Vol VIII No. 35
****
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net
*****
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
Canadian Anglican Google Groups Web Site:
http://tinyurl.com/k7r5bo2
"Quicklinks" are included with many items.
Otherwise, scroll down to find your selection
in the body of the blog.
****
Dear Friends:
First of all, we want to let you
know that we are on "high ground"
in Calgary and have not suffered
from the flooding - anything like
many others in this city.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers,
and just remember that Calgarians are
a resilient, "can do" people!
We will have everything ready for the
Stampede that is now only a few weeks
away - even though the grounds there
are currently under water!
Marlene and I have discovered on our
global travels that if people know
anything about our city (and many do
because of the Olympics, etc.) they
talk about the stampede and most of
them say they want to visit Calgary
for that annual event sometime!
--
Special Item: Book Notice -
"Immortal Diamond" by Richard Rohr
is the book I have recommended as our
fall Monday Night Study selection at
St. David's Church. It was approved
by our committee and will be the focus
of our attention for ten weeks, beginning
the middle of September, 2013.
http://tinyurl.com/n9ymr59
By the way, Jock and I have been doing
these study series at least two times a
year for 15 years. That means at least 35
titles for which we have study notes posted.
Click the Study Archive link for all of them:
http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4
--
Colleague Comment:
This week we hear from Gary Nickel,
Lutheran pastor and friend for more
than forty years. Also, Isabel Gibson
who writes for the third week in a row.
Thanks, Isabel for continuing insights.
--
Colleague Contributions:
Lorna Dueck - interview on prostitution
in Canada and on keeping prostitutes
safe in a dangerous world. (Youtube)
http://tinyurl.com/m68q32t
Jim Taylor - expresses disappointment
with President Obama. It is a rarity,
but I disagree. Still, Jim's thoughts
are worthy of our consideration.
http://tinyurl.com/myjseue
Ron Rolheiser - writes on the human
need for one's father's approval.
http://tinyurl.com/l9ugber
--
Net Notes:
"Europe Divided by the Cross" - an
insightful article on how Europe is
going through a secularization process
that is quite new for many of them
(New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/knlmrvg
"Found - A Lost City of Cambodia" -
science is opening new doors to the
ancient history of Asia that is
most revealing for all humanity
(Christian Science Monitor)
http://tinyurl.com/mg84cyy
"How American Society has Changed" -
a perspective on America from the
UK that throws light on the growing
gap between the rich and poor there
(The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/mrwzlbt
"US White Deaths Outnumber Births" -
demographic studies show that America
keeps moving away from being a society
dominated by white persons
(Washington Post)
http://tinyurl.com/m64qp49
"Nouwen Story Wins Top Media Prize" -
colleague Michael Higgins shared the
honors with others in NYC who produced
the CBC "Ideas" special recently
(St. Jerome's University News, CBC)
http://tinyurl.com/n8zfqsa
http://tinyurl.com/mxxu4zm
"Is Papal Honeymoon Nearing the End?"
- pope-watchers raise the question if
Francis can continue without resistance
from Vatican bureaucrats, etc (Uca News)
http://tinyurl.com/k258efx
"Empowered, Independent Indian Women"
- a revealing video on how Dalit/low-
caste Indian women are moving forward
at their own initiative (International)
http://tinyurl.com/klr4owx
"Catholics and Lutherans to Bury Hatchet"
- special healing events are in the planning
stage for the five hundredth anniversary of
the Reformation in 2017. Exciting!
(Religious News Service, The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/kjck5jy
"Anti-Gay Group Apologizes and Closes Down"
- an organization of conservative Christians
that advocated "changing" one's sexual
orientation admits doing damage to people
and folds its tents (The Washington Post)
http://tinyurl.com/lts3fhf
"Gay CofE Clergy Must Prove Sexual Chastity"
- in the UK, the conservative Church of
England now "allows" for gay clergy, who
must prove they don't engage sexually
(Christian Post) http://tinyurl.com/mkb9ogq
--
Wisdom of the Week:
Provided by Sojourners Online -
Anne Frank, Common Prayer and
Saint Benedict of Nursia share
thoughts worth pondering.
--
On This Day:
Contributed from the archives of
the New York Times -
UN Declaration of Human Rights Adopted
http://tinyurl.com/83wo9bn
Muhammed Ali Guilty of Evading Draft
http://tinyurl.com/84j63lh
Hitler Triumphs, France Signs Armistice
http://tinyurl.com/5uy55h2
--
Closing Thought - Scott Bader-Saye
writes on the power of true surrender
and of risk-taking.
--
Next week is the last issue of
Colleagues List in the 2012-13
series. It will appear as issue
#36 of Volume Eight.
(Not bad since I missed about
three months last summer and
fall due to illness and surgery.)
From July to mid-September 2013
issues of Colleagues List will
appear every two weeks, as usual
during summer months.
Summer blessings
(in the northern climes)
Wayne
*****
Our New Fall Programs will be posted here
shortly, as they develop over the next months.
SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS
Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or) admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/
Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/St_Davids_United_Church/Audio.html
*****
STUDY ARCHIVES
An accumulation of thirty-five books studied
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4
This collection of study resources represents
more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at
St. David's, plus extra courses too!
You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.
*********************
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice -
IMMORTAL DIAMOND
by Richard Rohr
Jossey-Bass/Wiley 2013.
Hardcover, 255 pp. $18.00 CAD
ISBN #978-1-118-30359-7
Publisher's Promo:
Dissolve the distractions of ego to find our
authentic selves in God. In his bestselling
book Falling Upward, Richard Rohr talked about
ego (or the False Self) and how it gets in the
way of spiritual maturity. But if there's a
False Self, is there also a True Self? What
is it? How is it found? Why does it matter?
And what does it have to do with the spiritual
journey? This book likens True Self to a diamond,
deep within us, formed under the intense pressure
of our lives, that must be searched for,
uncovered, separated from all the debris of
ego that surrounds it. In a sense True Self
must, like Jesus, be resurrected, and that
process is not resuscitation but transformation.
Shows how to navigate spiritually difficult
terrain with clear vision and tools to uncover
our True Selves Written by Father Richard Rohr,
the bestselling author of Falling Upward
Examines the fundamental issues of who we
are and helps us on our path of spiritual
maturity "Immortal Diamond" (whose title is
taken from a line in a Gerard Manley Hopkins
poem) explores the deepest questions of
identity, spirituality, and meaning in
Richard Rohr's inimitable style.
--
About the Author:
Fr. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest of
the New Mexico Province. He founded the Center
for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque,
New Mexico in 1986, where he presently serves
as Founding Director. An internationally known
speaker to many thousands of people a year,
Richard’s travels have recently taken him to
Europe and Australia/New Zealand. Teaching on
such themes as adult Christian spirituality,
spirituality, and politics and spirituality,
Richard has partnered with such esteemed teachers
as Thomas Keating (author of books on centering
prayer), Diana Butler Bass author of Christianity
for the Rest of Us), Ronald Rolheiser (author
of the best-selling The Holy Longing), Joan
Chittister (author of The Gift of Years),
Phyllis Tickle (author of The Great Emergence),
and Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners and authors
of bestsellers such as God’s Politics.
--
Author's Words:
Your True Self is that part of you that knows
who you are, though largely unconsciously.
Your False Self is just who you think you are -
but thinking doesn't make it so.
We are made for transcendence and endless
horizons , but our small ego usually gets in
the way until we become aware of its petty
preoccupations and eventually need a deeper
truth. It's like mining for a diamond. We
must dig deep; and yet seem reluctant, even
afraid, to do so.
Resurrection - which I am going to equate with
the revelation of our True Selves - is actually
a risk and a threat to the world as we have
constructed it.
Whether human beings admit it or not, we are
all involved with - even addicted to - the
status quo and the past, even when it is
killing us. Resurrection offers us a future -
dare I say a permanent future - but one that
is unknown and therefore scary...
The clarification and rediscovery of what
I am going to call the True Self lays a
solid foundation - and a clear initial goal -
for all religion.
I believe the risen Christ is the icon of
full consciousness. He carries us across with
him, assures us it is OK and thus models the
full journey and final direction of what we
understand consciousness to be.
That is my major thesis about how Jesus
"saves us." Christ is the archetypal True Self.
God is never an object to be found possessed
as we find other objects, but the one who
shares your own deepest subjectivity -
or your "self."
Some will think I am arrogantly talking
about being "personally divine" and eagerly
dismiss this was of talking about resurrection
as heresy, arrogance or pantheism. The Gospel
is much more subtle than that.
The True Self is neither God nor human.
The True Self is both at the same time,
and both are a total gift.
Jesus resurrection is permanent and
definitive for human history. He is a
stand-in for all of us.
So let's try now to roll away the rock,
clear the debris, and get back to mining
for our True Self.
You will find a diamond.
- from "Invitation" to the book
--
My Thoughts:
One of the challenges facing Christians
who quest for spiritual insight from other
faith traditions and study disciplines
like psychology is that we approach these
rich fields of discovery with a lack of
awareness of our own Christian tradition.
The result is that we are easily swayed
by our findings and can head off in
directions that might be considered lacking
in Christian substance. I have gone on these
intriguing journeys myself, but have learned
that when there is a disconnect between the
faith that shaped me and my new discoveries -
I invariably end up confused, superficial
and unfulfilled.
Richard Rohr is not about to throw the
hard-won substance of Christian faith out
with "the bathwater" as it were. He is
willing to explore and learn from other
faith and study disciplines but as we read
him, we know we are in the company of a man
of deep Christian grounding.
Protestants and others will recognize the
Catholic tradition out of which he works,
but they will also find him to be one who
calls everyone backward to old verities.
as well as forward to new vistas.
What I find Rohr is also good at is his
ability to interpret God, Jesus and such
classic Christian themes as 'resurrection'
in ways that do not compromise their old
meanings, but which offers new meanings
as well.
Rohr has worked with a number of our
own colleagues like Rolheiser, Butler-Bass,
Tickle and Wallis - so his net is cast wide
and the result of his expedition is inclusive.
I highly recommend this book. It will help
you to discover more of who you really are.
It will also give you tools to relate more
effectively with other Christians, and
people of other faiths or no faith.
--
Buy the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/n9ymr59
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
GARY NICKEL
Fort Edmonton, AB
June 17th, 2013
Hi Wayne,
In your latest Colleagues List, you refer
to a commentary on "The Idea of the Holy"
(Rudolph Otto) with your lead into it:
"Here is a peace on mysticism..."
Now keeping primarily in mind "Christian"
mysticism, your wording could be - a piece
on mysticism, or a piece on the peace of
mysticism...
But then it could perhaps refer to "the peace
which passes all understanding" then relating
to mysticism, as one of its aspects is "beyond
all [human] understanding..."
... or perhaps it should be a piece on peace,
keeping in mind that total peace is so very
elusive; meditation often helps uncover peace...
... or perhaps it should be a piece on a piece of
mysticism, keeping in mind that Christian [and
other] mysticism has so many varying forms and
formats.
Before I disturb your peace too much with this
piece, I will close for some personal peaceful
meditation on the meaning of, you guessed it,
"pieces of peace and meditation..."
Pax,
Gary
Editors's Comment: I've replaced "peace" in my
Colleagues List intro for June 16th, and it
now reads "piece."
Thanks, Gary for that venture into possible
meanings of mysticism.
*****
ISABEL GIBSON
Ottawa, ON
Wayne:
A hat trick this week!
Thanks kindly for the link to Ron Rolheiser's
lovely tribute to Andrew Greeley (we've been
on the road and I had missed the death notice).
Don't we all hope for someone who sees our virtues
and our value, without having to deny our failings?
I guess that might be what Christian love is, eh?
Thanks for the "six stunners" on Pope Francis'
comments. Although if caring for the poor is a
stunning thing for a Pope to talk about, then
I'm stunned for another reason...
Thanks also for Chesterton's comment - if I were
a social media type, I'd say LOL, because I did!*
Regards,
Isabel
*Chesterton said -
"The whole modern world has divided itself
into Conservatives and Progressives. The
business of Progressives is to go on making
mistakes. The business of the Conservatives
is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected.
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
LORNA DUECK
Toronto, ON
Youtube Video Interview
June 19th, 2013
"Keeping Prostitution Safe in Canada"
http://tinyurl.com/m68q32t
--
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
June 16th, 2013
"Obama's Fall From Grace"
http://tinyurl.com/myjseue
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
"Struggling for Our Father's Blessing"
http://tinyurl.com/l9ugber
*****
NET NOTES
EUROPE DIVIDED BY THE CROSS
New York Times
June 19th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/knlmrvg
--
HOW AMERICAN SOCIETY HAS CHANGED
Decline and Fall of Egalitarianism
The Guardian, UK
June 19th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mrwzlbt
--
US WHITE DEATHS OUTNUMBER BIRTHS
Significant Demographic Change
Washington Post
June 12th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/m64qp49
--
FOUND: A LOST CITY OF CAMBODIA
Discovery Opens New Doors
Christian Science Moniter
June 17th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mg84cyy
--
NOUWEN STORY WINS TOP MEDIA PRIZE
St. Jerome's University News
June 17th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/n8zfqsa
Original CBC "Ideas" Broadcast
From New York Film Awards Website
http://tinyurl.com/mxxu4zm
*****
IS PAPAL HONEYMOON NEARING THE END?
People Love Him but Insiders Suspicious
Uca News
June 20th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/k258efx
--
EMPOWERED, INDEPENDENT INDIAN WOMEN
Lower Caste Women of India Take Charge
The International
June 21st, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/klr4owx
--
CATHOLICS AND LUTHERANS TO BURY HATCHET
500th Anniversary of 1517 a Time of Change
Religious News Service
June 19th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/kjck5jy
--
The Tablet, UK
June 21st, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/kg3p89f
--
US CHRISTIAN ANTI-GAY GROUP CLOSES DOWN
Apologizes, Says it Hurt People
Washington Post,
June 20th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/lts3fhf
--
GAY ANGLICAN CLERGY MUST PROVE SEXUAL CHASTITY
Church of England Establishes Guidelines
Christian Post
June 19th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mkb9ogq
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online -
I see the world gradually being turned into
a wilderness. I hear the ever-approaching
thunder, which will destroy us too. I can
feel the sufferings of millions and yet,
if I look up into the heavens, I think that
it will all come right. In the meantime, I
must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time
will come when I shall be able to carry
them out.
- Anne Frank
--
Much of our theology has been so concentrated
on heaven that it invalidates any concern for
the earth. Some images in Scripture have even
been misconstrued to perpetuate a disregard for
the creation, such as the image that in the last
days the world will be consumed by fire. But
nearly every other time the ‘consumed by fire’
image is evoked in Scripture, it is a fire that
purifies rather than burns up, a fire that frees
up life rather than destroys it. No doubt, the
way we live is shaped by how we imagine the end
of the world — whether we think God’s final plan
is for everything to go up in flames or for
everything to be brought back to life.
- Common Prayer
--
The first step of humility is to cherish at all
times the sense of awe with which we should turn
to God.
- Saint Benedict of Nursia
*****
ON THIS DAY
June 16th - 21st
Provided from the archives
of the New York Times
UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
ADOPTS HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION
http://tinyurl.com/83wo9bn
--
MUHAMMED ALI GUILTY OF EVADING DRAFT
BUT US SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS DECISION
http://tinyurl.com/84j63lh
--
HITLER TRIUMPHS. FRANCE SIGNS ARMISTICE
EIGHT DAYS AFTER GERMANY TAKES PARIS
http://tinyurl.com/5uy55h2
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - Scott Bader-Saye
Following Jesus will mean surrendering the power
that masquerades as security in order to love the
neighbor and welcome the stranger. It will mean
avoiding the safe path in order to pursue the
good. But in a culture of fear, we find such
risks all the more difficult since our natural
inclinations lead us to close in on ourselves
when we face danger. How can we maintain the
posture of the open hand toward a world that
scares us?
(end)
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Colleagues List, June 16th, 2013
Vol VIII No. 34
****
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net
*****
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
Canadian Anglicans Google Grops Web Site:
http://tinyurl.com/btll5nv
"Quicklinks" are included with many items.
Otherwise, scroll down to find your selection
in the body of the blog.
****
Dear Friends:
June means that I begin to think of the
courses I hope to teach at the church and
the university this fall and winter.
As my Special Item this week I include a
notice of the book I am planning to use
at the university next winter. It is
entitled "The Evolution of God" by Robert
Wright. It has been around for several years
now, and has proven staying power. It seeks
to build bridges between the faith traditions
and between religion and science.
I consider it a timely contribution to
current quality thinking.
http://tinyurl.com/kd6qo34
--
Colleague Comment: this week is from friend
Isabel Gibson of Ottawa who discusses the
contribution of Pope Francis I.
--
Colleague Contributions: this week are by
Kirsty Hunter and Christopher White, United
Church of Canada ministers and friends from
Ontario; as well as standbys Ron Rolheiser
of San Antonio and Jim Taylor Okanagan, BC.
http://tinyurl.com/p6ypx43
http://tinyurl.com/l9ljq5r
http://tinyurl.com/n95abjj
http://tinyurl.com/3m3alz8
--
Net Notes:
"Idea of the Holy" - here is a helpful
piece on mysticism with reference to
the German theologian of the last
century, Rudolph Otto (Uca News)
http://tinyurl.com/mq4nlck
"The Pope Said What?" - Francis continues
to impress with his comments, often they
are off-handed as well, but not always
(CNN Religion Blog)
http://tinyurl.com/mrh5suv
"Justin Meets Francis" - the Justin here
is not Trudeau, but the New Archbishop
of Canterbury (Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/lg4tnel
"John and Francis - Two of a Kind" -
the current pontiff is compared to
everyone's favorite pope and comes off
looking pretty good at this point
(The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/lg4tnel
"Future is Uncertain for Vision TV" -
One of Canada's institutions has been
this venerable TV channel, but its life
may now be limited (Christianweek)
http://tinyurl.com/ktdtc5k
"Rowan Williams on Story of Narnia" -
the former Canterbury continues to
publish good things. His latest is on
Narnia's lion (Englewood Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/loyz3sy
"Anglican Communion Has New Web Site" -
here is a notice about an upgrade in
global Anglican communication
(Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/medu3jr
Dalai Lama Reflects on Self-Immolation"
- for the first time, the spiritual leader
of the Tibetan Buddhists speaks out on
what he considers misplaced devotion
(Huffington Post Canada)
http://tinyurl.com/mldvyhn
"Brazilians Flock to Evangelical Churches"
- while this is not a new report about the
growing evangelical influence in Latin America
current particulars help to update the story
(Yahoo News) http://tinyurl.com/kg6hfwm
"Conference on Religion and Public Discourse"
- Canadians continue to discuss the place of
public religion in our changing society
(Evangelical Fellowship of Canada)
http://tinyurl.com/kkyjusa
--
Wisdom of the Week:
Robert James Brown, Francis of Assisi
a quote from "The Cloud of Unknowing"
by an unknown author provide our words
of insight for this issue.
--
On This Day:
Covering the week of June 10th - 15th,
the New York Times brings back these
stories:
Tear Down that Wall! - Reagan Urges Soviet
http://tinyurl.com/m22kre9
Six Day War Ends Between Israel and Syria
http://tinyurl.com/kf3fxqh
British Win Falklands War
http://tinyurl.com/lvqqnje
--
Closing Thought - this week is by
English writer and journalist of
the last century, G. K. Chesterton
--
I hope you are enjoying your life right now.
I am!
Wayne
*****
Our New Fall Programs will be posted here
shortly, as they develop over the next months.
SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS
Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or) admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/
Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/St_Davids_United_Church/Audio.html
*****
STUDY ARCHIVES
An accumulation of thirty-five books studied
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4
This collection of study resources represents
more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at
St. David's, plus extra courses too!
You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.
*********************
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice -
THE EVOLUTION OF GOD
By Robert Wright
Back Bay Books, 2010
Little, Brown and Company
Paperback, 576 pages
ISBN #0-316-73491-8
Publisher's Promo:
In this sweeping, dazzling journey through
history, Robert Wright unveils a discovery
of crucial importance to the present moment:
there is a pattern in the evolution of Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam, and a "hidden code"
in their scriptures.
Through the prisms of archeology, theology,
anthropology, and evolutionary psychology,
Wright repeatedly overturns conventional wisdom
to show how and why religion can strengthen the
social order - even in an age of globalization -
and explains why modern science is not only
compatible with religion, but actively affirms
the validity of the religious quest.
Vast in scope and thrilling in ambition,
The Evolution of God brilliantly alters our
understanding of God and where He came from -
and where He and we are going next.
--
Review Comment:
Journalist and political commentator Andrew
Sullivan gave the book a positive review in
The Atlantic, saying that the book "... gave
me hope that we can avoid both the barrenness
of a world without God and the horrible fusion
of fundamentalism and weapons of mass
destruction." http://tinyurl.com/k2xkuox
Newsweek religion editor, Lisa Miller,
described The Evolution of God as a reframing
of the faith vs. reason debate. Drawing a
contrast to such authors as Sam Harris,
Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens,
Miller gives an overall positive review of
the book's approach to the examination of
the concept of God.http://tinyurl.com/lyeyuo5
In a review for The New York Times, Yale
professor of psychology Paul Bloom said,
"In his brilliant new book, “The Evolution
of God,” Robert Wright tells the story of
how God grew up." Bloom sums up Wright's
controversial stance as, "Wright’s tone
is reasoned and careful, even hesitant,
throughout, and it is nice to read about
issues like the morality of Christ and
themeaning of jihad without getting the
feelingthat you are being shouted at.
His views, though, are provocative and
controversial. There is something here
to annoy almost everyone."
http://tinyurl.com/jvga5sj
--
Author's Words:
In this book, I talk about the history of
religion, and its future from a materialist
(scientific) standpoint.
I think the origin and development of religion
can be explained by reference to concrete,
observable things - human nature, political and
economic factors, as well, as technological
change...
But I don't think a "materialist" account of
religion's origin, history, and future - like
the one I'm giving here - precludes the validity
of a religious worldview. In fact, I contend
that the history of religion that is presented
in this book, materialist that it is, actually
affirms the validity of a religious worldview;
not a 'traditional' religious worldview, but
a worldview that is in some meaningful sense
religious.
It sounds paradoxical. On the one hand, I think
gods arose as illusions, and that the subsequent
history of the idea of god is, in some sense,
the evolution of an illusion. On the other hand
(1) the story of this evolution itself points
to the existence of something... meaningfully
called divinity; and (2) the "illusion," in the
course of evolving, has gotten streamlined in a
way that moved it closer to plausibility. In
both of these senses, the illusion has gotten
less and less illusory...
For now I should just conclude that the kind
of god that remains plausible, after all this
streamlining, is not the kind of god that most
religious believers have in mind.
--
There are two other things that I hope will make
a new kind of sense by the end of this book, and
both are aspects of the current world situation.
One is what some people call the clash of
civilizations. Since 9/11, people have been
wondering how, if at all, the world's Abrahamic
religions can get along with each other as
globalization forces them into closer and closer
context... I think that(there are things) we can
do to make the current "clash" more likely to have
a happy ending.
The second is... another kind of clash - the much
discussed "clash" between science and religion...
through all history some notion of the divine has
survived the encounter with science. After all,
science has changed relentlessly, revising if
not discarding old theories, and none of us think
that this is an indictment of science... Maybe the
same thing is happening to religion. Maybe a
mercilessly scientific account of our predicament
... is actually compatible with a truly religious
worldview, and is part of the process that refines
a religious worldview, moving it closer to truth.
These two big "clash" questions can be put into
one sentence -
Can religions in the modern world reconcile
themselves to one another, and can they reconcile
themselves to science? I think their history
points to affirmative answers.
Religion will need to address the challenges to
human psychology. (And) it will have to highlight
some "higher purpose" - some kind of larger point
or pattern that we can use to orient our daily
lives, recognize good and bad, and make sense of
joy and suffering alike...
Is there an intellectually honest worldview that
truly qualifies as religious and can - amid the
chaos of the current world - provide personal
guidance and comfort? ... I don't claim to have
the answers, but clear clues emerge naturally
in the course of telling the story of God.
So here goes...
- from the Introduction
--
My Thoughts:
It is refreshing to discover that some modern
scientists are embracing, not disparaging, the
reality of religion.
This book continues the quest of a creative,
scientific mind, to study the place of religion
in human life and to advocate optimistically
for its continuing role into the future.
At the same time, author Robert Wright
indicates what we have received as religion
over the years is no longer adequate for our
present and future. The same critical approach
used by scientists needs to be employed by
people of religion.
Using tools that inform both science and the
social sciences, Wright argues for the
positive place religion has played and can
continue to play in human self-understanding.
Note that Wright is not discussing personal
faith here. He is dealing with the phenomenon
of religion in human cultures. He challenges
many of the new atheists on their own terms
and attempts to demonstrate the contribution
religion has to offer the greater human good.
Here is a book for people who seek to build
bridges between the great faith traditions
as well as the worlds of science and religion.
It is also refreshing that Wright has a
broader sense of what religion encompasses
than simply targeting the red herring called
fundamentalism. Many new atheists seem to
have a very limited awareness of religion
and continue to criticize people of faith
as though we all adhere to creationist ideas.
The invitation of this book is to engage
people of good faith in the quest for honest
reconciliation in a world strongly influenced
by scientific thinking.
For those who are troubled by what many term
a "creeping secularism" in our cultures, and
for those from the global south and east who
claim to be both scientific and conservatively
religious, this book suggests ground rules
and guidelines for dialogue.
Here is a call to be inclusive, not exclusive;
and one that encourages the building of
bridges, not of walls.
Wright's book has been around for three years
now, and gives good indication that it will
have an enduring shelf life.
A conversation with Robert Wright and a good
group study guide is included in the
suggested paperback edition.
--
Buy the Book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/kd6qo34
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
ISABEL GIBSON
Ottawa, ON.
June 9th, 2013
Wayne:
Always interested to see the latest coverage
on Pope Francis.
I suspect he is changing the face of the papacy
for the foreseeable future - how will anyone have
the nerve to pick up the trappings of the office
again,after he has so determinedly put them down?
He's a good reminder of the impact one person
can have.
Regards,
Isabel
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
KIRSTY HUNTER
Minesing, Ontario UCC Minister
"Best Explanation for Religion
That I've Ever Heard"
Video by Bishop John Spong
http://tinyurl.com/p6ypx43
--
CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT
Toronto, ON.
Quoted in Globe and Mail Article
on Assisted Suicide Bill tabled
this week in Quebec:
Christopher White, 56, Toronto
I have been a United Church minister for 26
years, first in Edmonton, then in Whitby, Ont.,
where we built a new church. For the last
2 1/2 years I’ve been back in Toronto in
the neighorhood I grew up in. I’m married
with two daughters.
One of the challenges of right to die
and the issues that come from religious
communities is that death is in God’s hands,
and not something we, as human beings, should
interfere with. Part of the concern from
religious communities is the potential for
abuse. Unfortunately, we have historical
examples of oppressive states deciding who
gets to live and who gets to die.
We are in a place now where medicine has
the capacity to extend existence, but not
to extend life. I think we need to be very
clear about the difference between extending
existence and a life where we get to
participate in the community and live as
we wish, even if there are disability and
health issues. When medical science simply
prolongs existence, then I think we are in
a very different place.
We know that if people who are terminally
ill are given a certain level of morphine,
it will draw their lives to an end, but we
don’t say [to medical authorities] you
shouldn’t do that because it interferes with
nature or with God. As a society we need to
say to people that if it is a choice, not
between life and death, but between existence
and death, what are your wishes? We already
have that capacity with Do Not Resuscitate
orders. But, as a minister I have seen
families fighting tooth and nail not to
have life support turned off for somebody
who needs to be let go. Death is a natural
part of life. We need to accept that. If
you are in a nursing home and you have a
DNR on file, it doesn’t necessarily apply
if you are transferred to hospital. You
have to have a separate DNR at the hospital.
People don’t realize this.
Read the entire article:
http://tinyurl.com/l9ljq5r
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Personal Website
June 9th, 2013
"Andrew Greeley, RIP"
http://tinyurl.com/n95abjj
--
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Personal Blog
June 12th, 2013
"Beliefs -
In Search of the Great Whatever"
http://tinyurl.com/3m3alz8
*****
NET NOTES
THE IDEA OF THE HOLY
Rudolph Otto and Mysticism
An Interfaith Perspective
Uca News
June 12th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mq4nlck
--
THE POPE SAID WHAT?
Stunners from First 100 Days
CNN Religion Blog
June 13th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mrh5suv
--
JUSTIN MEETS FRANCIS IN ROME
Archbishop and Pope have a
"Meeting of the Minds"
Anglican Journal
June 14th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/modj7qh
--
JOHN AND FRANCIS - TWO OF A KIND
John XXIII and Francis I Alike
The Tablet, UK
June 15th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/lg4tnel
--
FUTURE UNCERTAIN FOR VISION TV
Religion Channel's Difficult Future
Christian Week
June 6th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/ktdtc5k
--
ROWAN WILLIAMS ON STORY OF NARNIA
Review of "The Lion's Heart"
Englewood Review of Books
June 14th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/loyz3sy
--
ANGLICAN COMMUNION HAS NEW WEB SITE
Links World Anglican Comunity
Anglican Journal
June 13th, 1013
http://tinyurl.com/medu3jr
--
DALAI LAMA REFLECTS ON SELF-IMMOLATION
"Understandable" but with "Little Effect"
Huffington Post Canada
June 13th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mldvyhn
--
BRAZILIANS FLOCK TO EVANGELICAL CHURCHES
People Find Mass and Liturgies Boring
Yahoo News
June 9th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/kg6hfwm
--
CONFERENCE ON RELIGION, PUBLIC DISCOURSE
McGill University Hosts Important Meeting
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
June 11th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/kkyjusa
--
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online -
We have got some very big problems
confronting us and let us not make
any mistake about it, human history
in the future is fraught with tragedy
... It's only through people making a
stand against that tragedy and being
doggedly optimistic that we are going
to win through. If you look at the
plight of the human race it could well
tip you into despair, so you have to
be very strong.
- Robert James Brown
--
Above all the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit,
which Christ grants to His friends, is that of
self-conquest and of willingly bearing sufferings,
injuries and reproaches and discomforts for the
love of Christ. If we shall bear all these things
patiently and with cheerfulness, thinking on the
suffering of Christ the blessed, which we ought
to bear patiently for His love, O Brother Leo,
write that here and in this is perfect joy.
- Francis of Assisi
--
For I tell you this: one loving, blind desire
for God alone is more valuable in itself, more
pleasing to God and to the saints, more beneficial
to your own growth, and more helpful to your
friends, both living and dead, than anything else
you could do.
- From "The Cloud of Unknowing"
*****
ON THIS DAY
From the Archives of the New York Times
June 10th - 15th
'TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!' REAGAN URGED SOVIET
http://tinyurl.com/m22kre9
SIX DAY WAR ENDS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SYRIA
http://tinyurl.com/kf3fxqh
BRITISH WIN FALKLANDS WAR
http://tinyurl.com/lvqqnje
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT -
The whole modern world has divided itself
into Conservatives and Progressives. The
business of Progressives is to go on making
mistakes. The business of the Conservatives
is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected.
- G.K. Chesterton
(end)
****
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net
*****
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
Canadian Anglicans Google Grops Web Site:
http://tinyurl.com/btll5nv
"Quicklinks" are included with many items.
Otherwise, scroll down to find your selection
in the body of the blog.
****
Dear Friends:
June means that I begin to think of the
courses I hope to teach at the church and
the university this fall and winter.
As my Special Item this week I include a
notice of the book I am planning to use
at the university next winter. It is
entitled "The Evolution of God" by Robert
Wright. It has been around for several years
now, and has proven staying power. It seeks
to build bridges between the faith traditions
and between religion and science.
I consider it a timely contribution to
current quality thinking.
http://tinyurl.com/kd6qo34
--
Colleague Comment: this week is from friend
Isabel Gibson of Ottawa who discusses the
contribution of Pope Francis I.
--
Colleague Contributions: this week are by
Kirsty Hunter and Christopher White, United
Church of Canada ministers and friends from
Ontario; as well as standbys Ron Rolheiser
of San Antonio and Jim Taylor Okanagan, BC.
http://tinyurl.com/p6ypx43
http://tinyurl.com/l9ljq5r
http://tinyurl.com/n95abjj
http://tinyurl.com/3m3alz8
--
Net Notes:
"Idea of the Holy" - here is a helpful
piece on mysticism with reference to
the German theologian of the last
century, Rudolph Otto (Uca News)
http://tinyurl.com/mq4nlck
"The Pope Said What?" - Francis continues
to impress with his comments, often they
are off-handed as well, but not always
(CNN Religion Blog)
http://tinyurl.com/mrh5suv
"Justin Meets Francis" - the Justin here
is not Trudeau, but the New Archbishop
of Canterbury (Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/lg4tnel
"John and Francis - Two of a Kind" -
the current pontiff is compared to
everyone's favorite pope and comes off
looking pretty good at this point
(The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/lg4tnel
"Future is Uncertain for Vision TV" -
One of Canada's institutions has been
this venerable TV channel, but its life
may now be limited (Christianweek)
http://tinyurl.com/ktdtc5k
"Rowan Williams on Story of Narnia" -
the former Canterbury continues to
publish good things. His latest is on
Narnia's lion (Englewood Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/loyz3sy
"Anglican Communion Has New Web Site" -
here is a notice about an upgrade in
global Anglican communication
(Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/medu3jr
Dalai Lama Reflects on Self-Immolation"
- for the first time, the spiritual leader
of the Tibetan Buddhists speaks out on
what he considers misplaced devotion
(Huffington Post Canada)
http://tinyurl.com/mldvyhn
"Brazilians Flock to Evangelical Churches"
- while this is not a new report about the
growing evangelical influence in Latin America
current particulars help to update the story
(Yahoo News) http://tinyurl.com/kg6hfwm
"Conference on Religion and Public Discourse"
- Canadians continue to discuss the place of
public religion in our changing society
(Evangelical Fellowship of Canada)
http://tinyurl.com/kkyjusa
--
Wisdom of the Week:
Robert James Brown, Francis of Assisi
a quote from "The Cloud of Unknowing"
by an unknown author provide our words
of insight for this issue.
--
On This Day:
Covering the week of June 10th - 15th,
the New York Times brings back these
stories:
Tear Down that Wall! - Reagan Urges Soviet
http://tinyurl.com/m22kre9
Six Day War Ends Between Israel and Syria
http://tinyurl.com/kf3fxqh
British Win Falklands War
http://tinyurl.com/lvqqnje
--
Closing Thought - this week is by
English writer and journalist of
the last century, G. K. Chesterton
--
I hope you are enjoying your life right now.
I am!
Wayne
*****
Our New Fall Programs will be posted here
shortly, as they develop over the next months.
SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS
Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or) admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/
Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/St_Davids_United_Church/Audio.html
*****
STUDY ARCHIVES
An accumulation of thirty-five books studied
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4
This collection of study resources represents
more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at
St. David's, plus extra courses too!
You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.
*********************
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice -
THE EVOLUTION OF GOD
By Robert Wright
Back Bay Books, 2010
Little, Brown and Company
Paperback, 576 pages
ISBN #0-316-73491-8
Publisher's Promo:
In this sweeping, dazzling journey through
history, Robert Wright unveils a discovery
of crucial importance to the present moment:
there is a pattern in the evolution of Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam, and a "hidden code"
in their scriptures.
Through the prisms of archeology, theology,
anthropology, and evolutionary psychology,
Wright repeatedly overturns conventional wisdom
to show how and why religion can strengthen the
social order - even in an age of globalization -
and explains why modern science is not only
compatible with religion, but actively affirms
the validity of the religious quest.
Vast in scope and thrilling in ambition,
The Evolution of God brilliantly alters our
understanding of God and where He came from -
and where He and we are going next.
--
Review Comment:
Journalist and political commentator Andrew
Sullivan gave the book a positive review in
The Atlantic, saying that the book "... gave
me hope that we can avoid both the barrenness
of a world without God and the horrible fusion
of fundamentalism and weapons of mass
destruction." http://tinyurl.com/k2xkuox
Newsweek religion editor, Lisa Miller,
described The Evolution of God as a reframing
of the faith vs. reason debate. Drawing a
contrast to such authors as Sam Harris,
Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens,
Miller gives an overall positive review of
the book's approach to the examination of
the concept of God.http://tinyurl.com/lyeyuo5
In a review for The New York Times, Yale
professor of psychology Paul Bloom said,
"In his brilliant new book, “The Evolution
of God,” Robert Wright tells the story of
how God grew up." Bloom sums up Wright's
controversial stance as, "Wright’s tone
is reasoned and careful, even hesitant,
throughout, and it is nice to read about
issues like the morality of Christ and
themeaning of jihad without getting the
feelingthat you are being shouted at.
His views, though, are provocative and
controversial. There is something here
to annoy almost everyone."
http://tinyurl.com/jvga5sj
--
Author's Words:
In this book, I talk about the history of
religion, and its future from a materialist
(scientific) standpoint.
I think the origin and development of religion
can be explained by reference to concrete,
observable things - human nature, political and
economic factors, as well, as technological
change...
But I don't think a "materialist" account of
religion's origin, history, and future - like
the one I'm giving here - precludes the validity
of a religious worldview. In fact, I contend
that the history of religion that is presented
in this book, materialist that it is, actually
affirms the validity of a religious worldview;
not a 'traditional' religious worldview, but
a worldview that is in some meaningful sense
religious.
It sounds paradoxical. On the one hand, I think
gods arose as illusions, and that the subsequent
history of the idea of god is, in some sense,
the evolution of an illusion. On the other hand
(1) the story of this evolution itself points
to the existence of something... meaningfully
called divinity; and (2) the "illusion," in the
course of evolving, has gotten streamlined in a
way that moved it closer to plausibility. In
both of these senses, the illusion has gotten
less and less illusory...
For now I should just conclude that the kind
of god that remains plausible, after all this
streamlining, is not the kind of god that most
religious believers have in mind.
--
There are two other things that I hope will make
a new kind of sense by the end of this book, and
both are aspects of the current world situation.
One is what some people call the clash of
civilizations. Since 9/11, people have been
wondering how, if at all, the world's Abrahamic
religions can get along with each other as
globalization forces them into closer and closer
context... I think that(there are things) we can
do to make the current "clash" more likely to have
a happy ending.
The second is... another kind of clash - the much
discussed "clash" between science and religion...
through all history some notion of the divine has
survived the encounter with science. After all,
science has changed relentlessly, revising if
not discarding old theories, and none of us think
that this is an indictment of science... Maybe the
same thing is happening to religion. Maybe a
mercilessly scientific account of our predicament
... is actually compatible with a truly religious
worldview, and is part of the process that refines
a religious worldview, moving it closer to truth.
These two big "clash" questions can be put into
one sentence -
Can religions in the modern world reconcile
themselves to one another, and can they reconcile
themselves to science? I think their history
points to affirmative answers.
Religion will need to address the challenges to
human psychology. (And) it will have to highlight
some "higher purpose" - some kind of larger point
or pattern that we can use to orient our daily
lives, recognize good and bad, and make sense of
joy and suffering alike...
Is there an intellectually honest worldview that
truly qualifies as religious and can - amid the
chaos of the current world - provide personal
guidance and comfort? ... I don't claim to have
the answers, but clear clues emerge naturally
in the course of telling the story of God.
So here goes...
- from the Introduction
--
My Thoughts:
It is refreshing to discover that some modern
scientists are embracing, not disparaging, the
reality of religion.
This book continues the quest of a creative,
scientific mind, to study the place of religion
in human life and to advocate optimistically
for its continuing role into the future.
At the same time, author Robert Wright
indicates what we have received as religion
over the years is no longer adequate for our
present and future. The same critical approach
used by scientists needs to be employed by
people of religion.
Using tools that inform both science and the
social sciences, Wright argues for the
positive place religion has played and can
continue to play in human self-understanding.
Note that Wright is not discussing personal
faith here. He is dealing with the phenomenon
of religion in human cultures. He challenges
many of the new atheists on their own terms
and attempts to demonstrate the contribution
religion has to offer the greater human good.
Here is a book for people who seek to build
bridges between the great faith traditions
as well as the worlds of science and religion.
It is also refreshing that Wright has a
broader sense of what religion encompasses
than simply targeting the red herring called
fundamentalism. Many new atheists seem to
have a very limited awareness of religion
and continue to criticize people of faith
as though we all adhere to creationist ideas.
The invitation of this book is to engage
people of good faith in the quest for honest
reconciliation in a world strongly influenced
by scientific thinking.
For those who are troubled by what many term
a "creeping secularism" in our cultures, and
for those from the global south and east who
claim to be both scientific and conservatively
religious, this book suggests ground rules
and guidelines for dialogue.
Here is a call to be inclusive, not exclusive;
and one that encourages the building of
bridges, not of walls.
Wright's book has been around for three years
now, and gives good indication that it will
have an enduring shelf life.
A conversation with Robert Wright and a good
group study guide is included in the
suggested paperback edition.
--
Buy the Book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/kd6qo34
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
ISABEL GIBSON
Ottawa, ON.
June 9th, 2013
Wayne:
Always interested to see the latest coverage
on Pope Francis.
I suspect he is changing the face of the papacy
for the foreseeable future - how will anyone have
the nerve to pick up the trappings of the office
again,after he has so determinedly put them down?
He's a good reminder of the impact one person
can have.
Regards,
Isabel
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
KIRSTY HUNTER
"Best Explanation for Religion
That I've Ever Heard"
Video by Bishop John Spong
http://tinyurl.com/p6ypx43
--
CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT
Toronto, ON.
Quoted in Globe and Mail Article
on Assisted Suicide Bill tabled
this week in Quebec:
Christopher White, 56, Toronto
I have been a United Church minister for 26
years, first in Edmonton, then in Whitby, Ont.,
where we built a new church. For the last
2 1/2 years I’ve been back in Toronto in
the neighorhood I grew up in. I’m married
with two daughters.
One of the challenges of right to die
and the issues that come from religious
communities is that death is in God’s hands,
and not something we, as human beings, should
interfere with. Part of the concern from
religious communities is the potential for
abuse. Unfortunately, we have historical
examples of oppressive states deciding who
gets to live and who gets to die.
We are in a place now where medicine has
the capacity to extend existence, but not
to extend life. I think we need to be very
clear about the difference between extending
existence and a life where we get to
participate in the community and live as
we wish, even if there are disability and
health issues. When medical science simply
prolongs existence, then I think we are in
a very different place.
We know that if people who are terminally
ill are given a certain level of morphine,
it will draw their lives to an end, but we
don’t say [to medical authorities] you
shouldn’t do that because it interferes with
nature or with God. As a society we need to
say to people that if it is a choice, not
between life and death, but between existence
and death, what are your wishes? We already
have that capacity with Do Not Resuscitate
orders. But, as a minister I have seen
families fighting tooth and nail not to
have life support turned off for somebody
who needs to be let go. Death is a natural
part of life. We need to accept that. If
you are in a nursing home and you have a
DNR on file, it doesn’t necessarily apply
if you are transferred to hospital. You
have to have a separate DNR at the hospital.
People don’t realize this.
Read the entire article:
http://tinyurl.com/l9ljq5r
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Personal Website
June 9th, 2013
"Andrew Greeley, RIP"
http://tinyurl.com/n95abjj
--
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Personal Blog
June 12th, 2013
"Beliefs -
In Search of the Great Whatever"
http://tinyurl.com/3m3alz8
*****
NET NOTES
THE IDEA OF THE HOLY
Rudolph Otto and Mysticism
An Interfaith Perspective
Uca News
June 12th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mq4nlck
--
THE POPE SAID WHAT?
Stunners from First 100 Days
CNN Religion Blog
June 13th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mrh5suv
--
JUSTIN MEETS FRANCIS IN ROME
Archbishop and Pope have a
"Meeting of the Minds"
Anglican Journal
June 14th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/modj7qh
--
JOHN AND FRANCIS - TWO OF A KIND
John XXIII and Francis I Alike
The Tablet, UK
June 15th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/lg4tnel
--
FUTURE UNCERTAIN FOR VISION TV
Religion Channel's Difficult Future
Christian Week
June 6th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/ktdtc5k
--
ROWAN WILLIAMS ON STORY OF NARNIA
Review of "The Lion's Heart"
Englewood Review of Books
June 14th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/loyz3sy
--
ANGLICAN COMMUNION HAS NEW WEB SITE
Links World Anglican Comunity
Anglican Journal
June 13th, 1013
http://tinyurl.com/medu3jr
--
DALAI LAMA REFLECTS ON SELF-IMMOLATION
"Understandable" but with "Little Effect"
Huffington Post Canada
June 13th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mldvyhn
--
BRAZILIANS FLOCK TO EVANGELICAL CHURCHES
People Find Mass and Liturgies Boring
Yahoo News
June 9th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/kg6hfwm
--
CONFERENCE ON RELIGION, PUBLIC DISCOURSE
McGill University Hosts Important Meeting
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
June 11th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/kkyjusa
--
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online -
We have got some very big problems
confronting us and let us not make
any mistake about it, human history
in the future is fraught with tragedy
... It's only through people making a
stand against that tragedy and being
doggedly optimistic that we are going
to win through. If you look at the
plight of the human race it could well
tip you into despair, so you have to
be very strong.
- Robert James Brown
--
Above all the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit,
which Christ grants to His friends, is that of
self-conquest and of willingly bearing sufferings,
injuries and reproaches and discomforts for the
love of Christ. If we shall bear all these things
patiently and with cheerfulness, thinking on the
suffering of Christ the blessed, which we ought
to bear patiently for His love, O Brother Leo,
write that here and in this is perfect joy.
- Francis of Assisi
--
For I tell you this: one loving, blind desire
for God alone is more valuable in itself, more
pleasing to God and to the saints, more beneficial
to your own growth, and more helpful to your
friends, both living and dead, than anything else
you could do.
- From "The Cloud of Unknowing"
*****
ON THIS DAY
From the Archives of the New York Times
June 10th - 15th
'TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!' REAGAN URGED SOVIET
http://tinyurl.com/m22kre9
SIX DAY WAR ENDS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SYRIA
http://tinyurl.com/kf3fxqh
BRITISH WIN FALKLANDS WAR
http://tinyurl.com/lvqqnje
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT -
The whole modern world has divided itself
into Conservatives and Progressives. The
business of Progressives is to go on making
mistakes. The business of the Conservatives
is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected.
- G.K. Chesterton
(end)
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