A Reminder...Or, Maybe You Didn't Know This

This last week I had two reminders as to why I have titled my blog what I have and the reason I wrote my introductory 2 rants.

I will show you my hand from the beginning so that there are no surprises: people are getting dumber.

In the near future I doubt that there will be many people who would be able to describe the significance behind the names Michael Hastings or Gen. Stanley McChrystal. Well, maybe I should be a little more fair than that; I don't believe many people in Canada will remember these names. The United States may be a different story.

In a nut shell what happened was that a war journalist by the name of Michael Hastings wrote an article about General Stanley McChrsystal (who was overseeing the American offensive in Afghanistan at the time of the article) for Rolling Stone magazine (RS issue 1108/1109, July 8-22, 2010 OR better known as the issue featuring a scantily clad Lady Gaga toting 2 M16s). (Side note: the article is worth the read) When the article was published many inside of the White House didn't like what had been said by Gen. McChrystal, so he was fired. Like I said: nut shell version.

What impresses me most about this story is the power of the press. (Notice I wrote 'press' and not media. Yes, press is a part of the media, but I typically find that there is actual journalistic integrity behind what the press says (no, not all of it) as opposed to the larger media, which can be anything from the most honest journalists' magnum opus to any "celebrity's" opinion.) I can't help but think if this same story had been reported in the same medium 30 years ago it would have been a much bigger deal than it is now. People may cite that perhaps we are just so accustomed to corruption and decay amongst leaders that this is no longer new, but I can't help but feel it is our lack of being informed about serious, ground-shaking political issues. We have become a society less interested in the reality of the world around us and more interested in the "reality" of the Hollywood showcase.

I believe that there has been no print news article since "Watergate" to have the ramifications that Rolling Stone's "The Runaway General" has had. Think about it: one journalist wrote what he saw regarding the man who is running the conflict in Afghanistan and he gets canned (which will in turn impact all those in Afghanistan). AND THEN we hear next to nothing other than "Gen. McChrystal got canned"...this isn't some private who peed on an electric fence THIS IS A GENERAL RUNNING A WAR!!!

Granted "Watergate" was a much bigger deal than Gen. McChrystal getting canned ever will be (Nixon was the PRESIDENT in a massive scandal) and the names Nixon, Watergate, Woodward, Bernstein and Deepthroath will forever go down in history. For the impact that this one article has had on the longest armed conflict in recent history I can't help but feel that the names Hastings and McChrystal will soon be long since forgotten; if nothing else a definite blow to the journalistic world.

(As an aside I would like to add in Rolling Stone's follow up issue (RS 1110, August 5, 2010) featured an editorial with a response to all of the goings on regarding the article. And, as far as my understanding goes, at no point did any of Gen. McChrystal's staff say anything against the article, deny what had been said, or jockey for political sanctuary from the fallout; they stood behind what had been written regardless of the repercussions. As far as journalistic integrity I give a thumbs up, as far as integrity for the General's staff, two thumbs up, even if they didn't show the same integrity towards some politicians.)

Back to my original point: I can't help but think with the proliferation of technology and the Internet that we are quickly becoming a people with very little memory for history, or use for the serious issues that surround us.

I know I said that I had 2 incidents in the last week that ticked me off the next one will have to wait for my next blog.
...Hence my self-loathing.

Faith and Recent Media: Neutron Star Collision

So, I don't blog in 11 months and then I come back to briefly discuss yet another Muse song, haha. I am writing this as much to tell you all that I do still think about blogging (but often just don't feel eloquent enough to write) as I am to discuss the topic at hand.

As a big fan of Muse I was thrilled to hear their new single (even if it was written for 'Eclipse'). Something I have noticed is that Muse often sing about apocalyptic topics, and, at times, with an atheistic bent. While I am not sure of the band's stand on faith/religion I find this interesting because it gets me wondering, "Are these lyrics just lyrics or is there a deeper reality to them in either searching for God or an atheistic(?) rant against Him???"

I give you their newest single (I quite enjoy the name...oh, and please excuse all 'Twilight: Eclipse' clips...haha, Eclipse clips...get it...it's funny).
Neutron Star Collison (Love is Forever)



And now the lyrics:

I was searching
You were on a mission
Then our hearts combined like
A Neutron Star Collision

I had nothing left to lose
You took your time to choose
Then we told eachother with no trace of fear that

Our love would be forever
And if we died
We died together
And I
I said never
Cause our love would be forever

The world is broken
And halo's fail to glisten
We tried to make a difference but
No one wants to listen
Hail, the preachers fake and proud
Their doctrines will be cloud
Then they'll dissipate
Like snowflakes in an ocean

Love is forever
And we'll die
we'll die together
And I
I said never
Cause our love could be forever

Now, I've got nothing left to lose
You take your time to choose
I can tell you now without a trace of fear
That my love will be forever
And we'll die
we'll die together
And I
I will never
Cause our love
Will be forever

I am most particularly interested in the second half of the second verse. While I think there are two possible readings for the line on preachers (a) that all are fake and proud or (b) the next lines are only for those preachers who are fake and proud (meaning there are those who are not) I tend to take the second meaning. Being me I often hear words that are tied to faith even when they are not meant to (especially in song lyrics). Throughout this song I cannot help but hear the voice of God speaking of an undying love for His children, even in a broken world where people would rather listen to whatever it is they want to hear over the voice of God (think 2 Timothy 4:3), and with preachers whose words are vapor (think Matthew 7:13-23). OR maybe this is just another rock song I am reading too much in to. Give me some feedback.

Peace and Love

Fact and Science Fiction

Hello All!!!

I'm really not sure where to start as I have a few points that I would like to make in (hopefully) very little space (in other words I'm not planning on this being a very long entry, but you never know with me). Maybe I'll start with something flashy and snappy then move to the more cerebral portion of this entry (I half apologize for the self-annotations that I've been incorporating I just figure that if I express my own train of thought that sometimes it helps my audience follow). :)

So as some of you may know one of my (if not my very) favourite television shows is Doctor Who (the new series that started in 2003...no, I've never seen any of the old series). I'll get into why I like the show a little later right now I am just concerned about the opening/theme song. For the number of years this show has run the creative forces behind the show have never changed the opening theme (they have modernized and jazzed it up, but the tune remains the same). Every time I get to sit down and watch an episode and the music starts I can't help but feel like I'm getting sucked into something that is quite exciting. Just below I have posted the latest (and my favourite) rendition of the theme song.



Now as you also may know one of my favourite bands is Muse. A couple of months back I read that they were planning on releasing a new album this fall. Last week on my Internet wanderings I found out that the new album, entitled The Resistance, will be released September 14th (15th in North America), AND that their new single "Uprising" had already been released. When I heard this song I couldn't help but hear Doctor Who-esque-ness in the intro, much to my excitement. For those unfamiliar with Muse's work it can have a very driving/apocalyptic/spacey ruch to it at times (with their own share of slower ballads as well). At any rate I am quite excited for this new album, and on the basis of the two songs I've heard it sounds like a very natural follow-up to their previous studio album Black Holes and Revelations. Give it a listen.



A few weeks ago I decided it was time that I started spending less time watching TV, which was something I wasn't doing too bad with until I made that resolution. Instead I have found myself watching more TV in the last few weeks (an issue I may discuss in a later blog). But something that I noticed about myself, a few months back, was that I am definitely turning into a bigger "sci-fi nerd." While I have always been somewhat of a fan of sci-fi my recent TV/movie watching has definitely moved away from more typical dramas (think The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or Gray's Anatomy (I should mention I dislike almost all TV drama, especially doctor shows and cop shows...that's a rant for another blog)) and embraced more sci-fi oriented material. Here's what I mean:

• In January I purchased the complete series of Firefly and loved every minute of it
  
• This past season (2008-2009) on TV my favourite show, hands-down, was Dollhouse (no I'm not a Joss Whedon junkie)
  
• I started watching Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series) and have been pleasantly surprised thus far (just into season 2)
  
• For a while daily recorded/watched The Outer Limits
  
• Am eagerly anticipating District 9 (I know it's out, just haven't seen it) and 9 (check it out here)
  
• The other day watched The Last Man on Earth (1964) with Vencent Price (much better than it's terrible remake, I Am Legend)
  
• Thought the pilot episodes for TV's 2 new space opera-esque shows were both great; Virtuality (which didn't get picked up as a regular show, see it if you can) and Defying Gravity (which is basically drama in space, and is getting a longer run)
  
• I've made a list of sci-fi movies that I plan on eventually seeing (both classics and those that fly under the radar)
  

My science fiction interests do not solely sit in TV/movies (contrary to what this list may imply), but with the genre as a whole.

Why?

Glad you asked. While many works of science fiction often adopt elements of any other kind of drama I feel that it often deals with issues that "mainstream" drama cannot, or does not, deal with. In a world where our techology is advancing at such a rapid rate (in everything from medicine to entertainment) science fiction is not afraid to speculate on questions that have not been, but may at one time in the near future need to be be, asked; with varying "answers" or speculative results. I was just reading in the August 24th, 2009 edition of Maclean's that there are scientists trying to bring back dinosaurs. This may be an extreme example, but how people deal with issues regarding everything from stem-cell research, the human genome, or cloning to cell phones, the mass sharing of information, and technology making people stupider and lazier (yes, I'm preparing another blog on this or see previous entries) are issues that are ripe for science fiction.

Science fiction, however, not only deals with the facts or fiction of science in our current (or future) time, but also with the facts of everyday life as well. Notice that while sci-fi often asks, assumes, or speculates about the most abstract ideas the "answers" still point to that which is most human: not a single thing, but the human experience as a whole.

For the various sources of science fiction that I enjoy there are varying issues that are dealt with: Doctor Who's constant dealings with the issues of human nature, Battlestar Galactica's queries on religion, prophecy, government and sociology, Dollhouse's questioning of what it is to be a person, or C.S. Lewis's endless dealings with sin, salvation, redemption and nature in his cosmic trilogy (which were meant to deal his view science fiction).

Sure, even though the veneer of "science" and adventure scares some away I appreciate how the genre is not afraid to ask larger questions, and perhaps get people thinking about issues that they may not otherwise think about. I appreciate the storytelling, adventure and special effects that goes into many of these bodies of work. This isn't meant to tell you to embrace the sci-fi genre whole-heartedly, but just to put a bug in your ear.

Thanks for Reading!!!

So, I was going to attach this to the blog I am going to post right away, but thought that a propper thank you should not just be the introduction to something larger, but a piece that is able to stand alone as a simple thank you.

Since my last blog I have had a few people get in touch to tell me they've been reading and encourage me to continue. It's nice to know that there are people who read this and are able to interact with what I've written (whether it be on the comment/discussion board or in person), even though at times I feel like I am just writing for my own satisfaction of doing so. At any rate I greatly appreciate the encouragement, thank you very much.

Thoughts from my front lawn

So, I was sitting outside, on my front lawn, reading, and found myself no longer able to read because I was being plagued with thoughts of things that I have been reading and thinking about lately...ok, mostly just today, but things that were preventing me from my reading nonetheless. I should warn you before I begin, though, that this may be my most open and honest blog yet, not to worry though I am not feeling vulgar :)

Perhaps I start by stating that my thoughts here mainly revolve around theology and the "theological."

First of all let me wonder for a minute about the word "theology." I know that the two Greek words that make up this wors are theos (meaning "God") and logos (meaning "Word") (I must apologize to all Greek scholars at this time that I am not amongst your ranks and beg forgiveness for any ignorance in what I may state or have already stated). Maybe you Greek scholars could help me out in understanding the exact meaning and connotations of these words (and word), but in putting the two together I wonder "How are these two to go together?" What I mean by this is when we use the word "theology" are we talking about God's word, God's Word, God's words, words about God, the study of God, the study of God's words, the study of words from God, words by God, words about God or something I've completely missed??? (I know for sure at least one person reading is just thinking "yes" to all those "defifitions"...which is fine with me...you people just bug me sometimes :)

Now, getting on with what I'm actually getting at: recently my problem has been not so much theology but what academia has done with theology. I should first state that I am a huge fan of theology and supporter of academics; my issue comes when the academy (or academics) forget that theology has a purpose...theology without purpose is pointless and vain.

...sorry, I just got two phone calls and completely lost my train of thought/don't know if I was making any sense to begin with...hmmm...(oh, yes this is raw, unedited blogging)...maybe I'll just make a whole bunch of points and tie them altogether at the end (thought Josh)...

I remeber a little over a year ago thinking that while it would be nice to be back in my home church, participating in our church's life which I so longed for, I would quite miss the rigors and learning of college academia, specifically in the area of theology. Having been at college for four years part of me thought that once I got home any theological wanderings would come to a halt, and, in my great arrogance, that if country churches weren't the place where theology goes to die it at least gets some bad plastic surgery. Man has this past year been an entirely different type of school (namely the getting schooled type). I quickly found out that churches are not the place where theology goes to die, but are the places where theology lives and breathes. What I mean by this is that once the college student is forced to interact with the Church as it is outside of the academic world (with crying kids, burt out parents, expectant mothers, "old" people, grumpy people, professionals, blue collar workers, white collars workers, wish-they-wore-a-collar workers, and worship leaders :) theology must be put to action (and hopefully this was being practiced all along). The Church outside the academy is not where theology goes to die, but where it encounters the everday rigors of society that face everyone in the Church; one now has to understand Christology in the face of antichrists, pneumatology in unholy places, and preaching the eucharist to starving people.

In talking to people, who are/were still attending the college from which I graduated, I have definitely noted a certain tone of ivory tower syndrome at times (I don't feel bad for picking on you because I was there as well). However, I have heard from others that the first year of ministry is often the most humbling.

At times I find that the academy wants to develop theologies of everything and nothing. What do I mean by this??? What I mean is while we develop theologies of pain, suffering, hunger and war when does it push us to go to a hospital and visit someone at death's doorstep, comfort someone in need, feed the homeless guy on the corner, or love our neighbours more??? Theology cannot simply be a mental assent, but a life-changing encounter.

I find that too often we've forgotten that while theology is there to protect the sheep from the wolves and draw the sheep to the shepherd's voice, the sheep often forget that they need to get out of their pen for the best grazing (I know, TERRIBLE analogy, but I think you see my point).

Perhaps James says it best: "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted from the world" (James 1:26-27, NIV).

When it comes to the study of theology I learned two very important things in my final year of college:
1) Right theology and right practice go hand in hand. This was something that I saw demonstrated by many professors time and again (especially those I was closest to).
2) Remember the basics, return to the basics, never forget the basics. I had a rather humbling experience in my last 6 weeks of college (after having been neck deep in Rahner all year) when I (in pride) pulled the "deep" theological/philosophical card on my exit paper and had my butt handed to me. Why??? Because I had forgotten the basics and opted for some "deep" stuff instead.

So, let's review (in case you want to string me up by this point);
- theology good
- academics good
- being smart about our faith in Christ good
- don't beat those who "don't know as much as you" (if you must instruct do it gently)
- don't become arrogant about what you know
- remeber Philippians 2:1-11

This has, perhaps, been my most scattered post yet as I am attempting to straddle a fine line (...and wrote this in three separate sittings, trying to keep it coherent).

I actually just finished reading a very interesting blog entry from my friend Colin (which you can read here). While it does not directly deal with the issue at hand I think it is an interesting read nonetheless. And I read this a while ago, but feel it is quite appropriate for this discussion.

In other news I've been reading some good stuff lately and may actually post some thoughts and quotes in the near future...along with all those other blog entries I keep promising...but then again I often say that and it doesn't happen...hence my self-loathing.
:)

The Return...

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

Hello everyone. Yes, I am back and with a new look.

I apologize for my extended absence from the blogosphere. I could regale you with tales of how I've been too busy to blog over the last number of months, but we all know that would just be a lie. During my absence I have been places, seen things, and made notes about things that intend to blog about in the next little while. Possibly the most significant of these events was my trip to Israel in May (initially I thought that I had waited too long to blog about this even, but have reconsidered, especially since my friend Dr. Miller is still faithfully blogging through our trip. See Dr. Miller's blog here).

As a way to mark my return to my blog I have posted a video below from the Coldplay concert that I went to in Winnipeg, at the MTS Centre, for my birthday. While I did not take the video it gives a pretty good idea of where I was sitting.




Happy blogging all :)

Looking for Info or an Opinion

Hello to all 4 of you that read my blog.

Today I seek to tap your knowledge and theological prowess on a couple of books that I am considering to read.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Winnipeg purusing McNally Robinson when I stumbled across two titles which caught my eye and had left me thinking, "Maybe I should read these." These books were:
The Existential Jesus by John Carroll (Counterpoint, 2008)
How Jesus Became a Christian: St. Paul, the Early Church and the Jesus Cover-up by Barrie Wilson (Random House Canada, 2008)

Any information that any of you can provide on either of these books or their authors would be helpful. I am really trying to find out if either of these is worth my time reading or if they just happened to grace(?) the shelves of a well-known book store for their edginess.

I you don't feel comfortable posting just fire me an email.

Thanks.