intersections

Harper's Magazine comes to the defense of religion!

I don't follow Harper's Magazine closely but it, along with The New Yorker and The Atlantic Monthly (and a number of others) are the first magazines I browse when I have one of those luxurious 10 minutes in front of a newstand. Because I've been following Barak Obama for the last little while I couldn't help but pick up the lastest issue with the cover article, "Buying Barak Obama." But it was the article by Marilynne Robinson (Marilynne Robinson is the 2005 Pulitzer Prize winning author of Gilead) that convinced me to buy the magazine. The front cover declared, "In Defense of Religion: Marilynne Robinson on Richard Dawkins's Hysterical Scientism."

In defense of religion? Hysterical Scientism? Harpers? Wow!  

Her review is remarkable. While I have not read, The God Delusion, I have certainly heard a lot about it, and the review itself is so revealing. It seems the main thrust of the book is that religion is dangerous and the cause of human suffering and we would all be better off without it. While I am one of the first to acknowledge the danger of religion and the host of atrocities committed against humanity and creation in the name of religion, the claim that all religion is bad seems a bit over the top. According to Robinson, Dawkins employs a rhetorical devise familiar to all Adventist evangelists: compare the best of our stuff with the worst of someone else's. Dawkins approach is to compare bad religion to good science. While, of course, acknowledging the amazing progress that has resulted from good science, Robinson helpfully points out that there is also bad science. Here's a memorable quote:

The gravest questions about the institutions of contemporary science seem never to be posed, though we know the terrors of all-out conflict between civilizations would include innovations, notably those dread weapons of mass destruction, being made by scientists for any country with access to their skills. Granting for the purposes of argument that Dawkins is correct in the view that the majority of great scientists are atheists, we may then exclude religion from among the factors that recruit them to this somber work. We are left with nationalism, steady employment, good pay, the chance to do research that is lavishly funded and, by definition, cutting edge — familiar motives of a kind fully capable of disarming moral doubt. In any case, the crankiest imam, the oiliest televangelist, can, at his worst, only urge circumstances a degree or two farther toward the use of those exotic war technologies that are always ready, always waiting. If it is fair to speak globally of religion, it is also fair to speak globally of science.

It seems the fundamentalisms abound; even atheistic fundamentalism. When will we realize that science and religion are not enemies. This kind of "rant" from one of the world's leading scientists is not helping the world move toward a peaceful and diverse coexistence. You should really read the entire article. It's available online here (thought I don't know if the person posting it has done this legally - can you just post the entire text of a copyrighted article on your blog?)

Final Push for Prop 86

The people at Prop 86 have set up a great podcast which you can access through iTunes (click here to see all the media files in iTunes. Don't have iTunes, you can watch everything here). The one at the bottom of the list is the video my wife shot of the first press conference with Jim Wallis and me. Check it out!

And more importantly, get out and vote on Nov 7!

Yes on Prop 86!

Shock and Awe

As I came into my office this morning and gathered my mail I could not believe what I was seeing - a postcard from the North American Division Prayer Ministries advertising a Prayer Conference, headlined by none other than the fundamentalist Christian John Ashcroft, former US Attorney General in the George W. Bush adminstration. Are you kidding me? The question came faster than I could process them.

Why headline an Adventist event with this guy who is the champion of the religious right? Only one reason comes to mind - because the target audience of this Prayer Conference are Adventists who think John Ashcroft is good for Christianity (and presumably, good for America). I also remember the public outcry a few months ago when the cover of the Pacific Union Recorder featured a picture of Hillary Clinton. She was speaking for a Religious Liberty event (just as she has in the past). I wonder if people will be equally upset about this? I'm guessing not.

Then, as if that were not enough, in the same batch of mail I received a large envelope from The Campaign for Children and Families. You can read their description of themselves here. Anyway, this mailing was to encourage me, a pastor, to vote Yes on Prop 90 and to encourage my church to do the same. If you don't live in California, this might be meaningless to you, but Prop. 90 would severely limit future development efforts. Even the conservative Los Angeles Daily News opposes Prop 90.

Anyway, this mailing from this right-wing "family values" group encouraging a Yes vote on Prop. 90 listed "Pastors for Prop. 90." At the top of the list is the well-known Jack Hayford, formerly of Church on the Way in Van Nuys. Second on the list...Doug Batchelor. A truly amazing fact!

Hunger Banquet raises awareness about global poverty

This past Saturday afternoon the Hollywood Church hosted a Hunger Banquet, in partnership with the ONE Campaign/LA, Bread for the World, CARE, and Heifer International. I hope you'll click on each of these links and explore these amazing organizations who each have as their express goal nothing short of eradicating extreme poverty in the world.

The program consisted of an amazing script, which you can download and read for yourself by clicking here, a meal in which 15% of the group, chosen at random, ate a full 3 course meal, 25% ate rice and beans and the vast majority (60%) at only rice and water. After the meal people share some remarkable reflections on how the experience impacted them. Following the meal we heard from a man named Brett Boeckmann who share his experiences working in the poorest country in the world, Sierra Leone.

It was so wonderful to see so many people wearing (RED) products as well (Nice shirt, Lauren!).

A huge "THANK YOU" to my amazing members who volunteered and helped out in so many ways and to all of you who just showed up and were willing to learn about this important issue! For more pictures of the event, click here.

News that Affect Our Ministry

Here are a couple of headlines I ran across yesterday and the implications they hold for ministry in our contemporary context are "deep and wide" (as we used to sing in Sabbath School). Here are the headlines with links to the full articles (which aren't long), followed by some of my reflections.

American's commute earlier and longer: study
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Americans are leaving home earlier to get work, fewer are walking, and more are driving alone, according to a study of commuting trends released on Monday.

For first time, unmarried households reign in US
WASHINGTON (AFP) - It is by no means dead, but for the first time, a new survey has shown that traditional marriage has ceased to be the preferred living arrangement in the majority of US households. (Thanks to Bill for this link)

Heeeeere's Johnny!

I "met" Johnny Ramirez only a few months ago via his blog. I was so impressed with his thinking and writing that I decided I'd like to meet this young man. He is a student at Azuza Pacific University and just about to finish his B.A. in Christian Leadership.

So, we met, had lunch and the rest, as they say, is history. He is now an pastoral intern at my church in Hollywood. What does that mean? Well, we're not completely sure. We're sort of making it up as we go along but there are a few things we know for sure.