everything that's on my mind

Just a few of the things I’ve been reading online this past week…

Jesus delivers the constitution?

I came across this painting online late last week. (Actually, I saw the version with humorous captions first.) I didn’t use the image in this post since it states on the site that it is copyrighted, so you’ll have to click the link to view it. It’s a ridiculous conflation of Christianity and American nationalism which is offensive in many ways. I considered commenting on it then but didn’t have time. Instead, I will direct you to a post by Greg Boyd, who pretty much nails it (and said it better than I would have anyway):

There are many other loathsome aspects of this idolatrous work that could be mentioned, especially regarding the people present in “Satan’s corner” (on the lower right corner), but enough has been said. The bottom line is that someday, people from every tribe and every nation will gather around Jesus (Rev. 7:9-10) and I assure you he won’t be holding a particular nation’s Constitution! The chief business of the church is to model this beautiful unity-amidst-diversity in the present. We are to manifest a Kingdom in which there is no male or female, Jew or Greek, rich or poor, American or British, and in which there is no violence.

This painting is a perfect illustration of the sort of primitive tribalism and diabolic nationalism that keeps Christians from doing this. It must, I believe, be renounced in the strongest possible terms.

Read Boyd’s full post Painted Idolatry: “One Nation Under God.”

To be a Christian…

The war between Christianity and science that some believers find it necessary to wage is often sad enough, but far worse when it manifests itself in such a way as to drive someone away from Christianity altogether. Internet Monk tells the story of “Niki”, a Japanese student visiting the United States. Niki came and left an atheist, and prior to leaving, explained why she could not be a Christian to a teacher of hers:

“I am an atheist because I believe in evolution. When people here explained to me what they must believe as Christians, I always ask them about evolution, and they say “You cannot be a Christian and believe in evolution.” So I cannot be a Christian, because I believe that evolution is true.”

I cannot personally buy into the idea that science is simply a “vast conspiracy” to destroy Christianity, as some seem to believe. Science seeks to explain the way the world works and sometimes that may contradict some interpretations of scripture. (Few people still believe the world is flat, after all.) Hopefully, we can learn from stories like Niki and not allow rigid beliefs regarding how God accomplished certain things (when he has not specifically revealed it) hinder others from believing in him. It’s not necessary to dismiss modern science in order to believe. Faith in God and faith in science can coexist.

You can read the full post here: Niki Made Her Choice and, Apparently, So Did We.

A love story

I’ve seen a couple of Michael Moore’s films (Bowling for Columbine, Sicko) and enjoyed them. While there are always valid arguments against some of the things he says or does through his films, I thought that both of the films I’ve seen raised important questions and created dialogue about the topics they covered. And that, in part, is what Moore is shooting for, I believe.

I’ve never known anything about with what kind of religious/spiritual beliefs Moore has, if any. (Turns out he is Catholic.) With his new film Capitalism: A Love Story just being released, I read this letter from Moore regarding the film and the question he asks: “Is capitalism a sin?” I thought it was worth the read, and look forward to seeing this film as well. You can read the letter here: Michael Moore: “Would Jesus be a capitalist?”

WM3

Just this morning I read this article posted at The New York Times site: Torn by 3 Lost Boys and 3 Convicted Youths. It concerns the case of the “West Memphis Three” and their ongoing attempts to get a new trial. Shortly after reading it, another article appeared in my reader from the WM3 blog titled “New Eyewitnesses: 3 Boys Last Seen Alive With Terry Hobbs”. Apparently, one of the boys’ step-dad (Hobbs), who was never interviewed, was the last person seen with the boys. Also, as was discovered two years ago, Hobbs’ DNA was found on one of the bodies. While much remains to be seen, it seems there’s one more bit of evidence pointing towards someone besides the WM3.

I’ve posted before on the WM3 case and have made plain my feelings about the case. Parents of two of the murdered children (including Hobbs’ ex-wife, the biological mother of one of the victims) now believe in the innocence of the WM3. Likewise, I continue to believe that the true perpetrator of this crime was never caught, three innocent men continue to sit in prison 16 years later, and hope that justice will be served one day soon.

A couple of trailers I’ve seen online recently of films I think I’d like to see.

First is a documentary titled Lord, Save Us From Your Followers. The film (and book) sound similar to Kinnaman and Lyons book unChrisitan: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity and Why It Matters, which I read last year.

Documentary creator (and Christian) Dan Merchant traveled the country, talking to hundreds of people about Jesus and Christianity in an attempt to determine what the two meant to people in this country and why they are so divisive.

The primary question these type of efforts seem raise is this: why is the resemblance between Jesus and his followers so often difficult to recognize?

Here is a trailer of sorts for the film (the official trailer can be seen at the official website):

I don’t know if this film will be worth the time or not. I watched Bill Maher’s Religulous earlier this year. While not exactly the same type of film, and coming from “the other side”, so to speak, it was both entertaining and though-provoking. I hope there’s some value in this one as well.

The second film is Creation, staring Paul Bettany & Jennifer Connelly. It tells the life story of Charles Darwin and his controversial work On The Origin of Species.

I recently read a book (Karl Giberson’s Saving Darwin: How to Be a Christian and Believe in Evolution) in which I learned a bit more about Darwin’s life. I was pretty much unfamiliar with him beyond the fact that he authored this famous work. His background of faith was particularly interesting, as you don’t hear much about that growing up in church and/or Christian schools. I just assumed he was an atheist (not true) who was hell bent on the destruction of Christianity (also not true.)

Here is the official trailer:

Unfortunately, it’s not evident whether or not I will get that opportunity, as the film has yet to procure a U.S. distributor. It seems that, not surprisingly, Americans are afraid of the film and the certain (yet unnecessary) controversy that it will create here. However, I suspect in due time it will make it’s way to our shores.