Table of Contents |
INNS ALONG THE WAY: "The God Room" (1) Is God indifferent and hostile to human beings? Will God disrupt the normal functions of the universe to tilt it in favor of outlandish requests? Inns Along the Way: "The Jesus Room" (1) The gift of Christianity to the world isn't religion but Jesus. The challenge he poses isn't following in his footsteps but catching a glimpse of life ruled by God's gracious generosity. Inns Along the Way: "The Jesus Room" (2) Faith isn't about Jesus but about a counter-world of unfailing justice, full inclusion, authentic freedom, unutterable love, astounding forgiveness, sheer grace and incredible peace. Inns Along the Way: "The Family Room" My life's sacred journey is geographical, not eschatological; pilgrimage, not destination. Inns Along the Way: "The Church Room" (1) Wherever the events of God's new creation are erupting into the stream of history, there is God's creativity and graciousness and maybe even the church! Inns Along the Way: "The Church Room" (2) Christianity doesn't allow for Tarzans who come to maturity by a self-civilizing process in the jungle; community and belonging are both essential and the mission of the church. Inns Along the Way: "The Church Room" (3) Do those who pray for God to shorten the lives of Supreme Court justices in order to achieve their social agenda really believe that God is available to do their bidding? Inns Along the Way: "The Church Room" (4) Nietzsche claimed that the person who has a why to live for can endure almost any how. This discovery of meaning is an essential part of the portfolio of the church. Inns Along the Way: "The Church Room" (5) There is nothing like seeing the door of a holy place open to you and finding a place card on a table with your name on it! There you can claim your inheritance of grace. Inns Along the Way: "The Guest Room" (1) The helio-centric world view of Copernicus, Galileo, Newton and Descartes, as well as the geo-centric view, is imploding even as the cosmo-centric world view of "the new cosmology" replaces it. Inns Along the Way: "The Guest Room" (2) Honest and candid questions may upset some but they are acceptable to God! The truth is that "dialogue" and "questioning" are expressions of our essential nature. Inns Along the Way: "The Guest Room" (3) Jim Wolfe offers his opinion that "it is okay to be gay" and supports it with an insightful interpretation of the biblical texts that are used by some as support for their negative view of this question.` Inns Along the Way: "The Guest Room" (4) In an essay entitled Mortality and Religion Lewis E. Rhodes says, "Mortality is a powerful impetus in the founding and growth of religion. Mystery is the fountainhead of the development of religion and the need for social order is next. I don't know how attractive being a Christian would be without the promise and offer of living forever." Inns Along the Way: "The Guest Room" (5) Sister Joan Chittister's essay is a robust reminder of the ways we dilute our faith commitment. The Amish community demonstrated what it means to follow Jesus seriously. Of course, we decided earlier that "pre-emptive" war was the best response to violence, mayhem and murder, not forgiveness. "Too idealistic," we say. But "pre-emptive war" isn't working. So maybe we need to try the Amish way! Inns Along the Way: "Narthex" (1) Biblical religion is a reversal of the primitive notion that saw religion as a movement from earth to heaven to placate the deity. It is aimed at the human situation, not God. Inns Along the Way: "Narthex" (2) Just and inclusive language is essential if we are to overcome the injustice and violence and hatred that obstruct the attempts to point to the "alternative social vision" of Jesus. Inns Along the Way: "The Planetarium" We are moving from the age of positivism and rationalism into a post-modern age of relativism wherein the "new cosmology" offers us a new vision of reality. Inns Along the Way: "The Library" (1) "The new story of the universe already captivates minds on every continent," asserts Brian Swimme in The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos. Inns Along the Way: "The Library" (2) Several insightful writings by Bernard Brandon Scott are reviewed here. In one essay from Profiles of Jesus, edited by Roy Hoover, he develops what he envisions as a model from surveying as a way of choosing his approach to understanding just who the historical Jesus was. His sketch is mesmerizing and captivating. Although I have been catching glimpses and glimmers of this Jesus for years, he introduces Jesus as a subversive poet. This is a new insight for me but I find it compelling. Inns Along the Way: "The Library" (3) When both Bill Moyers and Elaine Pagels commended a book by James Autry entitled Looking Around for God , I knew that I had to read it and then post it on this site. It is commended by Elaine Pagels with the words, "I loved this book!" and it is exactly what Autry promises with the sub-title "the oddly reverent observations of an unconventional Christian." Then, knowing that my wife and I have some connections with Autry, I bought and read. It is an example of the way followers of Jesus are examining their faith commitments and "fine-tuning" them for life in this modern day. Autry has a unique gift for blending the profound experiences of his life with stories and poetry. In the words found in Augustine's Confessions I say "take up and read!" You won't be disappointed. |
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