still feel that the little things don't make that big of a difference. Nothing could be further from the truth. I want to talk about my house and my experiences living there, as well as working for a start-up company with the goal to make renewable energy options affordable for homeowners through creative financing and integration of designs.

Josh is Judy Garland's grandson who says, "I'm a senior at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. I was born and grew up in South Carolina, and then moved just outside of DC to Fairfax, Virginia for high school. At JMU I'm earning a degree in Integrated Science and Technology, with an emphasis on energy studies and environmental science. I'm passionate about sustainability and learning all that I can to reduce my impact on the environment. For two summers during college, I traveled to Costa Rica to study renewable energy technologies first hand. Outside of my studies, I enjoy snowboarding, playing the guitar, and exploring the Shenandoah Valley."

Please join us to hear this refreshing voice on leaving the world better than we found it. We'll be tickled to see you. As always, superb childcare is provided.

Saving Jesus, part 1

2011-03-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

Over the past weeks John's sermons have worked to create a portrait of Jesus as unlike the deity often embraced by many mainstream religious groups. In the telling of the parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1-8) Jesus reveals his beliefs about the privileged and their values toward the accumulation of wealth. His opinion of these self-serving members of the upper socioeconomic class is low one. In the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:2-6) we hear Jesus describing a powerful judge who neither fears God or cares for the opinions of people. Jesus advocates for the needy, the members of the lower socioeconomic strata, who insist that they receive justice. And in the story of the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:25-30) Jesus initially insults a gentile mother, and when she wise-cracks back at him, he changes his mind.
All of these images of Jesus -- the despiser of the wealthy, the advocate of those deserving justice, a man who reflects on his prejudice and then changes his mind -- are at strong variance with the popular, mainstream view of Jesus-the-God-and-second-member-of-the-trinity. These less common images form a more approachable Jesus, a more human, a more like us Jesus that seems worth a deeper look. They bear a message worth hearing. To this end, the Living the Questions group has produced a study series entitled "Saving Jesus, Redux". This series, prepared with the usual high level of thought, expertise and intelligent adult polish, presents Jesus in a role more related to his advocacy of social justice and less that of deity as personal savior. It is an engaging production done well, and one sure to stimulate some discussion.
Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you. The very best of loving childcare is provided.

How Do We Say Goodbye?

2011-03-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

Death is not an easy subject to discuss but it is inevitable for each of us. As we were reminded on Ash Wednesday, "Dust you are and to dust you will return." In the church, we can talk about difficult subjects. We can own our fears, our brokenness, and our inability to communicate with those whom we love the most. And by acknowledging that something is difficult we begin to be able to approach it with love and kindness. Randy Sermons, Lydia Roane, Pat Willard will present the program.

Please be warmly welcome to this important discussion. Excellent childcare is provided.

God in America

2011-03-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

For those who know that in America, religion matters, and for those who wish it didn’t matter so much, comes GOD IN AMERICA, a sweeping history of how religious faith has shaped America. Interweaving documentary footage, historical dramatizations, and interviews with religious historians, this film series explores the role of religion in the public life of the United States. We will be looking at part one that examines religious freedom in the earliest days of our country.
Please join us. We'll be happy to see you. And as always, excellent childcare is provided.

Wrapping up our evolving brains

2011-03-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

Last week we closed with a fascinating discussion on the evolved human brain, with a focus on how we've come to develop a sense of spirituality, and how religion provides us with adaptive benefits. The talk was robust, engaging, and full of energy. Dr. Julie Wade has agreed to lead a closing session on the topic this coming Sunday, March 6. Please join us for a lively forum, and bring your questions and comments. We'll be delighted to see.
As ever, loving childcare is provided.

And still our brain evolves

2011-02-23T17:53:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday Dr. Julie Wade will conclude her series on the evolution on the brain with more discussion on the evolution of the frontal cortex, modern consciousness and our natural inclination towards religion and spirituality.
Please be warmly welcome to join us for this interesting and exciting discussion.
As ever, loving childcare is provided.

Our brain keeps evolving

2011-02-15T19:25:00.000-08:00

Next Sunday Dr. Wade will continue her presentation on the evolution of the human brain. Last Sunday was the cellular anatomy and physiolgy. Upcoming is evolution and functional development. It'll be good as we approach the hard questions. I think we set a record with 56 folks in attendance. Please join us for more.
As ever, loving childcare is provided.

The evolution of the human brain: Dr. Julie Wade

2011-02-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday we are very pleased to present Dr. Julie Wade speaking on the Evolution of the human brain. She wrote the following:

"The field of biology was revolutionized by Charles Darwin who helped us understand how living organisms have evolved over millions of years and are still evolving today. His theory of natural selection described descent with modification which was driven by environmental pressures. His work has become the central underlying paradigm in the field because he provided so much data to support his theory. This theory first published in 1859 has yet to be refuted by scientists and has been made even stronger by more recent research involving DNA.

Studies of the evolution of the brain and behavior are difficult because we cannot study either internal soft tissues or behavior using fossils. These studies are based on investigations of contemporary organisms that are closely related to their fossilized ancestors. Fossilized skulls are used to extrapolate brain sizes at a given point in evolutionary time but are relatively hard to find.

In his book “The Accidental Mind—How Brain Evolution Has Given Us Love, Memory, Dreams, and God”, neuroscientist DJ Linden does an excellent job of describing the serendipitous evolution of our brains that has given us our humanity. He dismisses the fact that the brain is a paragon of design by describing it as inelegant and inefficient, and he points out that if it were built today by modern engineers, it would look and function very differently from its current design. My presentation will be based on his book which describes how our earliest ancestors have contributed to and laid the foundation for our twenty-first century brains and much of our behavior."

Dr. Julie Wade is a retired Biology Professor and Pre-Professional Health Advisor who taught at Pennsylvania State University (3 yrs) and Milligan College (24 years). She taught a wide variety of courses including comparative anatomy, animal physiology, human anatomy and physiology, cell and molecular biology, endocrinology, histology, and research seminar.

Please join us, Sunday at 9:45. It will be a delightful time. And as usual, excellent and loving childcare is provided.

The Atheism Tapes with Denys Turner

2011-02-01T19:31:00.001-08:00

Jonathan Miller, one of the brightest minds of our time, together with BBC created a series of six interviews in 2004 that aired under the title of "The Atheism Tapes." The interviews were compiled from material left over from Miller's 2003 series entitled, "A Rough History of Disbelief."
All of the "Atheism Tapes" interviews were conducted with well-known atheists, except for the one with Denys Turner, Chair of Theology at Cambridge, and that's the one we will view and discuss this coming Sunday.
The Turner interview begins on the point of "why is there something instead of nothing," but along the way it reels across atheistic fundamentalism and dips into questions that are genuinely appropriate to ask and disingenuously wise avoid. At times the point of the conversation vanishes maddeningly into the thin ethereal air of philosophical obscurity, but in the end, it lands squarely and satisfyingly in pragmatic reality. It is a difficult conversation to follow, but it utimately resolves at a point happily within our reach. If you'd like a preview, click here.
This'll be good. I promise.

Please join us at 9:45. We'll be delighted to see you. And remember, wonderful childcare is provided.

Does the Death Penalty Serve Justice?

2011-01-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday, January 30, we are pleased to host Rev. Stacy Rector, executive director of "Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty." Stacy will speak on Tennessee's stance on the death penalty and the justice to be served to the 88 people (87 men and 1 woman) currently held on our state's death row.

Capital Punishment is a type of justice. It falls within the category of retributive justice, a form that appeals to our sense of vengance, and an act that serve to satisfy our base desire to pay back a wrong. However, if we are ever to move beyond "an eye for an eye" (that leaves the whole world blind) then we are pointed towards something else...something like restorative justice, a form that rights the wrong, and liberates us from the need to "get even."

From the Website of Tennesseans for alternatives to the death penalty: "Stacy Rector is a native of Dyersburg, Tennessee, a graduate of Rhodes College and Columbia Theological Seminary, and an ordained Presbyterian minister. She served as the Associate Pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville for nine years. During her time as a pastor, Stacy served on the board of TADP, the Restorative Justice Coalition of Tennessee, and was a founding member of the board for the Presbyterian Network to End Homelessness. In October 2006, Stacy became Executive Director of Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (TADP), an organization whose mission is to honor life by abolishing the death penalty. She also currently serves on the Peacemaking and Outreach committees for the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee and on the board of People of Faith Against the Death Penalty."

Please be warmly invited to join us. We'll be delighted to see you. As always, superlative childcare is provided.

What is Peak Oil and Why Should the Church Care?

2011-01-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday, January 23, John Shuck will present, "What is Peak Oil?"

According to geologist, Colin Campbell:
"The term Peak Oil refers to the maximum rate of the production of oil in any area under consideration, recognising that it is a finite natural resource, subject to depletion."

Don't let the terse definition fool you. This peak of oil global oil production that many experts think is happening now has huge impacts on everything including geopolitics, transportation, economy, ecology, housing, food, career choices--in short--civilization.

John will present a powerpoint and a short clip on Peak Oil and open up the discussion for what are possible implications and possible creative and compassionate responses.

Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you. And so will our folks that provide the very best childcare.

Heroes and the Challenge of Dissent

2011-01-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

In preparing last week's presentation I stumbled across an interview of Richard Cizik as part of a forum on the Cost of Dissent in the Workplace. Other participants included Matthew Alexander who demonstrated the ineffectiveness the US military's efforts with "enhanced interrogation techniques" in Iraq in 2006, and Elizabeth MacKenzie Biedell, a former intelligance analyst who wrote daily briefings for the White House and senior cabinet leaders during the buildup to the Iraq war.
Each of these individuals stepped out of their ranks to say, in effect, "this is not right" and then each bore the burnt of being a truth-teller. Their stories give some depth to the beatitude appearing in Matthew, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven", and that appearing in Luke, "Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil..."

Please join us as we hear the voices of these people who paid a price for doing the right thing. We'll be delighted to see you. And has usual, loving childcare is provided.

Evangelical Backlash on Environmentalism

2011-01-03T05:20:00.000-08:00

Last week an article in the NY Times led off with this video clip:

It is inflammatory. The magnitude of the corruption and dishonesty required to produce such a video is difficult, or nearly impossible to comprehend. I found myself thinking that the group that produced this video, the "Cornwall Allaince" are possessed of a vile, reprehensible theology.

Here's the link to the NYT article: Here

My first inclination is to show how easy it is to find succinct and comprehensive evidence of the overwhelming science that supports the facts of global warming, such as may be found at NASA or the Evironmental Protection Agency.

But, with a closer look and some inquiry, it becomes evident that the Cornwall Alliance formed as a response to what was percieved as a direct threat arising from a schism deep within the fundamentalist right. This schism erupted when Rich Cizik, former vice president for governmental affairs at the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) broke ranks with the hard core conservatives... Cizik not only accepted the science of global warming, he spoke positively of civil unions on Terri Gross' "Fresh Air." It ensured his forced resignation.

This Sunday we'll have a look at the position of Cornwall Alliance and its claim of the anti-Christian nature of climate change, the EPA's summary statement of the science of global warming, and Rich Cizik's efforts to promote global warming awareness through Creation Care.

Please join us Sunday as we have a closer look at the fascinating triangulation. There's hope in it.

As ever, excellent childcare is provided.

Spong: Eternal Life: a New Vision!

2010-12-28T10:32:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, January 2, we're going to hear Bishop John Shelby Spong's closing talk in the Chatauqua series, "Eternal Life: A New Vision"
In one of the earlier talks, Spong spoke of the short-comings of older forms of understanding of Christianity, particularly in the face of modern scientific discoveries and understanding. He painted a disturbing picture. However, in this talk, the final in the series, Spong brings it home with satisfying resolution, concordant with discovery, exhorting us to live fully, love wastefully and break barriers of separation. It's an uplifting talk.
Please join us, we'll be delighted to see you.
As ever, superlative childcare is provided.

No Adult Forum on December 26th

2010-12-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas.
Check back next week for our topic on Jan 2.

Responding to "Transcending Religion"

2010-12-14T13:14:00.001-08:00

Last week we heard the Chautauqua sermon by Bishop Spong. Here's the link if you want a refresher (click here).
In his sermon, Spong marks some strong challenges. He shows us that science and modern understanding of the world conflict with historical, sometimes architypal views of the nature of God, the soul and eternal life. He tells us that, knowing what we now know is true, we can't go back to the old beliefs. We have to go forward.

But the old beliefs filled voids, and gave humanity succor, comfort and confidence. So....what do we go forward with?

Let's talk about it this coming Sunday.

Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you at 9:45. As ever, the very best in childcare is provided.

Possible snow date for the Progressive Dinner

2010-12-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

Check the "comments" to this post for the lastest updates.

John Spong: "Transcending Religion"

2010-12-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

Listening to John Spong can be wonderfully liberating. His is one of the most talented voices of Progressive Christianity.
Spong, a recently retired Episcopalian Bishop is a native of North Carolina and spent much of his early professional life in our region. He knows who we are, and he knows the religion in which many of us were raised, and he knows the pitfalls. His insights for the successful future of Christianity are radical, fearless, generous and clear.
This coming Sunday we will listen to a lecture Spong gave in the Chautauqua Institute Series in New York. The title is "Transcending Religion." It's a good one.

Please join us. We'll be happy to see you. And as ever, loving childcare is provided.

First ethics, now values

2010-11-30T19:04:00.001-08:00

Last month we explored the origins of morality. This month we'll take a finer point as we have a look at values--Christian values, and family values.
This is going to be tougher than you'd think because, dad-gum-it, there's no official list of what these values actually are. This means we'll have to employ perspective and look at values professed by a wide number of individuals and groups, all claiming to be Christian. And then we'll compare these values to other groups to see how much justification there is in calling them "Christian."
It'll be fun.
Please join us. And remember, superlative childcare is provided.

No Adult Forum on November 28th

2010-11-24T08:00:00.001-08:00

The Adult Forum will not meet on November 28th.
Stay tuned for an update on December 5th.

Exploring the Stages of Moral Development

2010-11-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday, November 21, Sandy Westin will lead the discussion as we continue to explore from whence morality cometh.

In the past few weeks we’ve explored the sources of our species’ sense of morality. This week Sandy Westin will lead us in exploring how that sense develops – or doesn’t develop - within an individual as they grow into adulthood. Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget defined four stages of cognitive development during his remarkable life and career (1896-1980). Building on Piaget’s work, Harvard professor Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987) expanded that structure into six stages of moral development within three major phases of the development of reasoning ability. We will try out a few moral dilemmas to see how our own reasoning and experience do or do not fit into Kohlberg’s and Piaget’s stage theories.

Sandy Westin earned her Bachelor’s degree at Washington State University in the combined fields of Human Development and Psychology. She currently serves as the North American Regional Coordinator of United Religions Initiative, and lives in Johnson City.

Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you. And as ever, superior childcare is provided.

No Forum on Nov 14th

2010-11-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

The Adult Forum will not meet on November 14th. We're making room for the 10,000 Villages sale.
On the 21st, Sandy Westin will continue our series on the origins of morality with a presentation on Jean Piaget. Details coming soon.

More on Morality: 95 Theses of Matthew Fox

2010-11-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

First we heard Sam Harris propose that science could answer moral questions. He didn't convince us. Then we heard from Bonobo-watcher, Franz de Waal who showed us that, while science can't provide answers to moral questions, it can show us some of the evolutionary origins of our sense of morality, and how much we have in common with the animal kingdom. From biological observations, it's easy to see how we have a thirst for justice.
Leaping across the universe of disciplines, we find Matthew Fox, a former Roman Catholic priest (and now an Episcopalian priest) who was so disturbed by the injustices of his religion that he repeated Martin Luther's act of nailing 95 new theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany, where Luther's theses helped give rise to the Protestant Reformation. Fox begins a new reformation. Many of his 95 theses define a moral system that seems to be consistent with science, and with the resonant facets of biological justice.
Please join us for the discussion. We'll be happy to have you. And as always, loving, intelligent childcare is provided.

Still looking for the source of Morality

2010-10-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

Last week we watched Sam Harris' presentation on the ability of science to answer moral questions. We did not learn that it can. Harris told us that science-based answers to moral problems was a good idea, but unfortunately he didn't give us any evidence. Through our discussion, the best we could come up with is that perhaps the Golden Rule is as good as we've got for a universal truth. And maybe that's a pretty significant conclusion.
Next Sunday we will continue with Franz de Waal and a recent piece he wrote for the NY Times entitled "Morals without God." Again, we'll see the the author of the title of the essay is a bit optimistic with respect to de Wall's position. De Waal holds that the building blocks of morality are clearly and obviously presence in the natural world. Examples will be illustrated and discussed.
Please join us for a lively session. We'll be delighted to see you. And remember, excellent childcare is provided.

From whence comes morality?

2010-10-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

We'll be embarking on a multi-week adventure that takes us from righteous anti-theism, to non-theistic biological morality, to God-based Creation Spirituality. I'm targeting three Sundays to complete the passage.

This Sunday we'll view a talk by Sam Harris entitled "Science can answer moral questions." The blurb that accompanies the presentation reads:

"Questions of good and evil, right and wrong are commonly thought unanswerable by science. But Sam Harris argues that science can -- and should -- be an authority on moral issues, shaping human values and setting out what constitutes a good life." Notice that it does not say THE authority, but rather AN authority.

However, both the title and the blurb are misleading; Harris' remarks are mostly based on identifying unnecessary suffering caused by religious beliefs. He says cruelty and injustice are easy to identify and we should speak out against them, but often we don't because religous based actions have a special status that we regard too highly. This presentation was delivered to a large forum in Palo Alto, and he received a standing ovation at its end. It is a good talk, but Harris does not show that science can answer moral questions. Here's the link: Click here.

On the other hand, Frans de Waal, in a recent column in the NY Times speaks directly to findings of science that point fairly clearly to a biological bases for our sense of morality. de Waal, writing under the title "Morals without God?" posits that evidence for the building blocks of morality are clear in many species of mammals, but as for science offering moral answers, he says, "what alternative does science have to offer? Science is not in the business of spelling out the meaning of life and even less in telling us how to live our lives. We, scientists, are good at finding out why things are the way they are, or how things work, and I do believe that biology can help us understand what kind of animals we are and why our morality looks the way it does. But to go from there to offering moral guidance seems a stretch." Here's the link: Click here.

The following week we'll have a look at Matthew Fox, promulgator of Creation Spirituality and his 95 theses. We'll talk about how these statements, nailed to the door of Wittenburg Church where Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses that started the Protestant Reformation, fill in where science cannot go. Fox's theses, in the context of the positions offered by Harris and Fox provide some intriguing notions. For example, “All the names we give to God come from an understanding of ourselves”, and "Celebration and worship are key to human community and survival..." Here's the link: Click here.

We'll keep a record of the major points that arise out of these sessions, with the expectation that a definitive theme will emerge.

Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you. And as ever, excellent childcare is provided.

John Shelby Spong's Sermon on the minor Prophets

2010-10-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we're going to watch a sermon delivered by retired Episcopalian Bishop John Shelby Spong to the Unity church in the Rockies in 2006. This is a beautiful sermon. It shows the evolution of the biblical envisioning of the nature of God, going from the wrathful creator/destroyer of Genesis to becoming the God of loving redemption and justice seen in the stories of Hosea, Amos, Micah and Malachai.
Spong is a wonderful, kind, intelligent voice for religion in the 21st century, and this is a thoughtful, up-lifting presention. Please join us. We'll be delighted to see you. And as always loving childcare is provided.

Preview here: John Shelby Spong

Hans Rosling Rocks!

2010-10-06T06:27:00.000-07:00

One of TED's most popular speakers is the statistician, Hans Rosling.
Rosling is entertaining, funny, and brilliant. He's a professor of Public Health at the Karolinska Institute, the same organization that names the Nobel Prize winner Medicine. His presentation of world helath data is truly amazing and entertaining.
The website says:
"You've never seen data presented like this. With the drama and urgency of a sportscaster, statistics guru Hans Rosling debunks myths about the so-called "developing world." It's true. Rosling's uses data from the United Nations and related sources to bring a fresh, realistic view of the states of health areas around the world.
Please join us for this entertaining, inspirational presentation.
We'll be glad to see you, and as always, inspired childcare is provided.

Stand By Me | Playing For Change | Song Around the World

2010-09-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday, October 3 is going to be an honest-to-goodness FEEL GOOD!! session with "Playing for Change." If you're not familiar with the Playing for Change movement you, friend, are in for a major league treat.

Playing for Change is a world-wide movement to bring peace to the earth through shared music and the miracle of the internet. We're going to become a part of the movement and we will feel the peace, the joy and the happiness that comes with sharing songs across the planet.

Please join us. You'll be very welcome, and I guarantee you'll feel better for the experience. Guaranteed! or your money back.

As always, world-class, loving childcare is provided.

More on Mountain Top Mining

2010-09-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

Last week John shuck gave us an introduction to some of the ills of Mountain Top Mining. It was good. This coming Sunday, the story continues.

Please joins us at 9:45. We'll be delighted to see you.
Excellent childcare is provided.

Mountain top mining

2010-09-15T18:41:00.001-07:00

This coming sunday and the next, our fearless minister, John shuck will lead us in a viewing and discussion of Mountain Top Mining, the source of the fuel that satisfies of much of our need for energy, and the price that it costs to the environment and humanity.

Please join us at 9:45. Ever-so-loving childcare is provided

How to think! with Frederick Norwood

2010-09-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we will host Professor Frederick Norwood of ETSU's Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Professor Norwood has been at ETSU for a number of years. His area of expertise is in the field of Topology and Analysis, with a focus on knots and surfaces.

Dr. Norwood has published a number of manuscripts that reflect his curosity and imagination. He'll speak to us on the topic of "How to think."

Please join us at 9:45. Wonderful childcare is provided.

The Lazy Man's Guide to Enlightenment

2010-09-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

I've gotten a recommendation (from across our living room) to turn our direction slightly more in a spiritual direction. I like good recommendations. I recall Sylvia's comment from last Sunday regarding our two bodies, with one of heart and mind. Perhaps this was not what was said, but rather what I heard. Nonetheless, I'm reminded of Jill Bolte Taylor's talk on her brain hemorrhage and how it made her so accutely and profoundly aware of the vast differences between right and left brain function. She spoke of the two sides of her brain as operating in two completely unique views of the world, and each providing entirely separate experiences with differing perceptions. She implored her audience to spend more time in the right brain, with its inherent sense of expansiveness, inclusiveness, unity and belonging. Her call sounds so inviting, but she does not give instructions on how to get there.
Oddly, Jill's recounting of her right-brain experience sounds remarkably like the growth experiences and states of being described in the 1970's booklet by Thaddeus Golas entitled, "The Lazy Man's Guide to Enlightenment" which does contain simple instructions for getting into the right brain experience. I'll introduce the fundamentals.

Please join us at 9:45. We'll be delighted to have you.

As usual, excellent childcare is provided

Susan Savage-Rumbaugh on Bonobos

2010-08-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

Bonobos are colloquially known as pigmy chimps. They are cute. Most zoos don't keep them because their sexual behavior is so similar to human behavior that it makes us uncomfortable. They are also a highly egalitarian, matriarchal group and only one of the only species that voluntarily shares food. In short, these are little-known, fascinating animals. Bonobos have begun to gain a greater presence, thanks to primatologists like Frans DeWaal (recent author of "Empathy") and Susan Savage-Rumbaugh.
This Sunday we'll view and discuss a TED presentation by Susan. It's been rated as "jaw-dropping". Here's the link:
Susan Savage-Rumbaugh on apes Video on TED.com
Please be warmly invited to join us. We'll be happy to see you.
The best of childcare is provided.

Palestine is on the Other Side of the Wall

2010-08-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

This coming sunday we are hosting a new-comer, Sandy Westin. She's going to share a perspective from Palestine. As an introduction to her presentation, she wrote:

"In June of this year I was privileged to be part of the annual meeting of the global staff and board of the URI organization, this year held in Amman, Jordan. At the end of that trip, I joined 20 others of the group in touring a few of the many holy sites of Jordan, Palestine and Jerusalem, lead by one of their board members who is a Palestinian peace activist. I came home from that experience with insights about the Middle East I would like to share.

Western media has shown us pictures of the barrier Israel has erected between what it considers to be their land and that of its neighbor and rival for that land, Palestine. A concrete wall some 30 feet high with barbed concertina wire running along the top, this line of demarcation appears stark and intimidating from the Israeli side. The incredible mixture of pain and beauty, hatred and peace that lies on the other side of that wall was a surprise to me, and may be to others as well. Sunday I will share with the class some of my observations, a few photos and true stories from “The Other Side of the Wall”. This different perspective can expand our understanding about the nature of a conflict we are only witness to some 6,500 miles away."

A bit about Sandy:

"I have a life-long commitment to building a more peaceful world has lead her to be part of producing and documenting two Soviet-American Citizen Diplomacy Summits in the 1980’s, serve as Managing Director of the Voices of the Earth eco-spirituality conference at the University of Colorado in 1995, and currently serve as North American Regional Coordinator of the global interfaith organization, United Religions Initiative. In the past two years, my work has taken her to India and the Middle East. My husband, Paul, and I recently moved to Johnson City where I am beginning work on a Masters in Storytelling at ETSU so I can move anecdotes of transformational moments in peacebuilding into stories that can be told and retold worldwide. "

For more background on the United Religions International, click the link: http://www.uri.org/

Please join us for what promises to be a fascinating presentation. We'll be very glad to see you and and remember, excellent childcare is provided.

More of Daniel Dennett and Loving Atheists

2010-08-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

Last week we heard from, and talked about Daniel Dennett, the philosopher at Tufts. We heard some of his world view and specifically his kind and thoughtful rebuttal to parts of Rick Warren's book, A Purpose Driven Life. Not lost in this is Dennett's welcoming embrace of most of Warren had to say. It was sort of an atheist surprise. Here's the link: Click
This coming Sunday, we'll continue to hear more from Dennett in his BBC interview by Jonathan Miller, and his thoughts on dangerous memes. I'll continue to contend that much of what they, both Miller and Dennett have to say is laudable, and that there truly is a special place in God's heart for their disbelief.

Please be warmly invited to join us. We'll be glad to see you. And as always, kind and thoughtful childcare is provided.

There's a special place in God's heart for Atheists

2010-08-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

I've often felt that atheists hold a special place in God's heart. I hope to be able to share with you what I mean. This coming Sunday we'll view and discuss a 20-minute video of Daniel Dennett, professor of philosophy at Tuft's University, and author of "Breaking the Spell."
Dennett has been named as one of the modern Four Horsemen of the Anti-Apocalypse, along with Sam Harris ("Letters to a Christian nation,"), Richard Dawkins ("The God Delusion") and Christopher Hitchens ("God is not great.") While Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris have often been labelled as provacateurs, Dennett is charming, sincere, clear-voiced, funny, lovable and brilliant. Though not an atheist, I find Dennett to be endearing. I think we share much of his disbelief.
Please join us Sunday morning for an (hopefully) enjoyable session. We'll be glad see you. And as usual, excellent childcare is provided.

We're Back with Frederick Waage

2010-07-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

All right! All the travelling is done and we're getting back in the groove.
This coming Sunday we're host to Professor Frederick Waage of ETSU's Department of English. Professor Waage has recently publish a book entitled, "Sinking Creek Journal: An Environmental Book of Days." He comes highly recommended with a strong reputation of teaching excellence. I asked him for a synopsis and a Bio, and here's what he replied.

"It's hard to do a synopsis--the idea is to be pretty informal. Maybe what I'll do is talk about how I came to write the book, the "daybook" tradition of nature writing and the importance of "place" in writing. I'd read representative selections from different times of year and see if the audience has any comments on them. I'd like to discuss nature journalling, encourage the audience to do it, and show some other books about keeping a nature journal.

"I grew up in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, got my degrees at Princeton, and taught and lived in different parts of the country, particularly California where at one time I worked for the environmental organization Friends of the Earth in San Francisco. My wife and I moved to East Tennessee in 1978, when I was hired to teach English at ETSU. We have lived on our nearly 3 acres, bisected by Sinking Creek, for 30 years, with a shifting roster of border collies and cats, some of whom fit prominently into the book. Our son Erick and daughter Melissa grew up here; Erick is an Army 2nd lieutenant posted right now at Fort Benning, Melissa is a campaign manager for the Natural Resources Defense Council. I have published scholarly books and articles, short stories, fiction, and creative nonfiction."

This is going to be good. Please join us. We'll be happy to see you and as always, superlative childcare is provided.

Hiatus on the 4th of July

2010-06-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

The Adult forum will not be meeting on the 4th of July.
Check back next week for our doings on the 11th.

Jeanette Winterson: Atlas and the Weight of the World

2010-06-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

Three weeks ago Brenda Wardeska led the discussion with a viewing of an Bill Moyers interview of Margaret Atwood in the series "Faith and Reason." This powerful series is in the church's library.
This coming Sunday, June 27, we'll view another author in the "Faith and Reason" series -- Jeanette Winterson. Jeanette is a British author who have published several successful books, including "Weight" a re-working of the myth of Atlas and Hercules. Jeanette's brief bio states that she,

"...was born in Manchester, England, and adopted by Pentecostal parents who brought her up in the nearby mill-town of Accrington. As a Northern working class girl she was not encouraged to be clever. Her adopted father was a factory worker, her mother stayed at home. There were only six books in the house, including the Bible and Cruden's Complete Concordance to the Old and New Testaments. Strangely, one of the other books was Malory's Morte d'Arthur, and it was this that started her life quest of reading and writing. The house had no bathroom either, which was fortunate because it meant that Jeanette could read her books by flashlight in the outside toilet. Reading was not much approved unless it was the Bible. Her parents intended her for the missionary field. Schooling was erratic but Jeanette had got herself into a girl's grammar school and later she read English at Oxford University. This was not an easy transition. Jeanette had left home at 16 after falling in love with another girl. While she took her A levels she lived in various places, supporting herself by evening and weekend work. In a year off to earn money, she worked as a domestic in a lunatic asylum."

Please join us for a viewing and discussion of her engaging interview. We'll be happy to see you. As usual, superlative childcare is provided

Catherine Murray --- Stepping on the Mortal Coil

2010-06-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday, June 20 we'll host Catherine Murray, artist and chair of the Department of Art and design at ETSU. It was my good fort,une to serve on a committee with Catherine and discover what a lively, intelligent person she is. Here's what she sent regarding her presentation:
"Stepping on the Mortal Coil"
Even before the ongoing crisis due to the malfunctioning oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico,my recent art work was informed by both the acceptance of inevitable change and the recognition of preventable damage wrought by human activity on the natural environment.

Recent trips to northern Scotland and to Iceland impressed me not only because of the breathtaking beauty of these places, but also because of the revelation of the brutality that was involved in their settlement. Currently environmental damage created by human activities is evidenced at an alarming rate not only in the Gulf, but also in these northern and remote places; migratory birds and other animals are suffering, unable to reproduce in sufficient numbers, due to warmer waters, and their food sources are dying as well.

As an artist, it is a challenge to infuse issues like this into the work without becoming didactic or preachy; I am trying to work with my concerns about the environment in a way that is true to my aesthetics, and true to my concerns about this fragile world.

I will show images of, and give a brief explanation about, some of my art from the last few years.

And about Catherine:

Catherine Murray received her MFA in Sculpture, University of Montana, Missoula, MT. and the BA Sculpture, with High Honors, Portland State University, Portland, OR. She was awarded residencies from the Scottish Sculpture Workshop, Lumsden, Scotland, from the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis, and from the Ucross Foundation, Ucross, WY.
In November, 2009, she had a solo exhibition, Stepping on the Mortal Coil, at Sechrest Gallery, High Point University, High Point, NC.
Recently, her work has been featured in group exhibitions including, in 2009, From These Hills, Contemporary Art from the Southern Appalachian Highlands, William King Center, Abingdon, VA.; Metamorphosis, group sculpture show. Vadim Bora Gallery, Asheville, NC: the Kingsport Sculpture Walk, 2009-10, Kingsport, TN;
Expositions in Glass: Outdoor Sculpture 2009, Courthouse Galleries at the Portsmouth Museums, Portsmouth, VA, and Tanasi: Northeast Tennessee Artists, at The Reece Museum, ETSU.
Catherine has taught sculpture and design at ETSU since 1995; in 2008 she became the chair of the Department of Art and Design.

Please join us. we'll be delighted to see you. The presentation starts at 9:45. And as always, loving childcare is provided.

Roy Settle of the Appalachian RC&D Council

2010-06-12T17:15:00.002-07:00

This coming Sunday, June 13th, we will host Roy Settle of the Appalachian RC&D Council. Roy says,
"We are excited about the opportunity to share our work with your Church...the following is a brief outline of what I propose to present.

Appalachian RC&D Council
Organizational Background & History
Major Project Summaries & Needs
. LocalGoods.org – The importance of buying local as it relates to our Environment, Community & Economy
· Follow the Quilt Trail – Using public art and heritage to preserve historic barns and improve rural farm income opportunities.
· Lands of Boone & Crockett Project – Assisting landowners in the voluntary and permanent preservation of family farms for generations to come and the public benefit.

A little bit about Roy:
He is employed by USDA and serves as Coordinator for the Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council, a regional non-profit organization. The Council is based is based in Jonesborough and was authorized by the Secretary of Agriculture in 1994.

Roy is a native of Clarksville, Tennessee where he attended Austin Peay State University and graduated with a degree in Plant and Soil Science. He has worked with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service since 1984. He has held field level positions with the agency across Tennessee. He currently serves as the USDA Project Coordinator for the Appalachian RC&D Council assisting Carter, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi & Washington Counties. The Council focuses on providing communities with technical and other resources in the areas of farmland protection, heritage preservation, sustainable community development, conservation education and compatible land use.
Mr. Settle resides in Kingsport and is a member of the Sullivan County Planning Commission and County Historic Zoning Commission. He is a member of Colonial Heights Baptist Church and is married to Amy and the proud father of two sons, Douglas and Brandon.

Please join us for this interesting presentation on important work in our region. We'll be glad to see you. And as always, loving childcare is provided.

HeLa Cells

2010-06-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday, June 6, Jeff Wardeska will led the discussion on the topic of HeLa cells, some to the most commonly used cells in biological research. These cells didn't just materialize out of thin air, they came from a person, and natrually, they have a story.

Jeff writes:
" I have just finished reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot. It's the story of the HeLa cells, the world's first immortal cell line, their scientific impact, but also the impact they have had on the Lacks family, descendents of Henrietta, and the ethical issues surrounding the ownership of cell cultures, and would like to discuss this fascinating book. It's just published this year and is a current best seller."

Please join us. We'll be happy to see you. Wonderful childcare is provided.

Margaret Atwood via Bill Moyers.

2010-05-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

This Sunday Brenda Wardeska will lead us in discussing the interview Bill Moyers did with the author Margaret Atwood as part of his 'On Faith and Reason' series. It is only about 33 minutes long, so there should be time for discussion.

Margaret Atwood's Wikipedia entry notes that she "is among the most-honoured authors of fiction in recent history; she is a winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award and Prince of Asturias award for Literature, has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize five times, winning once, and has been a finalist for the Governor General's Award seven times, winning twice."

The 'On Faith and Reason' series hosted by Bill Moyers successfully counters the argument the television is merely a vast wasteland. It is superb in its presentation of some of the world's deepest and most articulate voices.

Please join us for the Adult Forum at 9:45. You might like us. And remember, intelligent, loving childcare is provided.

Rev. Tom Honey and a reconciliation of Suffering and a caring God

2010-05-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

At a February 2005 TED conference, a "bonus" talk, was delivered by Rev. Tom Honey, a parish priest in the Church of England. For some, it was the event to remember.

"It's a classic problem in theology: How can the existence of evil be reconciled with a God who is supposed to be all-loving, all-knowing and all-powerful? Reverend Tom Honey attempts to answer this question in the wake of the tsunami" which had occurred just weeks earlier.

This coming Sunday we'll listen to the talk and then we'll talk about what we heard and our understanding of what we heard. Please feel free to preview at the link above.

Join us at 9:45. We'll be glad to see you. And bring the kids because superb childcare is provided.

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity | Video on TED.com

2010-05-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we'll view and discuss a talk by Eliazbeth Gilbert, author of "Eat, Pray, Love." From the website, she "muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk."

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity | Video on TED.com

If you want to preview the talk, it's at the link above.

Please join us at 9:45. We'll be happy to see you. Loving childcare is provided.

Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke of insight | Video on TED.com

2010-05-03T18:56:00.000-07:00

Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke of insight | Video on TED.com

This coming Sunday, we're going to get a dose of TED. You'll love this. We're going to view the talk shown above, by Jill Bolte Taylor. If you'd like to see it now, just click the link above. It's hard to call this a talk. It's seems much more. Jill (Dr. Taylor) is a Harvard-trained neuroanatomist, a research scientist. In the mid 1990's she had a stroke. Usually a devastating medical disaster, Jill has turned her stroke experience into a vast, meaningful understanding of the spirit of humanity and it's place on the earth.

Please join us. We'll be glad to see you at 9:45. And remember, excellent childcare is provided.

2010-04-26T03:31:00.000-07:00

For next Sunday, May 2, we'll listen to portions of writer Anne Lamott's interview by the Very Reverand Alan Jones at Grace Cathedral.
Here's the link to the page that contains the link to the interview.
http://www.gracecathedral.org/forum/for_20061022.shtml
In order to listen to the interview straight from the page, you must have RealPlayer installed on your computer. (It's free download available of the same page...just follow the links.) Alternatively, you can download the MP3 file and listen to it on whatever.

Here's the site's blurb Ms. Lamott's interview:

"Funny, serious, and decidedly unconventional, an afternoon with Anne Lamott is one you will treasure. From her self-deprecating humor to her deeply felt insights, Lamott's practices include an eco-friendly, unorthodox Christianity that has earned a following around the world. Her honesty is heartfelt and formidable; her wit means there's never a dull moment."

Please join us at 9:45. You'll be warmly welcome. And as always, loving childcare is provided.

MicroLoans with Jerry Nagel

2010-04-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

Coming up on April 25th we will host Jerry Nagel who will speak on MicroLoans to individuals and groups in the less developed world. Many of you will know Jerry from his previous presentation to the Adult Forum. However, this occurred before I arrived, so I invited him back.
I aske Jerry to send me something about himself and his talk, and here's what he said:

"I taught various field biology courses at ETSU from 1969 to my retirement 13 years ago and was active in local naturalist rallies and environmental groups. Got interested in microloans through our Issues Sunday School class at Covenant Presbyterian in Johnson City while we were doing a study on Globalization. We studied "The True Cost of Low Prices: The Violence of Globalization" - basically a lousy book with lots of whining about US exploitation but almost nothing about solutions. We were all rather frustrated, so I volunteered to do a wrap-up session summarizing what PC(USA) was doing about these social justice issues and found out that we were involved with a Dutch faith-based group called Oikocredit which raises capital to fund microloans to small, 3rd world entrepreneurs without access to commercial banks. The whole concept really intriqued me and I have been studying and prosyletizing the concept ever since. We personally have committed about 10% of our resources to microloans via groups we are confident are interested mainly in social justice rather than profit."

Please join us for the presentation and discussion. We'll welcome you warmly. And as it is with us, the very best in childcare is provided.

The Big Questions Continue!

2010-04-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday Mike Garrett continues to ask hard (but fascinating) questions about evolution, religion and our place in the universe. The past Sunday's event was both excellent and entertaining. Mike is a charming and gifted presenter. Expect more of the same.
Please be warmly invited to join us at 9:45, and if you have small children, we provide superior childcare.

"Extinction: Bad Genes or Bad Luck?"

2010-04-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday Mike Garrett will help us explore "Randomness and God's will."

Mike writes:

"I've been puzzling over what God might mean in a world governed by randomness and rules, so I am exploring a book on extinction by the evolutionary biologist, David Raup. It's an easy read, but the ideas are surprisingly slippery.

Over two Sundays, I'll be presenting the book and asking for help in figuring it out. A little math, a little probability and statistics, a little paleontology, and hopefully some great discussion.

Here's a link to the book at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Extinction-Bad-Genes-Luck/dp/0393309274 Raup is a major figure in the field, a mentor to Stephen J. Gould, and an engaging writer."

Please join us at 9:45 for some engaging ideas and lively discussion. We'll be delighted to see you. As usual, calm and caring childcare is provided.

Elaine Pagels on the Gospel of Thomas: Which Jesus?

2010-03-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

Elaine Pagels book, "Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas" has been one of the most important books in my library. Its reading marks a major turning point in the way I view Christianity. This coming Sunday, we'll listen to Professor Pagels talk about this book via the internet. She's a charming speaker. (Good news! We figured out how to make the speaker system work very well).

In 2004, Elaine Pagels was selected as a feature lecturer in the Comtemporary Civilization Series at Columbia University. A recording of her lecture is available on-line and you can preview it here (The video requires RealPlayer software): http://www.college.columbia.edu/core/lectures/fall2004

The introductory text at the website reads:

Professor Elaine Pagels delivered the Fall 2004 Contemporary Civilization Lecture, entitled "Which Jesus? The Newly Discovered Gospel of Thomas Challenges the Cannon." The lecture was delivered on Friday, October 15, at 11:00 am, in Roone Arledge Auditorium.

Elaine Pagels, the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University, is the author of many works-- most recently, Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, published in 2003, which was a New York Times bestseller for 19 weeks and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

Pagels as also authored The Origin of Satan (1995), and Adam, Eve and the Serpent (1987), as well as the critically acclaimed Gnostic Gospels (1980), which was selected as the recipient of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the National Book Award.

Professor Pagels was a recipient of a MacArthur Prize from 1980-1985, and has also received awards from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton.

Please join us for this fascinating presentation. We' be glad to see you. superior childcare is provided.

“The Gray Fossil Site and Museum: Why is it important anyway?”

2010-03-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

This coming Sunday we'll host Jeanne and Mike Zavada. These guys are a powerful duo. Jeanne is the director of the Gray Fossil Site Museum. As most know, the museum has been a huge success, surpassing even the most optimistic predictions prior to opening. The first thing I heard about the museum after it opened was that the parking lot might have to be expanded. Few new establishments get to say that in the first year. Rather than go on about what a neat place it is, I'll just post the link, here. Have a look.
Here's their bio:
“Jeanne and Mike Zavada have been married for 20 years and have 6 children and 4 grandchildren between them. They moved to Gray from Providence, RI almost 4 years ago. Jeanne is the Director of the ETSU & General Shale Brick Natural History Museum/Gray Fossil Site and holds a Master’s degree in Geography/Urban Planning from University of Louisiana, Lafayette. She serves as a member of the Gray Business Association and on the council of the Johnson City Convention & Visitors Bureau. Mike is Professor and Chair of Biological Sciences at ETSU and received a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from University of Connecticut, Storrs. His research interests include the time and place of origin of the angiosperms, ethnobotany, paleo- and plant ecology, lichenology, and the application of paleobotany and palynology to archaeology, and aerobiology.”
Please join us Sunday, March 28 at 9:45. We'll warmly welcome you, and as usual, superb childcare is provided.

More on Charity and Justice

2010-03-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Zellie Earnest for his presentation. Here's the recap.

Charity is giving to those in need.
Justice is changing the conditions that creat the need.

"When I fed the poor, they called me a saint. When I asked why there were so many poor, they called me a communist". Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker movement.

Recommended reading: T.R. Ried's "The Healing of America"
http://www.amazon.com/Healing-America-Global-Better-Cheaper/dp/1594202346

Biblical citations on Justice

Deu 16:18-20
18 “Appoint judges and officials for yourselves from each of your tribes in all the towns the Lord your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly. 19 You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly. 20 Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Prov 14:31
31He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

Prov 21:13
13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered.

Isaiah 58:6
6"Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?

Jeremiah 22:13-16
13 "Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms without justice, who uses his neighbor's services without pay and does not give him his wages,
14 Who says, 'I will build myself a roomy house with spacious upper rooms, and cut out its windows, paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red.'
15 "Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.
16 "He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?" declares the LORD

Amos 5:21-24
21 "I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 "Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.
23 "Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.
24 "But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream

Micah 6:8
8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Matt 25:35-40
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Luke 4:18-19
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Luke 10:25-37
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

1 John 3:17-18
17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth

Charity and Justice

2010-03-17T04:27:00.000-07:00

Next Sunday, March 21, we will host Zellie Earnest from Waverly Road Presbyterian Church in Kingsport. Mr. Earnest will give a presentation on the difference between justice and charity. He promises biblical references to substantiate his point. In light of the recent news about the controversy of adanboning churches that promote social or economic justice, Mr Earnest's subject seems highly topical and current. Please join us at 9:45. We'll be glad to see you. Loving childcare is provided.

An Introduction to Hinduism

2010-03-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

Sunday, March 14...
Rebecca Nunley introduces us to Hinduism.
'Nuff said.
Join us at 9:45

Safe Sanctuaries

2010-03-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday, March 7, Jennifer Hann is going to lead our group with a presentation on child safety and security at church. It's an important topic.

Here's Jennifer's synopsis

"As our Children's ministry is growing, we're revisiting the ways in which we can provide a safe and healthy place for our children. Please join us on March 7th as we watch the DVD 'Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth.' While abuse of children is a troubling subject, having a well thought out system of polices and practices reduces the chance of child abuse and injury, protects our staff and volunteers and helps insulate our church from liability. Our child protection committee is drafting policies, forms and training guidelines to reduce the worries and protect our church communty. While this topic is of special interest to parents, gandparents and educators, an aware congregation is esential to our mission.

Please join us at 9:45. We'll be glad to have you. As usual, excellent child care is provided.

Evolution and our inner fish, part 3

2010-02-27T18:33:00.000-08:00

Zooks!! I totally forgot to post this week. Join us anyway. It's going to be another humdinger as Dr. Julie Wade wraps up the story of our Inner fish, a major point in our evolutionary history.
Excellent childcare provided.

Evolution Sunday Part 2, More Inner Fish

2010-02-17T16:23:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, Dr. Julie Wade gave us an introduction to the scale of time and basic tools used to search into earth's evolutionary history. It was good! This coming sunday, Dr. Wade's talk continues with its focus on the book by Dr. Neil Shubin entitled “Your Inner Fish—A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body.” As noted, the book describes the evolutionary process that has resulted in our current human forms. We'll search for our inner fish within our basic bilateral body plan.

Dr. Julie Wade is a retired Professor of Biology from Milligan College. In her teaching career spanning 27 years, she taught a variety of anatomically based courses, including Comparative Anatomy, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Histology, and will use that background to add to the presentation.

Please join us at 9:45 Sunday morning for this excellent presentation. We'll be glad to have you, and remember, superb childcare is provided.

Evolution Sunday and Your Inner Fish

2010-02-09T19:15:00.000-08:00

Paul Gabinet gave me the instructions on the new sound system and we are good to go. No more craning to hear, no more whispering. We've got VOLUME!!!
Thanks Paul.

This week we celebrate Evolution Sunday. To mark the occasion we are going to hear from our own Julie Wade, an expert on the topic. Here's Dr. Wade's synopsis of her presentation:

Your Inner Fish—Anatomical Evolution
Have you ever wondered why your body is made like it is? In a recent book by Dr. Neil Shubin entitled “Your Inner Fish—A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body”, Dr. Shubin describes the evolutionary process that has resulted in our current human forms. Dr. Shubin is a palenontologist who teaches gross anatomy to medical students at the University of Chicago. He maintains that in order to understand how our body is made and functions, we must understand its history. In a series of talks, I’ll be using his book as a basis to explain such structures and systems as our hands, teeth, body plan, sense of smell, sense of hearing, and others. I’ll then try to help us understand the meaning of it all by emphasizing the importance of our evolutionary heritage and why it simply cannot be denied. We owe a great deal to our Inner Fish!!!!

Dr. Julie Wade is a retired Professor of Biology from Milligan College. In her teaching career spanning 27 years, she taught a variety of anatomically based courses, including Comparative Anatomy, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Histology, and will use that background to add to the presentation.
Please join us at 9:45 for this fascinating view of our evolutionary history. You'll be very welcome, and as always, superior childcare is provided.

Sound system

2010-02-09T19:13:00.000-08:00

Paul Gabinet gave me the instructions on the new sound system and we are good to go. No more craning to hear, no more whispering. We've got VOLUME!!!
Thanks Paul.

Anne Lamott and Bishop Spong

2010-02-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

Next Sunday, February 7, we are going to view and discuss some webclips featuring Anne Lamott and Bishop John Shelby Spong. These are separate clips, and we'll be looking for a common theme between the two...assuming that there is one.
Lamott's clip is related to one of her recent books, "Grace Eventually", in which she contends that Grace does eventually come to us all, at some point, and having found us we forget about it, or things happen and we lose grace, feel lost and miserable and alone, until grace finds us again.

Spong is probably more widely known to us, having been a liberal Episcopal minister and Bishop. He's had a high public profile for at least the last three decades and this has brought him numerous death threats. Spong has most recently promoted the idea that Christianity needs to do some things differently in order to prosper in the future; it needs to be less dogmatic and more inclusive.

While Spong often speaks at the level of the institution and the broad organization, Lamott's message is much more personal, even intimate. In some way that I haven't yet defined, their messages seem consistent and complimentary.

Please joins us for this potentially interesting session on Sunday morning at 9:45. We'll be glad to see you and hear what you might have to say on the subject. As always, the very finest of childcare is provided.

Three Cups of Tea

2010-01-29T08:46:00.000-08:00

"Three Cups of Tea" is the title of a book by Greg Mortenson in which the author relates his long-term efforts to create peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As an individual, he has been remarkably successful by focusing his efforts on developing schools, particularly schools for girls.
A couple of weeks ago, Mortenson was interviewed by Bill Moyers. On Sunday, the Adult Forum, will watch the 30-minute interview and share our responses. The text below is copied from the PBS website, and it serves as a good introduction.

Please join us. We'll be happy to see you. Free, excellent and loving childcare is provided.

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From PBS:

Greg Mortenson is the co-founder of the nonprofit Central Asia Institute. His charity arm, Pennies For Peace, helps raise money for his school-building efforts in Central Asia. THREE CUPS OF TEA has been on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list for over three years, and was named a TIME Magazine "Asia Book of The Year."

Mortenson's new book is called STONES INTO SCHOOLS: PROMOTING PEACE WITH BOOKS NOT BOMBS, IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN.

As of 2009, Mortenson has established over 131 schools in rural and often violent regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, where few educational opportunities existed before. These schools have provided education to over 58,000 children, including 44,000 girls.

In Pakistan, most of Mortenson's schools are in that country's two volatile border regions – one being its border with India, and the other its border with Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Mortenson's schools are located in seven different provinces, including some that are Taliban strongholds.

In 2009, Mortenson received Pakistan's highest civil award, Sitara-e-Pakistan ("Star of Pakistan") for his humanitarian effort to promote girls education in rural areas for 15 years.

Several bi-partisan U.S. Congressional representatives have nominated Mortenson for the Nobel Peace Prize, in 2009 and 2010.

Mortenson was born in 1957, and grew up on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. His father Dempsey, founded Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC), his mother, Jerene, founded the International School Moshi.

In the late 70s, he served in the U.S. Army in Germany, where he received the Army Commendation Medal, and he later graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1983.

Ideas Influencing the Science of Global Warming

2010-01-20T07:34:00.000-08:00

In his presentation last Sunday, Dr. Wardeska covered the basics of historical temperature patterns and the rationale behind the conclusions that a) global warming is occurring, and b) identifiable factors, some of them man-made (anthropogenic) contribute to atmospheric temperature.
Next Sunday, Dr. Wardeska will begin looking at some of the factors that play a role in how we interpret the data, and where some of those biases originate. This should be fun. Please join us knowing that you'll be very welcome. Our excellent childcare continues.

The Science Behind Global Warming

2010-01-14T07:24:00.000-08:00

This coming Sunday, January 17, Jeff Wardeska will present an overview of some of the factual-based findings that give rise to the concept of global warming. Here's his synopsis:

"Global Warming or climate change has become a topic of great concern in recent years. Everyone (almost) agrees the earth is the warmest it has been in many years and that since the mid 1800’s our increasing use of fossil fuels is causing the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to rise. Carbon dioxide is a product of the combustion of all carbon based fuels, for example, natural gas is methane and burning methane produces water and carbon dioxide according to the equation

CH4 + 2 O2 -> CO2 + 2 H2O

There are many other factors which affect the climate and there is some legitimate disagreement about how strong the link is between levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and recent atmospheric warming.

Most of the evidence for global warming comes from scientists who work under the umbrella of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The IPCC, in addition to publishing their research in main-line scientific journals, issues comprehensive reports approximately every 6 years, the latest being in 2007.

Our increasing reliance on fossil fuels and the continuing build-up of carbon dioxide has implications beyond global warming, affecting the environment and the oceans (ocean acidification). We will also examine some predictions for the future resulting from these trends.

Jeff is trained in inorganic chemistry and is professor and chair of the department of Chemistry at ETSU. Please join us for an informative and entertaining discussion. You'll be very welcome. As always, wonderful childcare is provided.

Findings from the Pacific Ocean

2010-01-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

On January 10 we are lucky to have Jim Kevin as a guest speaker. Jim comes to us via Jean K. He has spent time as an on-board volunteer for the University of Washington's oceanographic research vessel, "Thomas G Thompson." This state-of-the-art ship provides some of the latest findings on environmental and fisheries conditions in the Pacific ocean, in addition to answering questions of "so what exactly is down there." The ship has been part of studies featured on the PBS program "NOVA." Jim is going to fill us in on some of the TGT's recent work.

Please join us for this interesting presentation. We'll be glad to have you. As usual, the very best of child care is joyfully provided.

Compassion....and Hope

2010-01-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

We are going to return the the Living the Question2 series for the first week of the new year. We're going to view and discuss chapter 19, "Compassion: The Heart of Jesus' Ministry." Here are a couple of quotes from the reading to set the tone:

"A student of anthropologist Margaret Mead once asked her to describe the earliest sign of civilization in a given culture. The young student expected the noted scholar of cultures to say that clay pots or crude axes or grinding stones were the first clues of civilization. Dr. Mead’s answer was 'a healed femur,' the human thighbone. She went on to explain that a healed femur indicated that someone cared. Someone had to do the injured person’s hunting and gathering until the leg healed. The evidence of compassion, she said, is the first sign of civilization."

Pretty good, that. And from Harold Beck in The Joys of Liberation Preaching:

"Albert Schweitzer said, 'Concern for people is the beginning of hope.' And when I find somebody hopeless I conclude that they are not very much concerned about anybody. Isn’t it funny that the great harbingers of hope in our time have been the (Mother) Teresas, and the (Martin Luther) Kings, and the (Oscar) Romeros, and the Gandhis? Good heavens, of all the people who had a right to resign from hope -- maybe Schweitzer was right, 'Concern for other people is the beginning of hope.'"

Please join us at 9:45. You'll be very Welcome. As always, excellent childcare is provided.

Rounding off "Home" with Jane Goodall

2009-12-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

We recently spent three Sundays viewing the environmental film, Home. The story is beautiful but dire and leaves us with a sense of disquiet. Jane Goodall sees the same problems projected in the movie, but her take on our future is more hopeful. Dr. Goodall appeared on Bill Moyers' Journal on November 27. Thanks to the miracle of the internet (and the foresight to the technology committee at church) we'll be able to watch Moyers interview of Goodall on Sunday, December 27th in the Adult Forum.

Here's an introductory blurb for the website at Bill Moyers' Journal:

Dr. Jane Goodall is a familiar face to several generations around the globe. The young woman patiently seated near wild chimps in Africa first appeared in the pages of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC in the early 1960s. Her work with the chimps of Gombe National Park has been profiled in magazines, books, films and television documentaries numerous times in subsequent years. She is an inspiration to those generations who take her warnings about the state of the earth to heart:
I mean, isn't it great that high school students in some inner city area will greet me as I walk in, as though I were a pop star. That is so amazing. Because all that they've got out of what I've done is a message of hope. And the fact that our main message is "You make a difference every day. You matter. Your life is important."
Dr. Goodall now travels the world raising awareness about the dire situation facing the natural world — and many of its species. Her mission includes programs for communities in Africa to protect forests, create sustainable livelihoods and support health and education. The Jane Goodall Institute runs a global program to create a new generation of conservationists called Roots & Shoots.

You can watch the interview ahead of time, here, but I bet it'll be more fun in our group. Please join us. You'll be glad you did. And as always, superb, free babysitting is provided.