*****
ENTERING LENT ISSUE
GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telus.net
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
"Quicklinks" are included with many items
at the beginning of this issue. To get a more
complete picture, however, scroll down to
find your special selection in the body of
the blog.
Note that not all items here have links.
*****
Dear Friends:
Oscar Sunday and Ash Wednesday!
Hollywood and Lent - are there any
connections? Some think so.
In this issue of Colleagues List I share
a short piece I did for Christianity Today
some time ago. It relates to how movies
influence the way we think of Jesus.
Colleague Lorna Dueck introduces a movie
just released, and entitled "Son of God".
Also I look at my library and take a
favorite volume from the shelf as a book
notice this week. That book is entitled
"The Evolution of Christianity" (2005)
by Marshall D. Johnson.
http://tinyurl.com/lv36v79
http://tinyurl.com/lthzpxu
http://tinyurl.com/ofrxcl9
I hope you enjoy all of these pieces.
--
Colleague Comments this week are from -
Harry Winter (St. Paul, MN),
Hardy Schroeder (Winnipeg, MB)
http://tinyurl.com/mdu25fl and
Isabel Gibson (Ottawa, ON).
Please scroll down to read the letters.
Thanks for writing me about items
appearing on Colleagues List.
--
Colleague Contributions:
Lorna Dueck (Toronto, ON)
- offers a film intro. for the new movie
"Son of God" released this weekend.
http://tinyurl.com/ofrxcl9 (repeat)
Doug Shantz (Calgary, AB)
- informs us of upcoming Chair
of Christian Thought events.
http://tinyurl.com/4uwkccz
Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio TX)
- reflects on creativity.
http://tinyurl.com/q3454bn
Jim Taylor (Okanagan, BC)
- is upset about the return
of entitlement in our culture.
http://tinyurl.com/yl374wj
--
Net Notes -
--
On This Day -
Period of February 23rd - March 1st
From the New York Times archives -
ENTERING LENT ISSUE
GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telus.net
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
"Quicklinks" are included with many items
at the beginning of this issue. To get a more
complete picture, however, scroll down to
find your special selection in the body of
the blog.
Note that not all items here have links.
*****
Dear Friends:
Oscar Sunday and Ash Wednesday!
Hollywood and Lent - are there any
connections? Some think so.
In this issue of Colleagues List I share
a short piece I did for Christianity Today
some time ago. It relates to how movies
influence the way we think of Jesus.
Colleague Lorna Dueck introduces a movie
just released, and entitled "Son of God".
Also I look at my library and take a
favorite volume from the shelf as a book
notice this week. That book is entitled
"The Evolution of Christianity" (2005)
by Marshall D. Johnson.
http://tinyurl.com/lv36v79
http://tinyurl.com/lthzpxu
http://tinyurl.com/ofrxcl9
I hope you enjoy all of these pieces.
--
Colleague Comments this week are from -
Harry Winter (St. Paul, MN),
Hardy Schroeder (Winnipeg, MB)
http://tinyurl.com/mdu25fl and
Isabel Gibson (Ottawa, ON).
Please scroll down to read the letters.
Thanks for writing me about items
appearing on Colleagues List.
--
Colleague Contributions:
Lorna Dueck (Toronto, ON)
- offers a film intro. for the new movie
"Son of God" released this weekend.
http://tinyurl.com/ofrxcl9 (repeat)
Doug Shantz (Calgary, AB)
- informs us of upcoming Chair
of Christian Thought events.
http://tinyurl.com/4uwkccz
Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio TX)
- reflects on creativity.
http://tinyurl.com/q3454bn
Jim Taylor (Okanagan, BC)
- is upset about the return
of entitlement in our culture.
http://tinyurl.com/yl374wj
--
Net Notes -
"Words that Heal" - Kathleen Norris
the famous spiritual writer from the
Dakotas introduces an article on
the importance of sacred scripture
(America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/lzqqxe3
the famous spiritual writer from the
Dakotas introduces an article on
the importance of sacred scripture
(America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/lzqqxe3
"Francis Must Act Fast on Abuse" -
words of advice to a pope that listens
(National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/m3p3qo5
words of advice to a pope that listens
(National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/m3p3qo5
"Pentecostals Greeted by the Pope" -
Francis sends a heartfelt message to
Pentecostal Christians (UCA/CNS)
http://tinyurl.com/obxn89y
Francis sends a heartfelt message to
Pentecostal Christians (UCA/CNS)
http://tinyurl.com/obxn89y
"Scholarly Inquiry is at Risk in India" -
two articles on unwelcome developments
in India that threatens academic freedom
(Sightings) http://tinyurl.com/mw8pj6s
http://tinyurl.com/lw74a2w
two articles on unwelcome developments
in India that threatens academic freedom
(Sightings) http://tinyurl.com/mw8pj6s
http://tinyurl.com/lw74a2w
"Australia in Tangle Over Asylum-Seekers" -
a continuation of a theme begun last week
here, on race prejudice Down Under
(UCA News) http://tinyurl.com/n7dwj59
a continuation of a theme begun last week
here, on race prejudice Down Under
(UCA News) http://tinyurl.com/n7dwj59
"How Jesus Became God - Debate Continues"
- a new book by Bart Ehrman and another
countering his thesis (Publisher's Weekly)
http://tinyurl.com/k2octc9
- a new book by Bart Ehrman and another
countering his thesis (Publisher's Weekly)
http://tinyurl.com/k2octc9
"Why are American Millennials Leaving Church?"
- important survey information for American
churches with a history of anti-gay teachings
(Huffington Post) http://tinyurl.com/k9tc3pa
- important survey information for American
churches with a history of anti-gay teachings
(Huffington Post) http://tinyurl.com/k9tc3pa
"Eastern Philosopher Promotes Christian Education"
- a specialist in eastern thought expresses his
appreciation for much that Christianity teaches
(Christian Week Online) http://tinyurl.com/kc9vp56
- a specialist in eastern thought expresses his
appreciation for much that Christianity teaches
(Christian Week Online) http://tinyurl.com/kc9vp56
"Liberation Theologian Gets Warm Roman Welcome"
- after a half century of cool treatment by the
Vatican, liberation theologian Gustavo Gutierrez
lives to find appreciation from the Vatican
(National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/kv9dq9w
- after a half century of cool treatment by the
Vatican, liberation theologian Gustavo Gutierrez
lives to find appreciation from the Vatican
(National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/kv9dq9w
--
Wisdom of the Week -
Wisdom of the Week -
Marian Anderson, José Celso Barbosa,
Mary McLeod Bethune, Martin Luther King Jr.,
Philip Berrigan and Marcus Garvey offer
words for reflection courtesy of Sojourners
and Plough Press Online.
words for reflection courtesy of Sojourners
and Plough Press Online.
--
On This Day -
Period of February 23rd - March 1st
From the New York Times archives -
--
Closing Thought - Jim Wallis
Please scroll down.
--
Church and University Teaching -
Here is information on some of
my winter activity.
(end)
*****
SPECIAL ITEMS
HOW MOVIES SHAPE OUR IMAGE OF JESUS
Christianity Today
January 20th, 2010
"Movies – rather than the scriptures and
the churches – shape and define a lot of our
contemporary cultural awareness of Jesus."
--
THE EVOLUTION OF CHRISTIANITY
Twelve Crises That Shaped the Church
by Marshall D. Johnson. Continuum. 2005
$15.00 CAD with shipping from Amazon.ca
Publisher's Promo:
Johnson takes a unique approach to church
history. He examines twelve crises that motivated
the evolution of Christianity. In his survey of Church
history, he chronicles the story from the first century
and the "birth and adolescence" of Christianity to
postmodernism, a feat which no other introduction
can claim. His chapters examine the basic conflicts
that gave permanent shape to Christian theology,
and, to a lesser degree, church institutions.
--
Author's Words:
Established institutions and ideologies often
have evolved out of controversy and conflict...
nothing can solidify a point of view more
effectively than a confrontation with its
opponents. That this is the case with Western
Christian theology is the assumption and
organizing principle of this book.
For reasons of space, and as a kind of primer
and textbook for Christian theology (to get a
much fuller picture consult Jaroslav Pelikan's
five volume 'The Christian Tradition') I have
had to exclude large slices, like much of Post-
Reformation era Eastern Orthodoxy and the
growth of the church in Africa during the
20th century...
History is a dynamic system of meanings, an
analysis of significant events, persons, ideas,
or social realities of the past that is intended
to provide orientation to our present and
guide our conduct into the future.
History is important for self-understanding...
and as an intellectual adventure. Christian
history has its own distinctive functions. It can
force the tradition-bound Christian to greater
awareness of the complexity of doctrinal
issues... and the evolution of church structures
and beliefs.
Knowledge of Christian history also has value
for secularized persons of the twenty-first
century who are not aware of the debt of
Western society to Christian and Jewish values.
Readers today are often amazed to learn of
the varieties of beliefs among early Christians,
the conflicts that gave rise to the early
Christian creeds, the developments of church
hierarchies, etc. Historical knowledge is
essential for meaningful discussion among
Christians of various persuasions (for much
inter-faith discussion) and between Christians
and secularists...
The assumption of this book is that there has
been a development of doctrine and of church
structures throughout history and the main
stimulus for change was conflict...
Christianity took on a distinctive shape in
each major locality to which it spread, and
the resulting differences often erupted in
conflict. (We will investigate how the church,
early on, had to develop criteria by which to
distinguish tolerable teachings from heresy.)
We can expect to find a lively conflict between
opposing groups or individuals. And the history
of Christian theology - like that of all historical
writing - is to a large degree the story of who
won.
- from the Preface and the Introduction
--
My Thoughts:
Church history has always fascinated me.
I remember teaching an adult Sunday School
class when little older than a teen. I was
already interested in the connections between
the story of Jesus in the Gospels and the
development of the church as it was recorded
in the book of Acts. And that was just the
beginning!
I am always on the lookout for good studies
in church history. Almost ten years ago,
Marshall D. Johnson published "The Evolution
of Christianity - Twelve Crises that Shaped
the Church." Over the last decade or so, I
have referred to this book when encountering
questions about why Christian beliefs came
to be what they are, and how they continue
to evolve.
One of the problems of our time is that
we do not have a strong sense of the
historical development of Christian faith.
We tend to miss the fact that much of
what seems new has antecedents in
the long and varied life of the church.
We need to continue trying to recover
this sense of historical experience
because it helps to explain our present
as well as to anticipate our future.
I grew up in a Christian faith that had
a strong sense of tradition. I moved into
a Christian faith that seems rather caught
up in the present. In that regard, I find
both of these tendencies to be inadequate.
Jaroslav Pelikan would criticize many
modern Christians for their bondage to
either the past or the present, and I
agree with him.
What does the author consider to be
the crises that shaped Christianity?
He creates interesting chapters on
such themes as "From Jesus to the
Apostolic Fathers," "Orthodoxy and
Heresy," "Persecution and State
Religion," "The Crusades," "The
Reformation" "Pietism and Rationalism,"
"Copernicus, Darwin and Freud,"
and "Postmodernism."
In these and other chapters we are
helped to see that the faith has been
in a constant process of evolution.
This is due mainly to the fact that it
is a living, breathing thing. In spite
of the fact we believe that divine
Revelation is essential, human
involvement is always a big part
of it as well.
The author concludes that, after
1,700 years, Christendom has
ended in the West. The resulting
challenge of secularism is both
anxiety-producing and liberating.
Canadian theologian Douglas John
Hall picks up on this. His more
recent books have been guides
for navigating the difficult waters
of this brave but frightening new
world.
Still, there is reason for hope.
Christianity has survived many major
challenges over two millenniums and
there is every reason to think that
it will continue to do so.
Theological conflict, while unfortunate
and destructive, has also had its
salutary effects in the development of
both teaching and practice. We need
to distinguish "the timeless core" of
faith from "normative" (generally held)
Christianity. Always we need to hold
up our current theological pursuits
to the light of what Jesus himself
taught and lived.
And finally - something to remember -
academic theology, while a fascinating
diversion, is a luxury that most living,
practical Christians tend to live without.
--
Purchase used from Amazon.ca:
--
Critique of the book by John W. O'Malley
America Magazine April 25th, 2005
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
HARRY WINTER
St. Paul, MN
February 24th, 2014
Many thanks for your thoughts on
George Bernard Shaw (CL Feb. 23rd).
I found G.K. Chesterton's biography
of Shaw very interesting. It is often
cited as a model of constructive insight
between two people with very different
convictions, who debated each other
often in a dignified manner. Most have
probably heard that Chesterton once
said to the thin Shaw "You look like there
is a famine in the world." And Shaw
responded to the rotund Chesterton
"And you look like you caused it."
--
HARDY SCHROEDER
Winnipeg, MB.
February 25th, 2014
Hardy found quotes from Colleague
Ron Rolheiser in an article on the
"Spirituality of the Games" in the
Winnipeg Free Press and shares
them here. Thanks, Hardy.
--
ISABEL GIBSON
Ottawa, ON.
February 23rd, 2014
Wayne:
Thanks for sharing Phil Callaway.
Quite delightful. (CL Feb. 23rd)
"The Fruit of the Spirit is Not Lemons"
Quite delightful. (CL Feb. 23rd)
"The Fruit of the Spirit is Not Lemons"
His piece came just in time to keep me
from sucking the buttons off the sofa.
from sucking the buttons off the sofa.
Isabel
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
LORNA DUECK
Toronto, ON.
"God in the Movies"
"Son of God" Film Intro
February 21st, 2014
--
DOUG SHANTZ
Calgary, AB
The Swanson Lectures in
Monday, March 10, 2014 at 7:30pm
"A Panel on Presenting German Pietism
to a North American Audience"
Panel Members:
Dr. Hartmut Lehmann, University of Kiel
Dr. Douglas H. Shantz, University of Calgary
Chair: Dr. Anders Kraal, Philosophy,
University of Calgary
University of Calgary
Gallery Hall, Taylor Family Digital Library
University of Calgary
University of Calgary
--
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 12:00pm
2017 – "Germany’s Quincentenary Celebration
of the Reformation in an Age of Religious
Pluralism and Secularization"
A Lecture by Dr. Harmut Lehmann
Professor of Modern History
A Lecture by Dr. Harmut Lehmann
Professor of Modern History
Scotia Bank Milling Area, Rozsa Centre
University of Calgary
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
February 23rd, 2014
"The Real Challenge in Creativity -
To Enter the Song"
--
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
February 23rd, 2014
"Entitlement"
*****
NET NOTES
WORDS THAT HEAL
"Finding Strength in Scripture"
Written by Kathleen Norris
America Magazine
March 10th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/lzqqxe3
--
FRANCIS MUST ACT FAST ON ABUSE
UN Report Evokes Serious Response
National Catholic Reporter
February 27th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/m3p3qo5
--
PENTECOSTALS GREETED BY THE POPE
Video Sharing is "From the Heart"
UCA and CNS News Services
February 24th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/obxn89y
--
SCHOLARLY INQUIRY AT RISK IN INDIA
Hindu Fundamentalists Block Publication
Sightings
February 27th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/mw8pj6s
Group Defamation Laws as in India
Allow Religious Bullies to Suppress Speech
Sightings
February 28th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/lw74a2w
--
AUSTRALIA IN TANGLE
OVER ASYLUM-SEEKERS
Continuing a Theme
Begun Here Last Week
UCA News
February 27th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/n7dwj59
--
HOW JESUS BECAME GOD -
THE DEBATE CONTINUES
Bart Ehrman New Book
Prompts a Response
Publisher's Weekly
February 26th,2014
http://tinyurl.com/k2octc9
--
WHY ARE AMERICAN MILLENNIALS
LEAVING THE CHURCH?
Anti-Gay Religion a Key Factor
The Huffington Post
February 28th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/k9tc3pa
--
EASTERN PHILOSOPHER PROMOTES
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Philosopher Views Bible as
Foundation of Western Civilization
Christian Week Online
February 21st, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/kc9vp56
--
LIBERATION THEOLOGIAN RECEIVES
WARM WELCOME IN ROME
New Pope, New Day for Gutierrez
National Catholic Reporter
February 28th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/kv9dq9w
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online
and Plough Press, The Bruderhof
"No matter how big a nation is, it is no
stronger that its weakest people, and as
long as you keep a person down, some
part of you has to be down there to hold
him down, so it means you cannot soar
as you might otherwise."
- Marian Anderson
--
"I am proud of being a Negro. Nor have
I ever tried to beg tolerance from anyone.
Superiority is not proved by color, but by
the brain, by education, by willpower, by
moral courage."
- José Celso Barbosa
--
"If we accept and acquiesce in the face of
discrimination, we accept the responsibility
ourselves and allow those responsible to
salve their conscience by believing that they
have our acceptance and concurrence. We
should, therefore, protest openly everything
... that smacks of discrimination or slander."
- Mary McLeod Bethune
--
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is,
'What are you doing for others?'"
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
--
I don’t gather that God wants us to pretend our
fear doesn’t exist, to deny it, or eviscerate it.
Fear is a reminder that we are creatures – fragile,
vulnerable, totally dependent on God. But fear
shouldn’t dominate or control or define us. Rather,
it should submit to faith and love. Otherwise, fear
can make us unbelieving, slavish, and inhuman.
I have seen that struggle: containing my fear,
rejecting its rule, recognizing that it saw only
appearances, while faith and love saw substance,
saw reality, saw God’s bailiwick, so to speak:
“Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid!”
- Philip Berrigan
Source: Seeking Peace
--
"The whole world is run on bluff. No race,
no nation, no man has any divine right to
take advantage of others.
Why allow the other fellow to bluff you?"
- Marcus Garvey
*****
ON THIS DAY
February 23rd - March 1st
WORLD TRADE CENTER BLAST IN NEW YORK
http://tinyurl.com/lq7q4pv
LASTING PREVENTION OF POLIO REPORTED
http://tinyurl.com/ass76pj
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - JIM WALLIS
As long as we do not pray for our enemies,
we continue to see only our own point of view –
our own righteousness – and to ignore their
perspective. Prayer breaks down the distinctions
between us and them. To do violence to others,
you must make them enemies.
Prayer, on the other hand, makes enemies
into friends.When we have brought our enemies
into our hearts in prayer, it becomes difficult to
maintain the hostility necessary for violence.
In bringing them close to us, prayer even serves
to protect our enemies. Thus prayer undermines
the propaganda and policies designed to make
us hate and fear our enemies. By softening our
hearts towards our adversaries, prayer can even
become treasonous. Fervent prayer for our
enemies is a great obstacle to war and the
feelings that lead to war.
(end)
************
CHURCH AND UNIVERSITY TEACHING
Contact Wayne Holst
403-286-2416
waholst@telus.net
WINTER CLASSES
At St. David's:
LINK TO OUR CURRENT MONDAY NIGHT STUDY
50 Book Sets Sold; 35 Course Registrants
NEAR DEATH AND LIFE AFTER LIFE - Course Design
http://tinyurl.com/kvmu8o5
Study Books:
"The Light Beyond" by Raymond Moody and
"Eternal Life" by Bishop John Shelby Spong
Audio and Video Links Added as Class Develops
Moody Series:
http://tinyurl.com/kq6ukpd
http://tinyurl.com/kjkltd2
http://tinyurl.com/kdxchff
---
At the University:
LENTEN FRIDAY NOON FACULTY,
STAFF AND STUDENT STUDY
"In Search of Deep Faith" -
A Pilgrimage Among People and Places of Europe
by Jim Belcher, IVP, paperback. 2013.
February 27th - April 3rd, 2014
Six Fridays, 12-1PM. Native Centre Board Room,
Mac Hall.
Co-sponsored by St. David's United and the
U. of C. Faith and Spirituality Centre.
LAST NOTICE - THIS CLASS HAS NOW BEGUN
*****
ST. DAVIDS BOOK STUDY ARCHIVE
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