Everyone remember Lindsay these next three weeks: she left for Africa this morning. For two weeks she’ll be doing work in Kenya and the last week she’ll be doing work in Rwanda. We’re looking forward to updates!
::Kat
Wendell Berry: what a man, what a man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty green man. May 1, 2007
In an eco-friendly coincidence, I came across this chapter in Wendell Berry’s Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community (1992) just hours after posting my last green comment. Entitled “Christianity and the Survival of Creation,” Berry devotes his chapter to how and why Christianity has fallen short on caring for our world. If you’re interested, please find the book (I know it’s in the Baylor Library for all you blogger-bears). For now, I’ll leave you with this:
We will discover that for these reasons our destruction of nature is not just bad stewardship, or stupid economics, or a betrayal of family responsibilty; it is the most horrid blasphemy. It is flinging God’s gifts into His face, as if they were of no worth beyond that assigned to them by our destruction of them. To Dante, ”despising Nature and her goodness” was a violence against God. We have no entitlement from the Bible to exterminate or permantently destroy or hold in contempt anything on the earth or in the heavens above it or in the waters beneath it. We have the right to use the gifts of nature but not to ruin or waste them. We have the right to use what we need but no more…
The Bible leaves no doubt at all about the sanctity of the act of world-making, or of the world that was made, or of creaturely or bodily life in this world. We are holy creatures living among other holy creatures in a world that is holy. Some people know this, and some do not. Nobody, of course, knows this all the time. But what keeps it from being far better known than it is? Why is it apparently unknown to millions of professed students of the Bible? How can modern Christianity have so solemnly folded its hands while so much of the work of God was and is being destroyed?
There is so much goodness in this chapter, I don’t know where to start. I think I’m just going to go home and snuggle with my cat. That’s loving on creation, right?
::Kat
The Wages Not the Cost, Part Three May 1, 2007
It took me awhile to get here, but as every student knows, late April-early May is not the best time for any student. Early we summarized the most popular views on the crucifixion, the Ransom and Satisfaction theories. I was recently introduced to two appealing alternatives: the Influence and Participation theories. (more…)
Green Girls May 1, 2007
I’ve been wrestling with how green I’m willing to go. Obviously, the way we care for our world and environment should be an extension of our faith. With the energy crisis and global warming and the fact that I really like ziploc bags and steak all knocking around in my head, it can be difficult to get perspecitive. However, I’m spending some time reflecting on my habits and trying to get the global picture. I don’t know where all this thought is going to take me, but hopefully it will be closer to where a responsible citizen/someone who likes trees and puppies should be. I added a link in the blogroll for anyone interested in taking this little journey with me. It’s the link “TreeHugger.” In case there was any confusion.
::Kat
Blasphemy in the Name of God April 19, 2007
It astounds me that people like this even exist.
If we at all wonder why people are skeptical of Christianity and those who abuse the name of God … well, all you need to do is read the article linked above and I think you’ll understand.
It’s What They Pay Me the Big Bucks For April 17, 2007
You may have noticed that Kat has been the only one posting lately. This is not without good cause on my part.
I’ve been working on a paper titled, “Again It Goes Unnoticed: Exploring the Link Between Wartime Rape and Sex Trafficking in Kosovo and Sudan” for my International Human Rights Class. Not only is this paper a beast to write for various reasons, but I’m also presenting it at the Human Trafficking Conference held at South Texas College. In about 18 hours. Oy.
Once I’ve presented it and have it completed, I’ll post it on this blog for you to see. The information in it is devastating, but so crucial to know if we’re ever going to end these gross violations against human and women’s rights.
So wish me luck! I’m off to be a pretend academic in McAllen.
::Lindsay
Rodriguez & Tarantino’s Lovechild April 14, 2007
I don’t think any of this gives away anything that you can’t figure out from the promotional posters.
This is just a general notice that I have seen Grindhouse and a review is coming soon. I guess Tarantino’s bit, “Death Proof,” could be viewed as female empowerment. Really gross but vivid female empowerment. Just throwing that out there.
Well, now that I think about it, Rodriguez’s “Planet Terror” has a go-go dancer who: A) leads the way to a new civilization and B) has a machine gun leg. Awesome.
Also, the film is a healthy 3.5 hours long. Backsides, beware.
::Kat
Biblical Law and Homosexuality April 14, 2007
Unlike a lot of Christians (some who, for the record, I love and respect very much) I am not under the impression that there is an unholy trinity threatening Christians today: abortion, post-modernity, and homosexuality. I don’t have the time or the energy to explain my position on all three, but I thought this letter takes a interesting approach to homosexuality. I try to avoid irony when dealing with an issue that can inspire passionate, often unfortunately violent, reactions. I just don’t like the nastiness it can foster. However, in the case the author raises what I think are valid points. Also, I didn’t write it, so I’m not taking fall. Helloooo, Loophole, my dear friend. Plus, the word “smite” plays a prominate role. At this rate, it’d be a crime not to share. (more…)
The Wages, Not the Cost, Pt. Two April 14, 2007
For the first time in my life, I’m actually achieving that ever elusive follow-through.
That’s right, we’ve succesfully landed on part two of reflections on the theological significance of the crucifixion – something I didn’t even know I had options about until last week.
I was able to participate in a mentally stimulating conversation about the crucifixion at, of all places, Sunday school. No one was more shocked than I to be having challenging, thought-provoking, intellectual conversation at Sunday school, but I forgot I was in a class led by Dr. Tom Hanks. Not that Tom Hanks, another one. We came to the conclusion that there are four ways to view to crucifixion: the Ransom Theory, the Satisfaction Theory, the Influence Theory, and the Participation Theory. The first three theories we discussed were borrowed from a sermon given by Dr. Hanks’ daughter-in-law, Rev. Stephanie Spitzer of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Gerald, TX. The last was coined by Dr. Hanks and drawn from the Lent Talk given by Rev. John (a link to the address is in the first post). In this post, I’d like to briefly discuss the Ransom and Satisfaction Theories. (more…)
The Wages, Not the Cost, pt. One April 12, 2007
So, Easter. It’s a big deal.
I’m a Christmas-girl myself, but it’s Easter that gives us Christianity as we understand it today. Until the past week or so — and I’m ashamed to say this – I hadn’t really considered in any depth the implications of why Jesus was crucified. If you were born in the Church, you know Jesus died for your sins. What you may not know is why he had to die for your sins. I really didn’t ask this question since, even at an early age, I tired of Evangicubes and the daigram where YOU are on one cliff, then there’s a gaping chasm (helpfully labeled “SIN”) and the on the other side, on a another cliff, is GOD. I know it’s God because there are clouds and shiny lines. It was clear: I am sinful, God is not, Jesus died to pay a price for my sin, and now I have communion with God.
Well, maybe.
