*****
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.
*****
Dear Friends:
I rejoice to announce that, after a visit to
my surgeon this week - five years after my
colon cancer was detected - I have been
declared "cured" and am truly a cancer
survivor with a 2% chance of colon cancer
recurrence.
Colleague and friend Marcus Borg died this
week. He is the same age as I am.
In this edition of CL I want to share my -
"Thoughts on Marcus Borg"
http://tinyurl.com/54gpwj
http://tinyurl.com/lxmr29l
http://tinyurl.com/qe8fewp
http://tinyurl.com/n6q8kro
To read my thoughts, with more links,
please scroll down.
--
Colleague Comment this week are fom -
Gerry McBride (Calgary)
"Buffalo Shout; Salmon Cry"
http://tinyurl.com/m8k7ph3
Doug Koop (Winnipeg)
"Dying Patient Interview"
http://youtu.be/_J7Jdhz_zwU
Lorna Dueck (Toronto)
"Context Interview with Karen Armstrong"
Youtube link: http://tinyurl.com/n7odd6g
John Griffith (Calgary)
"Ilia Delio, OSF lectures in Calgary"
http://tinyurl.com/kjlynnr
To read their letters, scroll down.
--
Colleague Communications -
Tom Ryan (Washington, DC)
Bio: http://tinyurl.com/plv2n4s
Koinonia Newsletter, Winter, 2015:
http://tinyurl.com/lr6chh2
Martin Marty (Chicago, IL)
"Religious Headlines"
http://tinyurl.com/qap4ma5
Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio TX)
"Looking for the One God Amid Our
Denominational and Faith Divisions"
http://tinyurl.com/lwbhgmf
Jim Taylor (Okanagan BC)
"The Underlying Tactic of Terrorist Acts"
http://tinyurl.com/ncpr96w
For more information, scroll down.
--
Net Notes -
"Marcus Borg Dead, 72" - here are two
tributes to him (Religious News Service,
Huffington Post Religion)
http://tinyurl.com/p9evtwq
http://tinyurl.com/q5rtobc
"Blasphemy in Hinduism" - this faith
of India has its own blasphemy advocates
who are challenging free speech there
(Sightings) http://tinyurl.com/lvo9ytj
"Van Gogh: A Power Seething" - here is a
review of an intriguing book, appearing
this weekend, on the famous Dutch painter
(New York Times Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/qgabvy7
"The Pope's Airplane Interviews" - Francis
has captured global attention with his
casual way of entertaining the press;
also a report on his Philippines visit
(Aleteia and America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/ogkgenl
http://tinyurl.com/lg8f97q
"Responding to Islamic Extremism" -
this dialogue between Christian Lorna
Dueck and Muslim Shema Khan
appeared last week (Globe and Mail)
http://tinyurl.com/npjuv7v
"Vanier: Demonstrations Divide French Society" -
Vanier was in the UK addressing a House of Lords
event on France in Westminster (The Tablet, UK) http://tinyurl.com/m7y6tt8
"Evolving Palestine-Christian Identity in Israel" -
a theological conference highlights the growth
of Palestinian identity and sponsored by an
Israeli organization (Assist News)
http://tinyurl.com/og96r8c
"Most Significant Religious News Stories of 2014" -
here are key stories from a Canadian evangelical
perspective (Christian Week Online)
http://tinyurl.com/knld7vj
"Canadian Interfaith Statement on Syrian Refugees" -
representatives from a broad cross-section of aid
organizations have formulated a policy against
religious discrimination (Citizens for Public Justice)
http://tinyurl.com/n5ju8qn
"Manila Homeless Removed from View During
Papal Visit" -a needed perspective, after the glowing
reports of the pope's visit to the Philippines
(Asia Free Press) http://tinyurl.com/kkqbhcs
--
Wisdom of the Week -
This comes thanks to Sojourners and
Bruderhof online -
Martin Luther King Jr,. Giles Harcourt,
Jean Vanier, Vincent van Gogh,
Jacques Ellul and Eberhard Arnold
Please scroll down to read them.
--
On This Day -
From the archives of the New York Times:
"Lenin Dies at Age 54"
http://tinyurl.com/a7f9ha7
"Reagan Takes Over from Carter'
American Hostages Freed in Iran"
http://tinyurl.com/l3aphz8
"Winston Churchill Dies in London"
http://tinyurl.com/nae7hu7
--
Closing Thought - Dorothy Day
Scroll down to read her.
--
This is a full edition but I hope you find
at last some articles to your liking.
Wayne
(end)
--
Winter 2015 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
THOUGHTS ON MARCUS BORG
Reflections on His Contribution
The sad news of the death of Marcus Borg
arrived this week. For many of us who were
his students and friends, it provided an
opportunity to reflect on his legacy.
I share some early thoughts on his contribution.
To gain a general perspective on his life,
here is what appears on his Wiki biography.
http://tinyurl.com/54gpwj
Make sure you take note of his bibliography
including the final study he published on his
"Convictions" during the last year of his life.
Last week, I published the following on
Colleagues List:
"Borg: Overturning Common Christianity" -
a special recognition this week for his new
book (published last May) for a long-time
colleague, Marcus Borg (Publisher's Weekly)
http://tinyurl.com/mfpn728
--
I have always felt an affinity toward Borg
because of a common (Lutheran) background
and a somewhat similar theological exposure
beyond that tradition. While I took the pastor/
academic route in my career, he focused on
becoming a disciplined, venturesome religious
studies professor.
Most of his career was spent at Oregon State
University where he taught generations of
students and had the academic freedom to
pursue his search for truth. Interestingly, he
shaped his career in a largely secular ethos
by focusing on the Bible and on Jesus.
Borg visited us in Calgary and at St. David's
during the last decade of his academic life
(2005). He gave several lectures and
preached at our Sunday morning service, and
continued to correspond with me over his
later years, sending me his latest books for
reviews and notices.
He was very encouraging of the work I was
doing in the academy and the church - as
he ended up in the Episcopal Church USA while
I have spent 25 years in a United Church of
Canada congregation.
He was a pastoral academic even thought he
was never ordained and served as a model
for me during the past quarter century.
Borg maintained a great love of the Bible
and for Jesus, all through his career. He
built a solid, progessive career of biblical
and historical Jesus studies. He was always
open to constructive criticism and worked
hard to dialogue with sincere people - lay,
clergy and academic - who differed from him.
--
HIS LOVE FOR THE BIBLE AND FOR JESUS
Take some time to view this video through which
Borg describes his core biblical philosophy:
http://tinyurl.com/lxmr29l
Borg worked hard to translate the best of
modern critical studies of the Bible and of Jesus
into a common idiom. One of his best insights
was that we can learn the meaning behind
both, by taking the Bible seriously, but not
literally.
Two of his outstanding books are still in print:
"Reading the Bible Again for the First Time"
http://tinyurl.com/qe8fewp
"Jesus - Uncovering the Life, Teachings and
Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary"
http://tinyurl.com/n6q8kro
The fact is, many of his books remain in print
as testimony to his on-going relevance.
--
HIS SOLID, RESPECTFUL, CRITICAL APPROACH
Unlike some liberal scholars who give the
impression that they can use or discard the
words of scripture at will, Borg did take the
words of the Bible seriously. I would like to
think his formation in Lutheran theology
taught him that.
That said, his studies took him beyond where
many Lutheran theologians were willing to go,
at least at the time. He found good support
for his developing studies from academics
in the Anglican-Episcopal and Catholic tradition
and his collaboration with N.T. Wright and
John Dominic Crossan, for example, were
very fruitful.
Borg was often criticised by conservative
scholars from many traditions for at least
some of his views.
His views on Paul and challenges to parts
of Romans and other Pauline letters made
him a thorn in the side of some Protestants,
but he soldiered on - trying to learn from his
critics while maintaining his truth quest.
See his book:
"The First Paul"
http://tinyurl.com/mluptw7
--
HIS OPEN AND COLLABORATIVE STYLE
As noted above, Borg sought out occasions
to dialogue and work with serious critics
and those who differed with him.
A prime example of this was the publication
of "The Meaning of Jesus" with N.T. Wright
http://tinyurl.com/k62e3ur
Both scholars accepted the historicity of Jesus
but gave different weight and meaning to what
that meant for people of faith today.
It was a joy to see two good scholars debate
with mutual respect and integrity. From this
we gain a better sense of our own views.
Here is an example of Marcus Borg and
N.T. Wright discussing Jesus' resurrection:
http://tinyurl.com/nwgc5rj
--
Over the years I have used Borg's books
successfully at the university and in the
church. Fifteen years ago my teaching partner
Jock McTavish and I first collaborated using
books by Marcus Borg and we continue to
learn from him and from each other.
Here is our collection of over 40 book studies:
http://tinyurl.com/m5fedjk
A number of Marcus Borg study outlines are
recorded here. Now that Jock is retired he
hopes to refine this site - which receives
1,000 hits a week from around the world.
So the model of growth in truth model Borg
established continues.
Marcus will be missed.
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
GERRY MCBRIDE
Calgary, AB
January 21st, 2015
Wayne:
"This sounds a bit like a merger between
John Ralston Saul and Richard Wagamese
– have you seen it? If so does it live up
to the review?"
Mennonite Brethren Herald
January 1st, 2015
"Buffalo Shout; Salmon Cry"
http://tinyurl.com/m8k7ph3
Gerry:
I think this book is hard-hitting and needed.
We continue to be a self-justifying nation
in terms of our dealings with First Nations.
I hope our readers will read this review
and reflect on it.
Wayne
--
DOUG KOOP
Winnipeg, MB
January 17th, 2015
Hi Wayne:
Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg recently
uploaded a video interview I
conducted with
a patient last fall. Check it out. This man was
uncommonly
winsome and wise.
Cheers, Doug
Thanks for sharing this helpful exchange.
Wayne
--
LORNA DUECK
Toronto, ON
January 21st, 2014
Wayne:
We've posted our Context interview with
Karen Armstrong.
It is up on the web now, and is available
ongoing online or podcast - she was fascinating.
Thanks so much for continuing to mull over our
need for a voice on how to describe the kind of
evangelism we
do …
Youtube link:
Lorna
--
JOHN GRIFFITH
Calgary, AB
January 19th, 2015
Hi Wayne, you may already know this.
April 24 - 26, Ilia Delio, OSF will be
presenting lectures in Calgary, sponsored
by Mount St. Francis and the FCJ Christian
Life Centre.
Friday April 24th she will be speaking on
"Christ and Evolution" $25
Saturday April 25th she will be at the
FCJ Centre speaking on "God, Evolution
and the Power of Love."
$100 includes lunch.
Sunday, April 25th, her topic will be
Catholicism in an Evolving Universe $25.
Pre-registration only.
Find all this and more at:
http://tinyurl.com/kjlynnr
Blessings, John
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
TOM RYAN
Washington, DC
His bio:
http://tinyurl.com/plv2n4s
Winter 2015 Newsletter Link,
Paulist Center for Ecumenism
http://tinyurl.com/lr6chh2
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio,TX
Personal Website
January 19th, 2015
"Looking for the One God Amid Our
Denominational and Faith Divisions"
http://tinyurl.com/lwbhgmf
--
MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL
Sightings
January 19th, 2015
"Religious Headlines"
http://tinyurl.com/qap4ma5
--
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
January 18th, 2015
"The Underlying Tactic of Terrorist Acts"
http://tinyurl.com/ncpr96w
*****
NET NOTES
MARCUS BORG DEAD AT 72
Leading Historical Jesus Scholar
Religious News Service
January 22nd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/p9evtwq
Huffington Post Religion
January 22nd, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/q5rtobc
--
BLASPHEMY IN HINDUISM
and Censorship in India
Sightings,
January 22nd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/lvo9ytj
--
VAN GOGH: A POWER SEETHING
Book by Julian Bell Reviewed
New York Times Review of Books
January 25th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/qgabvy7
--
THE POPE'S AIRPLANE INTERVIEWS
Well Received in an "Age of Spin"
Aleteia
January 22nd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/ogkgenl
"In the Philippines, Francis Celebrates
Possibly the Biggest Mass in History
With Six to Seven Million Attending"
America Magazine
January 18th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/lg8f97q
--
RESPONDING TO ISLAMIC EXTREMISM
Lorna Dueck/Shema Khan Dialogue
Globe and Mail
January 15th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/npjuv7v
--
VANIER: "DEMONSTRATIONS
ONLY DIVIDE FRENCH SOCIETY"
English House of Lords Event
The Tablet, UK
January 23rd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/m7y6tt8
--
EVOLVING PALESTINE-CHRISTIAN
IDENTITY IN ISRAEL
Sense of Purpose is Maturing
Assist News
January 23rd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/og96r8c
--
MOST SIGNIFICANT RELIGIOUS
NEWS STORIES OF 2014
An Evangelical Christian
Canadian Perspective
Christian Week Online
January 21st, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/knld7vj
--
CANADIAN INTERFAITH STATEMENT
ON SYRIAN REFUGEES
Discrimination Based
on Religion is Unacceptable
Citizens for Public Justice
Ottawa, ON
January 21st, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/n5ju8qn
--
MANILA HOMELESS REMOVED FROM
STREETS DURING PAPAL VISIT
Kept in Luxury Accommodations
Asia Free Press
January 23rd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/kkqbhcs
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners
and Bruderhof online:
True peace is not merely the absence
of tension; it is the presence of justice.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
--
As a conductor and musicians are part
of one orchestra, as limbs and muscles,
sinews and blood part of one body, help
us to see that each of us is important to
creation as a whole.
- Giles Harcourt
--
People may come to our communities
because they want to serve the poor;
they will only stay once they have
discovered that they themselves are poor.
- Jean Vanier
--
| Many people seem to think it foolish, even superstitious, to believe that the world could still change for the better. And it is true that in winter it is sometimes so bitingly cold that one is tempted to say, “What do I care if there is a summer; its warmth is no help to me now.” Yes, evil often seems to surpass good by far. But then, in spite of us, and without our permission, there comes at last an end to the bitter frosts. One morning the wind turns, and there is a thaw. And so I still have hope. - Vincent van Gogh -- Christians were never meant to be normal. We’ve always been holy troublemakers, we’ve always been creators of uncertainty, agents of dimension that’s incompatible with the status quo; we do not accept the world as it is, but we insist on the world becoming the way that God wants it to be. And the Kingdom of God is different from the patterns of this world. - Jacques Ellul --
|
*****
ON THIS DAY
From the Archives of the
New York Times
"Lenin Dies at Age 54"
http://tinyurl.com/a7f9ha7
"Reagan Takes Over from Carter'
American Hostages Freed in Iran"
http://tinyurl.com/l3aphz8
"Winston Churchill Dies in London"
http://tinyurl.com/nae7hu7
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - Dorothy Day
| What we would like to do is change the world – make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as God intended for them to do.… We can, to a certain extent, change the world; we can work for the oasis, the little cell of joy and peace in a harried world. We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that its ever widening circle will reach around the world. We repeat, there is nothing that we can do but love, and, dear God, please enlarge our hearts to love each other, to love our neighbor, to love our enemy as well as our friend. |
(end)
*****
Winter 2015 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary:
MONDAY NIGHT STUDY - WINTER SERIES
January 12nd – March 23rd, 2015
7-00-9:00PM TM Room. Ten Weeks.
(Family Day Monday exempted)
“Fields of Blood: Religion and
the History of Violence”
by Karen Armstrong
Led by Jock McTavish and Wayne Holst
Registration $60.00. Book only $25.00
This study is now in progress.
Forty books sold.
Youtube link:
---
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDYJanuary 22nd - March 26th, 2015. Ten Weeks.
10:00-11:00AM TM Room
"Romans and James -
Foundations for Christian Living"
Study Leader: Wayne Holst
No charge.
Study resource -
The DK Complete Bible Handbook
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q
This study has begun.
---
ST. DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS'
SPECIAL 2015 SIXTEEN DAY TOUR
"Jerusalem and the Land of Three Great Faiths"
October 16th - 31st, 2015
Tour Company: Rostad Tours Calgary
Tour Hosts: Wayne and Marlene Holst
Sponsored by: St. David's ACTS Ministry
Endorsed by: St. David's Church Council
(Tour itinerary/costs brochure available in
the church lobby. Talk to Marlene and Wayne)
Save $300. if deposit paid by March 31st.
http://tinyurl.com/plg4sgo
---
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE
Interfaith Chaplains' Book Studies
for faculty, students, staff, and
campus guests - Winter, 2015
"Simply Christian" by N.T. Wright
Book Study Co-Sponsored by:
The Faith and Spirituality Centre,
University of Calgary and
The ACTS Ministry,
St. David's United Church, Calgary
Native Centre Board Room
McEwan Student Centre
Fridays, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Five sessions.
Feb. 20th, 27th, March 6th, 13th, 20th
Participants are encouraged to attend
all five sessions. However, you may attend
one or more sessions on a drop-in basis.
Study Leader: Dr. Wayne A. Holst
Book cost $20.00
http://tinyurl.com/l8lxc35
*****
SPECIAL 2015 SIXTEEN DAY TOUR
"Jerusalem and the Land of Three Great Faiths"
October 16th - 31st, 2015
Tour Company: Rostad Tours Calgary
Tour Hosts: Wayne and Marlene Holst
Sponsored by: St. David's ACTS Ministry
Endorsed by: St. David's Church Council
(Tour itinerary/costs brochure available in
the church lobby. Talk to Marlene and Wayne)
Save $300. if deposit paid by March 31st.
http://tinyurl.com/plg4sgo
---
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE
Interfaith Chaplains' Book Studies
for faculty, students, staff, and
campus guests - Winter, 2015
"Simply Christian" by N.T. Wright
Book Study Co-Sponsored by:
The Faith and Spirituality Centre,
University of Calgary and
The ACTS Ministry,
St. David's United Church, Calgary
Native Centre Board Room
McEwan Student Centre
Fridays, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Five sessions.
Feb. 20th, 27th, March 6th, 13th, 20th
Participants are encouraged to attend
all five sessions. However, you may attend
one or more sessions on a drop-in basis.
Study Leader: Dr. Wayne A. Holst
Book cost $20.00
http://tinyurl.com/l8lxc35
*****
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