Imitatio Christi

Tiller, part two

   

A much more reasonable position from a Christian perspective...whether or not this guy is a Christian, he speaks better words into this tragedy than Terry.

The Tiller Murder

    Wow.  The words of Randall Terry.....hard to imagine how one could feel this way.....

Biblical Christianity and Our Presuppositions

    I occasionally teach a course on theological method. One of the primary foci of this course is an attempt to get at the underlying presuppositions that we bring to our theological reflection.  There are many, and you can often see this reflected in a rather crass form when you see studies that show some ridiculous percentage of Christians believe that "God helps those who help themselves" is actually in Scripture.  I think the issue is much more subtle and much more pervasive.
    Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be exploring this theme in a series of posts here on the blog.  In particular, I wish to explore the extent to which contemporary Western (in general, and American, in particular) are much more guided by the work of Immanuel Kant and John Locke, than in Scripture.  By that, I mean that we bring definitions and valuings of such terms as "freedom," "autonomy," and "public debate" that are rooted in the political philosophy of Locke and the Enlightenment rationalism of Kant.  I think the presuppositions we bring to our theological reflection create some very bad and particularly unbiblical conclusions.
    Pass the word and join us for discussion of this topic over the next few weeks. Please feel free to raise any particular questions that you want me to address as the series unfolds.

Must Read, Former Interrogator and Torture

    The arguments we have laid out here against torture are not complex and they are well known.  Torture is not a reliable source of information; it is a reliable way to get folks to say what you want.  Torture is immoral and illegal and should never be practiced--a view shared by that hero of the right, Ronald Reagan.  To practice torture is to surrender any claim to the moral highground, and as Peter Storey intimated, it is to number one's self among the barbarians.  Interestingly, in this piece, a man who actually served as an interrogator takes on Cheney's claims that torture "works."  I am only one small voice, but I promise to continue to raise this issue to advocate for a return to the moral high ground for as long as I can or until change happens.

Petraeus On Torture and Gitmo

    No torture, close Gitmo, says Petraeus.  Why?  It HELPS us on the war on terror, contra Cheney.

Partisan Divide

    I suppose I am just realist enough on human nature to realize that the surest way to collapse is for someone to become too powerful.  Once we think we "run the store," the temptations to take advantage of our power and to exploit it for our own selfish gain becomes too strong.  The dems found this out about 30 years ago, the Republicans about 3 or so years ago (recall Rove's "permanent republican majority"?).  The trends in this report, though go for a progressive agenda, open the door for more abuse, if they continue.  Let's hope the repulbicans are reading these trends and are busily realizing that their style of conservatism is just not going to hack it.  Movement toward the center, compromise with populist legislation, realizaton that "just saying no" is not as good a strategy in governance as it is in sexual morality, these would all be good moves--good for their party and good for citizens. In fact, about the only person who would be damaged by saner voices at the helm of the GOP is Rush Limbaugh.

Some Hopeful Signs

    Here we are, only roughly four years since Rove was talking about a "permanent Republican majority."  Of course, one has to assume this was simply rhetoric, since anyone who has taken the time to read history (and surely Rove has) knows such claims are absurd--regardless the party.  Sadly, the party had become tied to the disastrous policies of Bush et al.  I am more hopeful for the Republicans than I have been in at least 20 years, probably more like 30.  Why?  Because the consensus has broken down, many are seeing that the old ways simply are not working, and several leaders are saying it's time for a serious re-think.  Some may see these arguments as evidence of disaster; I see them as possible re-birth.  I am sure I will still dsiagree with conservatives more than progressives, predominantly on the basis of what I understand God to call us to (and that's not Western individualism and Lockean liberalism, mainstays of conservatives).  But, who knows?  Let's pray for some real movement in ways that better serve the common good.  Let the arguing continue:)

Song of the Day

    Unconditional love--a thing all of us want, I suspect.  To have someone who loves us without question, without condition, someone who accepts us for who we are--the good and the bad.  We all have good days and bad days.  We all have "darkness" within us, darkness that we wish were not there, but which, nevertheless, is there.  It seems I have heard frequently the desire to have at least one person who will stand beside us regardless, whose love for us is not pre-conditioned by our being able to satisfy their expectations.  This song has captured that for me over and over--not just the desire for that kind of love, but the joy and, at some level, amazement when one finds it.  Here, Alanis sings about one who offers this sort of unconditional love to her.  And, what is the test that one loves us in this way?  It is simple, she says, the test is that they are "still here" with us.
    I am sure I could nitpick a few points, but enjoy "Everything."

I can be an asshole of the grandest kind
I can withhold like it's going out of style
I can be the moodiest baby and you've never met anyone
who is as negative as I am sometimes

I am the wisest woman you've ever met.
I am the kindest soul with whom you've connected.
I have the bravest heart that you've ever seen
And you've never met anyone
Who's as positive as I am sometimes.

You see everything, you see every part
You see all my light and you love my dark
You dig everything of which I'm ashamed
There's not anything to which you can't relate
And you're still here

I blame everyone else, not my own partaking
My passive-aggressiveness can be devastating
I'm terrified and mistrusting
And you've never met anyone as,
As closed down as I am sometimes.

You see everything, you see every part
You see all my light and you love my dark
You dig everything of which I'm ashamed
There's not anything to which you can't relate
And you're still here

What I resist, persists, and speaks louder than I know
What I resist, you love, no matter how low or high I go

I'm the funniest woman you've ever known.
I am the dullest woman you've ever known.
I'm the most gorgeous woman you've ever known
And you've never met anyone as, as everything as I am sometimes.

You see everything, you see every part
You see all my light and you love my dark
You dig everything of which I'm ashamed
There's not anything to which you cant relate
And youre still here

And you're still here
And you're still here...

Health Care Reform

    When will we engage in serious health care reform?  Well, when enough people cannot get adequate access to it, I suppose.  I do think this is a rather sad commentary on the state of Christian faith in America.  First, I am deeply puzzled by those who think one can make an argument against universal coverage (one kind of reform, one I would favor) from the Christian faith.  Yet, I have engaged, here and elsewhere, folks who hold that position, one I take to be deeply, deeply flawed.  Second, as soon as one realizes the depths of the "other-centered" orientation of Scripture, it is hard not to be deeply troubled by what seems to be even the common Christian position--I will care when it effects me. If we put the interest of the weak and marginalized (a term that would apply most to the sick poor) ahead of our own interests (as Scripture enjoins), it seems impossible to defend the common Evangelical positions.  Finally, it is most disappointing that people of faith are not on the forefront of pushing for health care reform that takes the plight of the nearly 50 million without adequate access to health care.  It fuels the concern, expressed by many, that we have so "spiritualized" the Gospel that, well, it is hardly the Good News anymore.....
    As the debate heats up, one might use this comparison as a place to start understand the various plans being proposed.

Conservative Gets Waterboarded, says it's Torture

   

Check here.  No commentary needed from me.