Spiritual Masturbation

Over coffee this morning, a good friend reminded me that so much of our “insider talk” as Christians basically equates to masturbatory language. We talk and talk, ascending to higher plains of intellectual enlightenment, making ourselves and each other feel satisfied in the short-term — but not too long afterward, we are unsatisfied and actually [...]

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Church and Tupperware Parties

First off, I review Bill Maher’s comedy, Religulous, over at the Jesus Manifesto zine.  Check them (the review and the movie) out if you get a chance.  On a related note, it’s interesting that apparently, folks associated with the film’s production created a fake Christian rock band to call for a fake Christian boycott of [...]

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Brilliant.

Ahhh, satire.  You are a shrewd and honest lady.  (ht) —————– I’ve admitted a number of times that Barack Obama’s rhetoric of changing the world, creating a new world, bringing hope to the world, etc., stirs me a little inside.  I’m stirred because that’s what I want.  I live by the idealistic mantra that “another [...]

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Christian Politics, rd 4: Takin’ on McLaren!

OK, let’s get back to it.  Christianity.  Politics.  What are we to do?  Does God care? I have already made the suggestion in these posts that Jesus was radically political, but not in the way his disciples or enemies thought.  He came to announce the nearness of the kingdom of God, which would bring sight [...]

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Christian Politics, rd 3

If you checked out CNN.com yesterday, you may have noticed that a story about Shane Claiborne and the “Jesus for President” tour was the lead story on the front page for a while.  Here’s the link.  (ht) Here’s an excerpt with a good quote from the interview with Shane: They endorse no candidate and make [...]

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Christian Politics, round 2

We must see what is going on today. Something different is happening. We have wasteful technologies used by billions of people growing exponentially, more expansive exploitation, more powerful bombs. And yet people’s hearts are the same as they were thousands of years ago: a chaotic mix of love and hate, creativity and destructiveness. But this [...]

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my political journey

If you haven’t noticed, 2008 is an election year. (Some of you just muttered to yourself, “So that’s why they keep showing that toothy guy and old man on the news!”) A certain excitement surrounds presidential elections.  Much of it is media-induced, as was evident by the earlier-than-ever start to the primary season (summer 2007).  [...]

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my very last rant about the American church

I write the following at the risk of alienating my remaining 10 or so readers who could care less about reforming the conventional American church.  I’m right there with them most days, except since Friday, when I randomly linked to a slick video promoting a church’s building campaign. If you’ll take 10 minutes to watch [...]

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Jesus Lives, or Christianity Dies

by N.T. Wright for “On Faith,” Newsweek.com April 4, 2007 If Jesus’ bodily remains were found, then Christianity as it began and continued was based on a mistake, or (more strongly) a lie. Christianity is about the creator God defeating the powers that corrupt, deface and overcome the good, wonderful, vibrant creation, not about this [...]

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what is a christian?

Cody posed this great question in the comments of the last post, but I want to make sure everyone has a chance to think about it and comment if they so desire.  He asks: What does it take to be considered a Christian?  Is following the teachings of Jesus enough to be considered a Jesus [...]

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